Lockheed AC-130

what is it?

The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground-attack weapons that are integrated with sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Since its large profile and low operating altitudes around 7,000 feet (2,100 m) make it an easy target, its close air support missions are usually flown at night.

🔎How to recognise it: 8 turboprops · high wing · retractable tricycle gear · 40.4 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 669 km/htop speed
• size 70.3 tmax take-off weight
• built 47made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 60 years ago, in 1966.
• 🏎️Top speed is 5.1× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 40.4 m: about 9 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🐘Fully loaded it can weigh as much as 12 African elephants (~6 t each).
• 🏔️Can fly 1.3× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

turboprop: A jet-style turbine turning a propeller: efficient on short hops.

spec sheet

first flight

1966

introduced

1968

retired

1995

status

still flying

number built

47

role

lockheed c-130 hercules

origin

🇺🇸 United States

makers

Lockheed Martin

engines

8× Allison T56-A-15 / Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3

crew

7

length

29.8 m

wingspan

40.4 m

height

11.7 m

max take-off weight

70.3 t

top speed

669 km/h

range

—

ceiling

11,887 m

wings

high wing

landing gear

retractable tricycle gear

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

family