Canadian Warplanes 5: Lockheed CC-130 Hercules

Lockheed CC-130 Hercules

(Author Photo)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules, view of Canadian Army Military Freefall Parachutists (MFP) exiting with full equipment, ca 1979.

The CC-130 Hercules is primarily used for search and rescue operations. While it also carries out transport missions, its main focus is saving lives through the Canadian Armed Forces’ search and rescue mandate. It has a range of more than 7,200 kilometres and can transport approximately 80 passengers, operate on short unpaved runways and fly in severe weather conditions. These capabilities make the CC-130 an excellent aircraft for search and rescue operations over the vast span of Canada’s central and northern regions. (RCAF)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules (5), (Serial Nos. 10301-10304), and one USAF leased aircraft (Serial No. 65-0969)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (23), (Serial Nos. 130305-130328), CC-130H (14), (Serial Nos. 130329-130342), CC-130H-30 (2), (Serial Nos. 130343-130344), CC-130NY, CC-130J (17), (Serial Nos. 130601-130617) for a total of 56 aircraft.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3660070)

Lockheed C-130B Hercules (Serial No. 10301), Resolute Bay or CFS Alert, with a Bombardier B-12 Snow Coach c1960s (Red Ensign era).  

This ex-USAF Hercules (Serial No. 60-5450), was delivered new to No. 435 (T) Squadron, RCAF Station Namao, Alberta, in November 1960. It was transferred to No. 408 Squadron at Rivers Camp, Manitoba from Namao, Alberta on 21 May 1965.  It was the first Hercules to fly with this unit. The aircraft was returned to Lockheed on 10 April 1967. It went on the civil market, Reg. No. N4652 in July 1967, then to the Columbian Air Force in January 1969 )Serial No. FAC-1003). On 16 October 1982, this Hercules ditched in the Atlantic Ocean after running out of fuel while en route from the Azores to Bermuda due to navigation system failure.  Although 5 of the 13 on board died, the Hercules remained afloat for two days.

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules, RCAF (Serial No. 10301), the first of many Hercules that would serve with the RCAF, the Canadian Armed Forces and again the RCAF.  Ex-USAF (Serial No. 60-5450).  It was taken on strength with No. 435 "Chinthe" (T) Squadron at RCAF Station Namao, Alberta, on 5 Oct 1960.  10301 later served with No. 408 "Goose" (Transport Support and Area Reconnaissance) Squadron at RCAF Station Rivers, Manitoba, and finally with No. 4 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, on 14 Mar 1966.  The aircraft was purchased by Lockheed Georgia Company (Marietta, Georgia) on 29 Mar 1967.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules (Serial No. 10301). unloading a Canadair CL-13 Sabre (Serial No. 23470), No, 444 Squadron, at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario in the 1960s.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules (Serial No. 10301), No. 435 Squadron, Namao, Alberta.  

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules (Serial No. 10301), No. 435 Squadron, Namao, Alberta.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5039583)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules (Serial No. 10302), No. 435 Squadron, during Operation Re-supply at RCAF Detachment Resolute Bay, Northwest Territories, ca early 1960s. Ex USAF 60-5451. Delivered new to 435 (T) Squadron, RCAF Station Namao, Alberta, November 1960. Returned to Lockheed on 10 April 1967, to civil register as N4653 in July 1967, then to Columbian AF as FAC-1001 in January 1969. Withdrawn from use in July 1988. (CASPIR)

(RCAF Photo)

Canadair CL-13 Sabre wings being unloaded from an early Lockheed CC-130B Hercules (Serial No. 10302), RCAF Station Trenton in the 1960s.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5050960)

Bulldozer off-loading from a pallet after a low-altitude parachute extraction (LAPES) drop from a Hercules, May 1977.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5050969)

Observers on the ramp of a Hercules, Operation Morning Light, Feb 1978.

(RCAF Photo)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules, RCAF (Serial No. 10303), c1966. Ex USAF 60-5452. Delivered new to 435 (T) Squadron, RCAF Station Namao, Alberta, November 1960. Took part in Operation Boxtop VII, resupply of Alert from Thule, August 1962. Operating to Europe by fall of 1962, in support of RCAF units there. Used by 408 Squadron at Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1965 or 1966. Returned to Lockheed on 31 March 1967, to civil register as N4654 on 7 July 1967, then to Columbian AF as FAC-1002 in January 1969. Crashed and burned at Bogota, Columbia on 8 August 1969. (CASPIR)

(DND Photo via Jay White)

Lockheed C-130B Hercules (Serial No. 10303).

