Lockheed HC-130

what is it?

The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate services in the U.S. armed forces. The HC-130J Super Hercules version is operated by the United States Coast Guard in a SAR and maritime reconnaissance role. The HC-130P Combat King and HC-130J Combat King II variants are operated by the United States Air Force for long-range SAR and CSAR. The USAF variants also execute on scene CSAR command and control, airdrop pararescue forces and equipment, and are also capable of providing aerial refueling to appropriately equipped USAF, US Army, USN, USMC, and NATO/Allied helicopters in flight.

🔎How to recognise it: 4 turboprops · 40.4 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 611 km/htop speed
• size 79.4 tmax take-off weight
• built 130made 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 16 years ago, in 2010.
• 🏎️Top speed is 4.7× 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 13 African elephants (~6 t each).
• 🏔️Can fly 1.1× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

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

spec sheet

first flight

2010-07-29

introduced

1959

status

still flying

number built

130

role

csar/rescue aircraft

origin

🇺🇸 United States

engines

4× Allison T56-A-15

crew

11

length

29.8 m

wingspan

40.4 m

height

11.7 m

max take-off weight

79.4 t

top speed

611 km/h

cruise speed

536 km/h

range

—

ceiling

10,058 m

wings

monoplane

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

family