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Hercules history is made once again, with the announcement that Lockheed Martin recently delivered its 500th C-130J Super Hercules airlifter. This Super Hercules (Lockheed Martin aircraft #5934, USAF 19-5934) is a C-130J-30 aircraft assigned to the 130th Airlift Wing located at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base in Charleston, West Virginia. The 130th Airlift Wing is a longtime C-130 operator that is currently modernizing its legacy Hercules fleet with C-130Js.

The U.S. government operates the largest C-130J Super Hercules fleet in the world. This delivery represents the U.S. government's continued transition to the C-130J as the common platform across the Air Force, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard.

See: https://www.c-130.net/c-130-news-article672.html

I've often wondered how many parts could be used interchangeably between the modern C-130J and the legacy C-130A.

JON, Very interesting question, but difficult to answer. I've flown on 1953-54 A's with the chin dome and two nose gear doors.
My first plane as a C/C w2as 56-519. I remember a lot about them when I was on active duty and Guard for 8 years 1964-1973.
I know very little about the "J". It came out in 1995, 22 years after I got out. Those that know about the "J" probably have never been in an "A". After crewing an "E" model, 64-550, I know there were a lot of items that could be interchangeable.

With the "J", gone are Jato mounts, 450 gal externals, HF antenna wires, "peanut" instrument lights, the round torque, rpm, oil pressure gages. I believe the four "T" handles are gone. Very interesting thought provoking question.

Jon, I forgot to mention that an AC-130E (at the time) 69-6573 was hit with a strella missile over An Loc on 12 May 1972 and recovered at Ton Son Nhut in Saigon. We had a bunch of AAA and 5 missiles shot at us. I remember it well as I was on it. Everything aft of FS 737 was damaged by the missile. It hit by the ramp "elephant ear" on the left side and blew out everything on the right side. The whole tail was replaced with a "B" model tail. I heard the "B" model hit a bulldozer somewhere and totaled the nose. See 69-6573 on this site. Ken Felty

c130kcf wrote:Jon, I forgot to mention that an AC-130E (at the time) 69-6573 was hit with a strella missile over An Loc on 12 May 1972 and recovered at Ton Son Nhut in Saigon. We had a bunch of AAA and 5 missiles shot at us. I remember it well as I was on it. Everything aft of FS 737 was damaged by the missile. It hit by the ramp "elephant ear" on the left side and blew out everything on the right side. The whole tail was replaced with a "B" model tail. I heard the "B" model hit a bulldozer somewhere and totaled the nose. See 69-6573 on this site. Ken Felty

Thanks for sharing. Wow, great story!

Here's the history for this aircraft
https://www.c-130.net/aircraft-database ... file/7226/

Appears we have May 13th for this date.

The aircraft that hit the bulldozer was 57-0467.
https://www.c-130.net/aircraft-database ... file/6448/

Jon, It was the afternoon of May 12th.1972 in SEA. May have been the 13th here in the states with the dateline.

Here a display at Wright Patterson Museum with my flight suit, helmet and a 105 MM shell used on our gunships.

Some more photos of AC-130E 69-6573 after missile hit. Notice the "coke can" wrinkled skin above impact point.

c130kcf wrote:JON, Very interesting question, but difficult to answer. I've flown on 1953-54 A's with the chin dome and two nose gear doors.
My first plane as a C/C w2as 56-519. I remember a lot about them when I was on active duty and Guard for 8 years 1964-1973.
I know very little about the "J". It came out in 1995, 22 years after I got out. Those that know about the "J" probably have never been in an "A". After crewing an "E" model, 64-550, I know there were a lot of items that could be interchangeable.

With the "J", gone are Jato mounts, 450 gal externals, HF antenna wires, "peanut" instrument lights, the round torque, rpm, oil pressure gages. I believe the four "T" handles are gone. Very interesting thought provoking question.

The 450's being gone did not last, the were recycled and added to some of he Js:
https://www.military.com/equipment/kc-130j-hercules
http://rpdefense.over-blog.com/2015/03/ ... grade.html
https://www.airforce-technology.com/new ... ght-tests/

c130kcf wrote:JON, Very interesting question, but difficult to answer. I've flown on 1953-54 A's with the chin dome and two nose gear doors.
My first plane as a C/C w2as 56-519. I remember a lot about them when I was on active duty and Guard for 8 years 1964-1973.
I know very little about the "J". It came out in 1995, 22 years after I got out. Those that know about the "J" probably have never been in an "A". After crewing an "E" model, 64-550, I know there were a lot of items that could be interchangeable.

With the "J", gone are Jato mounts, 450 gal externals, HF antenna wires, "peanut" instrument lights, the round torque, rpm, oil pressure gages. I believe the four "T" handles are gone. Very interesting thought provoking question.

Weather 130's still have the external tanks (and a navigator).

With regard to the external fuel tanks. The 450 gallon external tanks on the "A" are gone.
Most of the info below was gleaned from the references posted earlier in this thread.
The 450's being gone did not last, the were recycled and added to some of the Js:
https://www.military.com/equipment/kc-130j-hercules
http://rpdefense.over-blog.com/2015/03/ ... grade.html
https://www.airforce-technology.com/new ... ght-tests/


The weather planes carry 1400 gallon externals not 450 gallon.
An average weather reconnaissance mission might last 11 hours and cover almost 3,500 miles while the crew collects and reports weather data. The WC-130J carries a minimal crew of five: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster.

The aircraft is equipped with two external 1,400 gallon (5,320-liter) fuel tanks and an internal 1,800 gallon (6,480 liter) fuel tank.


The Aussie birds carry modified "H" model 1800 gal external not 450 gallon. Howmnthey are modified I don't knolw.
The external fuel tanks used in the current trial have been upgraded and modified from remaining stock after the retirement of the C-130H Hercules aircraft in 2012.