(RCAF Photo)

Lockheed CC-130B Hercules, RCAF (Serial No. 10303), dropping Canadian paratroops, ca 1966.

(RCAF Photos via Mike Kaehler)

The RCAF had 4 "B" model Hercules aircraft 10301-10304.  Here is one of them with the characteristic forward cargo door open.  These doors caused some problems (10304's door came open in flight and caused it to crash land in Saskatchewan).  This cargo door was not in the subsequent "E" model Hercs of which Canada had some.

Ex USAF 60-5453. Delivered new to 435 (T) Squadron at RCAF Station Namao. During August 1962, participated in Operation Boxtop Vll, the re-supply of Alert, NU, operating from Thule AFB in Greenland. The aircraft was re-assigned to 408 Squadron at RCAF Station Rivers MB. Emergency landing carried 15 Apr 1966 out near North Battleford SK. Forward cargo door opened in flight and damaged #2 propeller, which separated and damaged the aircraft roof. A wheels-up landing was carried out. The Hercules described a semi-circle before coming to rest. The #1 engine could not be shut down due to damage from the #2 prop. No injuries. Aircraft damaged beyond repair. Struck off 12 Oct 1966. (CASPIR)

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial Nos. 130305), JATO assisted take-off when it was almost brand new in 1967.

With 436 Squadron at CFB Uplands, Ontario at integration. Visited Perth, Australia in mid 1980s, in original white and bare metal finish. Converted to CC-130NT navigation trainer, for use at Navigation School at CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba. With 429 Squadron at CFB Winnipeg by 1991. Converted from navigation trainer to SAR role with special avionics at NAVAIR Toronto 1993. Re-designated CC-130E(SAR) for engineering purposes. With 424 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1994. Designation CC-130E(SAR) was used for engineering purposes. Still based at CFB Trenton in 2005, with No. 8 Wing. Seen at Camp Mirage, middle east, in October 2005. Category C incident at Trenton on 13 September 2008, when technician got foot stuck in cargo rail and fell out of open door, sustaining injuries in landing on hanger floor. Still at Trenton in October 2008. Visited Norman Wells, NWT on 27 July 2010. Seen at Kelowna in August 2010. Based at CFB Greenwood, NS in April 2011. Withdrawn from service by 26 September 2011. Stored at CFB Winnipeg by April 2012, awaiting disposal. Towed by volunteers in a fund raising event at Winnipeg summer of 2012. Scrapped at Winnipeg 14 Mar 2025. (CASPIR)

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules, (130307), with Canadian Airborne Regiment soldiers boarding.

With 435 Squadron at CFB Namao, Alberta. Visited Faro, Portugal in 1989. Converted to CC-130N navigation trainer, for use at Navigation School at CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba. With 429 Squadron at CFB Winnipeg by 1991. Converted from navigation trainer to SAR role with special avionics at NAVAIR Toronto 1993. Re-designated CC-130E(SAR) for engineering purposes. With 424 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1994. Visited Toronto Island Airport on 14 March 2006, part of a search over Lake Ontario. First CC-130 to be inducted into Cascade Aerospace at Abbotsford, BC for overhaul on 1 May 2006. Visited RAF Kinloss, UK on 12 February 2007. Dropped two SAR Techs at Hamilton airport, 13 February 2009. Reported with 45,000 + hours flight time in August 2011, scheduled for centre wing box replacement. The oldest active CF Hercules at that time. Stored at Trenton pending allocation for overhaul at that time. To Cascade Aerospace at Abbotsford for overhaul in May 2012, probably the last CC-130E to receive an overhaul. Scheduled for allotment to museum when withdrawn from service. Still in use March 2013, when it visited Kitchener-Waterloo airport and Windsor airport. Reported in June 2015 as last flying CC-130E. Donated to Canadian Aviation and Space Museum at Rockcliffe in April 2016. In total, it flew just over 47,000 flying hours coming within only a few hours of its maximum serviceable life. (CASPIR)

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial No. 130308).

