Editing Lockheed C-130 Hercules (section)

{{short description|American military transport aircraft}}
{{Redirect|Hercules aircraft|other aircraft called "Hercules"|Hercules (disambiguation)#Vehicles}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout, and guidelines. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = C-130 Hercules
| image = Lockheed C-130 Hercules.jpg
| caption = A United States Air Force C-130E
| alt = Straight-wing, four-engine turboprop-driven aircraft overflying water
| type = [[Tactical airlifter]]
| national_origin = United States
| manufacturer = {{ubl|[[Lockheed Corporation]] |[[Lockheed Martin]]}}
| designer = 
| first_flight = {{Start date and age|1954|08|23}}
| introduction = December 1956<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/c130/history.html |website=lockeedmartin.com |publisher=Lockheed Martin |title=Hercules History |date=30 April 2018 |access-date=6 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406105919/https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/c130/history.html |archive-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| retired = 
| status = In service
| primary_user = [[United States Air Force]]<!--Limit one (1) primary user. Top 4 users listed in 'primary user' and 'more users' fields based in-service fleet numbers. -->
| more_users = {{ubl|[[Royal Canadian Air Force]] |[[United States Coast Guard]] |[[Royal Air Force]] (historical)}} <!-- Only THREE (3) "more users" here (four users total) by fleet size. Users of C-130 variants with their own articles should be listed there, not here. See Operators section for other operators. -->
| produced = 1954–present
| number_built = 2,500+ as of 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lockheedmartin.com/us/news/features/2015/C130FamilyTies.html |title=Family Ties: Three Generations Contribute to Hercules Legacy |access-date=8 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709115647/http://lockheedmartin.com/us/news/features/2015/C130FamilyTies.html |archive-date=9 July 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| developed_from = 
| variants = {{ubli|[[Lockheed AC-130]]| [[Lockheed DC-130]] |[[Lockheed EC-130]]|[[Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call]] |[[Lockheed HC-130]] |[[Lockheed Martin KC-130]] |[[Lockheed LC-130]] |[[Lockheed MC-130]] |[[Lockheed RC-130 Hercules|Lockheed RC-130]]|[[Lockheed WC-130]] |[[Lockheed L-100 Hercules]] |[[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules]]}}
| developed_into = 
}}

The '''Lockheed C-130 Hercules''' is an American four-engine [[turboprop]] [[military transport aircraft]] designed and built by [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] (now [[Lockheed Martin]]). Capable of using unprepared [[runway]]s for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, [[Medical evacuation|medevac]], and [[Cargo aircraft|cargo transport aircraft]]. The versatile [[airframe]] has found uses in other roles, including as a [[gunship]] ([[AC-130]]), for [[airborne infantry|airborne assault]], [[search and rescue]], scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, [[aerial refueling]], [[maritime patrol]], and [[aerial firefighting]]. It is now the main [[tactical airlift]]er for many military forces worldwide. More than 40 variants of the Hercules, including civilian versions marketed as the [[Lockheed L-100]], operate in more than 60 nations.

The C-130 entered service with the U.S. in 1956, followed by Australia and many other nations. During its years of service, the Hercules has participated in numerous military, civilian and [[humanitarian aid]] operations. In 2007, the transport became the fifth aircraft{{refn|After the [[English Electric Canberra]], [[B-52 Stratofortress]], [[Tupolev Tu-95]], and [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135 Stratotanker]].|group= N}} to mark 50 years of continuous service with its original primary customer, which for the C-130 is the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF). The C-130 is the longest continuously produced military aircraft, having achieved 70 years of production in 2024.<ref name="q550">{{cite web | last=Roza | first=David | title='Workhorse of the Air' C-130 Marks 70 Years Since First Flight | website=Air & Space Forces Magazine | date=2024-08-23 | url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/c-130-hercules-70-years-first-flight/ | access-date=2024-08-25}}</ref> The updated [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules]] remains in production {{as of|2024|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stokes |first=Stephannie |date=29 December 2015 |title=C-130 aircraft designed in the 1950s still delivers |url=http://www.marketplace.org/2015/12/29/business/c-130-aircraft-designed-1950s-still-delivers |work=[[Marketplace (radio program)|Marketplace]] |access-date=2 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102185645/http://www.marketplace.org/2015/12/29/business/c-130-aircraft-designed-1950s-still-delivers |archive-date=2 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>