C-130 Hercules News

December 11, 2015 (by Stephanie Stinn) - Lockheed Martin delivered the 2,500th C-130 Hercules from its production line on December 11, 2015.
This landmark Hercules is an HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 71st Rescue Squadron, which is part of the 347th Rescue Group. A U.S. Air Force crew ferried the HC-130J to its new home at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia.

“This milestone delivery is a source of pride for our team and the global C-130 community,” said George Shultz, vice president and general manager, C-130 Programs at Lockheed Martin. “The Hercules is a global asset and versatile workhorse that is truly without equal. This delivery represents the C-130’s strength in numbers and its ongoing relevancy to operators around the world.”

The U.S. Air Force has the distinction of accepting the first delivery of Hercules aircraft on Dec. 9, 1956. The U.S. Air Force is the world’s largest Hercules operator, which includes legacy C-130 and C-130J Super Hercules fleets.