With 435 Squadron at CFB Namao, Alberta when renumbered. Flew in Wiarton, Ontario air show in June 1976. Fitted with nine satellite tracking antennas 1976 to approximately 1983. Modified with EW Suite for Gulf War in 1990. With 436 Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1991 and 1994. To Santo Domingo airport in Dominican Republic in March 2004, delivering hurricane relief supplies to Haiti. Took part in 2005 Canadian National Exposition air show, basing out of Trenton. Visited Larnaca, Cyprus on 9 October 2005. Reached 45,000 flying hours at Kandahar, Afghanistan in December 2008. Seen at Hamilton airport in June 2010. Based at CFB Greenwood, NS in April 2011. Withdrawn from service by 5 September 2011. Stored at CFB Trenton by May 2012, awaiting disposal instructions. Stored at Cascade Aerospace at Abbotsford, BC in August 2015. Later reduced to spares and produce. (CASPIR)

(CAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial No. 130310), ca 1973.

With 436 Squadron at CFB Uplands, Ontario at integration. Converted to CC-130NT navigation trainer, for use at Navigation School at CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba. With No. 429 Squadron at CFB Winnipeg by 1991. Converted from navigation trainer to SAR role with special avionics at NAVAIR Toronto 1993. Re-designated CC-130E(SAR) for engineering purposes. With 424 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1994. Visited Spain in July 2002. Seen at Cambridge Bay, Nunavut in March 2006. With 413 Squadron, CFB Greenwood, NS in 2007. At Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford, BC for overhaul in summer of 2007. With 413 Squadron later in 2007. To CFS Alert, Nunavut for exercises, 3 April 2009. Stored at Trenton in flyable condition May 2010. Flown to Abbotsford, BC for Flyable Storage Program on 12 June 2010. Still stored there in April 2012. Later reduced to spares and produce. (CASPIR)

(RCAF Photo via Dennis Fitzgerald)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial Nos. 130311), JATO assisted take-off, Edmonton, Alberta, 1982.

With 436 Squadron at CFB Uplands, Ontario at integration. With 435 Squadron at CFB Edmonton (Namao), Alberta in 1991. To CAE at Edmonton for overhaul in 1995. Seen at CFB Trenton in October 2005. With 413 Squadron at CFB Greenwood, NS, c.2005. Category D damage at CFS Alert, Nunavut on 25 April 2006, while delivering fuel to Alert as part of Operation Boxtop 2006. Aircraft landed long on ice and snow covered runway, pilot came off brakes briefly when directional control problems encountered, over ran runway end by about 80 feet before stopping. Reported stored at Trenton 2006, near time expired. Still stored at Trenton in August and October 2008. Seen at Trenton in July 2009. Last flight 18 July 2007 at Trenton. Outer wings removed and installed on 130337, 13 July 2009. Still at Trenton in October 2009, wings removed. Other parts apparently stripped by June 2010. Still being stripped for spare parts at Trenton in October 2010. Fuselage still stored outside at Trenton in June 2011. Transferred to Cascade Aerospace and reduced to spares and produce in 2015. (CASPIR)

(Alain Rioux Photo)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules, RCAF (Serial No. 130315).

With 436 Squadron at CFB Uplands, Ontario at integration. To Trenton with this unit in 1973, still with unit in 1979. Visited Faro, Portugal in 1987. Modified with EW Suite for Gulf War in 1990. With 436 Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1991 and 1994. Reached 45,000 hours airframe time on 27 May 2005, the first military Hercules to reach this time. Was detached to CFB Cold Lake, Alberta from 8 Wing, CFB Trenton, for Exercise Maple Flag at the time. Last flight 24 September 2005 at Trenton. Reported stored at Trenton in December 2007, time expired, and used at ground instructional aid. Still at Trenton in March 2011, used as an engineering training aid. (CASPIR)

(Author Photo)

Sky Hawks preparing to board a Lockheed CC-130 Hercules (Serial No. 130315), equipped with Jet Assisted Take-off (JATO) bottles mounted, for an airshow at CFB Goose Bay, Labrador & Newfoundland, 20 Aug 1977.  That is Pte Lorne Ogden bending over to tighten his parachute harness.

(Pedro Aragão Photo)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial No. 130315), Aug 1986.

(DND Photo)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial Nos. 10318, 10316, and 10333 (triple pig) in line astern formation over the Rocky Mountains.

