Lockheed HC-130 Hercules / Super Hercules

Long-Range Surveillance / Search and Rescue (SAR) Aircraft

United States | 1964

"The Lockheed HC-130H Hercules of the USAF and USCG is a specialized surveillance and SAR version of the C-130H Hercules."

Long distance view of a landed USAF HC-130 transport; USAF image.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Lockheed HC-130H Hercules Long-Range Surveillance / Search and Rescue (SAR) Aircraft.

4 x Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines delivering 4,300 shaft horsepower each.
Propulsion

380 mph
611 kph | 330 kts
Max Speed

32,808 ft
10,000 m | 6 miles
Service Ceiling

5,179 miles
8,334 km | 4,500 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Lockheed HC-130H Hercules Long-Range Surveillance / Search and Rescue (SAR) Aircraft.

7
(MANNED)
Crew

97.8 ft
29.80 m
O/A Length

132.5 ft
(40.40 m)
O/A Width

38.1 ft
(11.60 m)
O/A Height

76,778 lb
(34,826 kg)
Empty Weight

175,001 lb
(79,379 kg)
MTOW

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Lockheed HC-130 Hercules / Super Hercules family line.

HC-130H - Specialized rescue version of the C-130H Hercules; 55 examples produced for USAF (43) and USCG (12).

HC-130N - Based on the HC-130H with revised equipment; usage by the USAF.

HC-130P - Based on the HC-130H; provision for in-flight refueling of rotary-wing aircraft; 20 examples produced; usage by the USAF.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/06/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Lockheed HC-130 is based on the standard C-130H model which introduced updated Allison T56-A-15 series turboprop engines. The wings were also redesigned and improvements made internally to the cockpit systems. Introduced in 1964, the C-130H proved a hugely popular model in the C-130 Hercules line as a whole. H-models were then, themselves, improved in a 1974 upgrade. The United States Coast Guard took on a stock of C-130H models for the long-range, Search and Rescue (SAR) role and uses it in a myriad of other border enforcement sorties. A surface search radar is standard equipment on USCG models.

43 examples of the HC-130 were taken on by the United States Air Force (USAF) with some 12 adopted by the USCG. USAF models include the HC-130H and HC-130J models. The USCG models are HC-130H and HC-130J.

The HC-130J is the "Super Hercules" version of the HC-130 line for the USCG. HC-130H models are expected to be upgraded to the newer J-standard. J-models introduce more powerful turboprop engines with composite propeller blades and increased performance specifications producing a longer-range, faster and higher flying product. Avionics are wholly modern as is onboard navigational assistance.

Due to the J-model standard implementation, it is expected that the HC-130 line will progress operationally well into 2027.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Lockheed HC-130 Hercules / Super Hercules. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 75 Units
Contractor(s): Lockheed Martin - USA

[ United States ]

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Image of the Lockheed HC-130 Hercules / Super Hercules

Long distance view of a landed USAF HC-130 transport; USAF image.

Going Further...
The Lockheed HC-130 Hercules / Super Hercules Long-Range Surveillance / Search and Rescue (SAR) Aircraft appears in the following collections:

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