The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop
military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It is the main
tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. Over 40
models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 50
nations. In December 2006 the C-130 became the fifth
aircraft—after the English Electric Canberra, B-52
Stratofortress, Tupolev Tu-95, and KC-135 Stratotanker—to mark
50 years of continuous use with its original primary customer,
in this case the United States Air Force. The C-130 remains in
production as the updated C-130J Super Hercules. Capable of
takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was
originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo
transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a
variety of other roles, including as a gunship, for airborne
assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather
reconnaissance, aerial refueling and aerial firefighting. The
Hercules family has the longest continuous prod