10318 was with 435 Squadron at CFB Edmonton (Namao), Alberta in 1974 and 1991. Flew to Australia and Singapore, 6 to 20 September 1974. With No. 8 Wing at CFB Trenton in 1995. Visited Azores islands in March 2005. At Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford, BC for overhaul in summer of 2007. Back at CFB Trenton by November 2008. At Abbotsford for prototype Joint Aerial Delivery Standoff System (J-PADS) modification and testing January 2009. Under test at Abbotsford and Trenton in 2009. Last flight 16 May 2010 at Abbotsford. Used for some avionics prototyping at Cascade. By August 2010 wings removed, airframe used as ground trainer for CC-130J program. Outer wings removed and stored as spares. Reported stored at Abbotsford, BC on 2 July 2011. Reduced to spares and produce. (CASPIR)

(Author Photo)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial No. 130318), view of Canadian Army Military Freefall Parachutists (MFP) exiting, ca 1977.

With 435 Squadron, CFB Namao, Alberta, when destroyed in a crash on 29 January 1989. Crash-landed 300-600 feet short of the runway at night in -46deg C temperatures, at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. 9 fatalities, including 2 who died later in hospital, and 9 survivors. Fatalities included Master Corp. L.M. Papineau-Couture and Capt. J.P-E. C. Castonguay. (CASPIR)

(RCAF photo via Mike Kaehler)

Lockheed CC-130 Hercules (Serial No. 130318), CFB Edmonton, Alberta, c1980.

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial No. 10320), No. 435 "Chinthe" (T) Squadron based at RCAF Station Namao, Alberta. 10320 was re-numbered (Serial No. 13020) on 28 May 1970.

With No. 435 Squadron at CFB Namao, Alberta. Visited Maastricht, Holland in October 1979. Extensively damaged at Trenton in 1983 when it was hit by 130328 that had jumped its chocks during an engine run up. Fortunately, there was no fire or injury and the aircraft was repaired. With 436 Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1991 and 1994. Served with 424 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Trenton, dates not known. At SPAR facility at Edmonton International Airport (Nisku) in August 2006. Back at CFB Trenton by October 2008. Stored at Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford by 27 March 2011. Time expired.  Reduced to spares and produce. (CASPIR)

(RCAF Photo via Jay White)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial No. 10320), No. 435 "Chinthe" (T) Squadron based at RCAF Station Namao, Alberta. 10320 was re-numbered (Serial No. 13020) on 28 May 1970.

(Alain Rioux Photo)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules, RCAF (Serial No. 130321), 28 Feb 1993.

With 436 Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1991. With 435 Squadron, 8 Wing, Trenton, when destroyed on 22 July 1993. Crashed during LAPES (Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System) training at CFB Wainwright, Alberta. 5 fatalities: Capt. M.G. Allen; Master Corp. R.J. McWiliam; Sgt. A.D.J. Michaud; and Capt. V.L. Schurman. 4 survivors. All LAPES operations in the Canadian Forces were permanently suspended shortly after this accident. Cat "A" write-off.

(Aldo Bidini Photo)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial No. 130323), Aug 1986.

With 436 Squadron at CFB Uplands, Ontario at integration. With 436 Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in 1991 and 1994. To CAE Aviation for overhaul in 1995. Heavy snowfall accumulation on tail caused aircraft to tip onto its rear ramp with no apparent damage at Greenwood in the early morning on 14 November 2004. To SPAR in Edmonton for overhaul in November 2005. At CFB Greenwood with 413 Squadron in 2010. To Cascade Aerospace at Abbotsford, BC for Periodic Inspection in June 2010. Probably last inspection for this aircraft. To 435 Squadron at CFB Winnipeg on 23 August 2010. Seen at Trenton open house in June 2011. Also on display at Hamilton air show the same month. Withdrawn from use 23 January 2012, stored at CFB Trenton pending disposal. Still there in May 2012. Reduced to spares and produce 2013. (CASPIR)

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Lockheed CC-130E Hercules (Serial Nos. 10329, and 10314 in line astern formation.

USAF serial 73-1589 issued for book keeping, no record of it actually being marked externally (does appear on serial plate). Delivered to 435 Squadron on 26 September 1974. Later served with 436 (T) Squadron. Flew this squadron's first operational LAPES mission on 8 April 1982, when it delivered 64 drums of fuel near Eureka, NWT. Crashed and destroyed during LAPES demonstration at CFB Namao, Alberta on 16 November 1982. Crashed when load jammed in aircraft, with chute deployed. 7 fatalities, including Sgt. D.G. Buchan, Sgt. J.R. Gionet, Capt. T.C. Harper, and Capt. R.F. Lovell of 435 Squadron, and Capt. J.M. Smith; and Master Corporal L.D. Smith of 436 Squadron.

View of an MFP jump from inside a C-130 Hercules.  

I loved standing on the ramp waiting for the green light to jump, and as the ramp was being lowered When the ramp opened it was like watching a barn door opening in front of you.  The view was even more interesting when we had two other Hercules in trail formation following us to the drop zone, and on static line jumps you could make out the other two aircraft pulling up alongside in V formation so we could all exit at the same time - very rare if ever done these days.  As I stepped off the ramp I could see the other jumpers exiting the aircraft on either side - then the canopy was open and there was other business to take care of. On a Canadian Airborne Regiment training exercise over CFB Borden, Ontario in 1987 we had twelve Hercules carrying more than 600 paratroopers dropped by static line in four three-plane waves with weapons and equipment. We did a combat extraction two hours later - aircraft came in to land, taxied to the end of the runway and turned slowly around.  You jumped onboard by group, and if you missed the plane as it turned around, it took off without you and there was a 25 km hike north to a vehicle pickup point.  Needless to say, everyone was on board after the tenth plane came in and the other two came back to Petawawa empty. You are unlikely to see that again in Canada in the near future.

(Corporal Arthur Ark, CF Photo)

En route to Canada’s Arctic in May 2015, during annual NORAD-sponsored Exercise Amalgam Dart 15-2, a CF-188 Hornet from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron, located at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, takes on fuel from a 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron CC-130 Hercules (Serial No. 130338) air-to-air refueller while a second Hornet serves as observer.

Identified as a CC-130H90 or H90(T) for maintenance purposes, based on year of build. Designations KCC-130H is unofficial, designated as CC-130H(T) for engineering purposes. Converted to air-to-air tanker configuration by Northwest Industries, Edmonton, Alberta and assigned to 435(T&R) Squadron based at CFB Namao, Edmonton AB in 1992. With 435 Squadron at CFB Edmonton, Alberta in 1994. Moved to CFB Winnipeg with this unit in 1994. Still with this unit in 1995, and 2005 at CFB Winnipeg. Fuel imbalance caused the aircraft to slowly tilt onto its left wing during an overnight stop at CFS Alert, Nunavut on 24 November 2005. Minor damage to wing tip. Took part in training exercises at Key West NAS, Florida in March 2012, operated by 435 Squadron. Still active at Winnipeg in January 2013 and June 2014.

(Mike Kaehler Photo)

Lockheed CC-130H Hercules (Serial No. 130338), No. 435 Squadron in a tanker configuration, shortly after take-off in 2019 while visiting CFB Comox, British Columbia.

(BriYYZ Photo)

Lockheed CC-130H Hercules (Serial No. 130339).

Identified as a CC-130H90 or H90(T) for maintenance purposes, based on year of build. Converted to tanker configuration by Northwest Industries, Edmonton, Alberta. Started operation trials as tanker in 1999, with 435 (TT) Squadron. Designations KCC-130H and CC-130H(T) are unofficial. With 435 Squadron at CFB Edmonton, Alberta in 1994. Moved to CFB Winnipeg with this unit in 1994. Still with this unit in 1995. Used to prototype the Spar/CAE Avionic Update Program (AUP), with testing from Edmonton International Airport from September 1997 to February 1998. To CF for in service testing on 21 April 1998. Visited Winnipeg, Manitoba in June 2006. Seen at Yellowknife air show in February 2008. To NAS Pensacola, Florida in September 2008, with No. 435 Squadron crew, fitted with tanker pods. Still operational in February 2009 at CFB Winnipeg. Seen at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton on 26 to 28 August 2011, possibly in preparation for transfer of an older Hercules to this museum. Took part in Canadian National Airshow at Toronto in September 2012. Still active at Winnipeg in December 2013. (CASPIR)

(Paul Nity Photo)

Lockheed CC-130H Hercules (Serial No. 130341).

Identified as a CC-130H90 or H90(T) for maintenance purposes, based on year of build. Converted to tanker configuration by Northwest Industries, Edmonton, Alberta. Designations KCC-130H and CC-130H(T) are unofficial. With. 435 Squadron at CFB Edmonton, Alberta in 1994. Moved to CFB Winnipeg with this unit in 1994. Still with this unit in 1995. With 8 Wing at CFB Trenton in January 2006. Visited Brize Norten, UK in December 2006. Visited Nassau, Bahamas in March 2009. With 435 Squadron at Winnipeg when it dropped SAR Techs onto the ice off Coral Harbour, Nunavut on 9 November 2009, to rescue a stranded hunter. Seen at Abbotsford in late 2009, probably for overhaul by Cascade Aviation. Assigned to 8 Wing at CFB Trenton in October 2009, still there in June 2010. To Trapini-Birgi AFB in Italy in spring of 2011, as tanker support for Operation Mobile (Canadian contribution to UN operations over Libya). Seen at Malaga, Spain in July 2011, along with several CF-18s. At CFB Trenton in May 2012. Still active at Winnipeg in April 2013. (CASPIR)

(CAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Lockheed CC-130H-30 Hercules (Serial No. 130342), No. 435 Squadron, flying near Comox, British Columbia, in 2005.  This aircraft is a tanker, which is readily apparent by the AAR pod on each wing outboard of the engines.  This particular aircraft was destroyed on 21 Feb 2012 in Florida.  The crew was very skilled in how they handled the in-flight emergency and were lucky that they were where they were when it happened.

Identified as a CC-130H90 or H90(T) for maintenance purposes, based on year of build. Convertedto tanker configuration by Northwest Industries, Edmonton, AB. Designations CC-130H(T) isunofficial. With 435 Sqn at CFB Edmonton, AB in 1994. Moved to CFB Winnipeg with this unit in 1994. Still with this unit in 1995. Seen doing touch and goes at CFB Winnipeg in 2007. VisitedNorman Wells, NWT on 27 July 2010. To Trapini-Birgi AFB in Italy in spring of 2011, as tanker support for Op MOBILE (Canadian contribution to UN operations over Libya). On 21 February 2012, during a touch and go at Naval Air Station Key West just prior to the aircraft becoming airborne, the Loadmaster, who was seated in the rear of the cargo compartment, heard an electrical buzzing sound and observed an orange jet-like flame shoot across the cargo ramp floor. He unbuckled his harness and was reaching for the fire extinguisher when an expansive orange fireball erupted, causing him to protect his head with his jacket. Once the fireball receded, he alerted the crew to the fire and moved forward to escape the heat and smoke. Concurrent with the fire alert, the aircraft became airborne and reached 10 feet in altitude above the runway. With sufficient runway remaining, the Flying Pilot landed straight ahead and aggressively stopped the aircraft while the Non-Flying Pilot notified Air Traffic Control. Once the aircraft came to rest and the engines were shut down, all nine crew members quickly egressed and moved upwind of the aircraft. Crash Fire and Rescue services responded and expeditiously extinguished the fire. The aircraft was extensively damaged and one crew member received a minor injury. The investigation determined that routing and clampingdeficiencies in a modification to install ground test connections to the auxiliary hydraulic system,resulted in chafing between the hydraulic pump motor power wire and a pressurized hydraulic flexiblehose. Electrical arcing between the wire and the hose resulted in a pin-hole breach of the flexiblehose, release of hydraulic fluid under high pressure, and initiation of the fire. The extent of thedamage to critical structures resulted in a Cat "A" write-off. (CASPIR)

(Alain Rioux Photo)

Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules (Serial No. 130606), 2 June 2011.

Arrived at Trenton at 16:10 on 21 February 2011, for 436 (T) Squadron. Seen at Prestwick several times in late March 2011, in support of Operation Mobile, Canada's contribution to UN actions against Libya. Dropped Skyhawks demo team at Borden air show in June 2012. Took part in Kitchener airshow in June 2013. (CASPIR)

(Paul Nity Photo)

Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules (Serial No. 130612).

First flight 17 July 2011, at Marietta, Georgia. Delivered to CFB Trenton 20 July 2011. Seen at Windsor, Ontario airport on 10 February 2012. Passed through Prestwick, UK on 2 November 2013. Visited Luton, UK on 9 July 2014. On static display at Abbotsford air show in August 2015, with 436 Squadron. (CASPIR)

(airforcefe Photo)

Lockheed CC-130J-30 Hercules (Serial No. 130615), No. 436 Squadron, in service with the RCAF, operating out of CFB Trenton, Ontario. Manufacturer testing underway in Georgia by March 2012. Seen at Prestwick, UK on 24 June 2012. (CASPIR)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5056631)

Canadian Forces Lockheed CC-130 Hercules, UNIIMOG, 1988.  The United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group was a United Nations commission created during the Iran–Iraq War by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 619 of August 9, 1988. The withdrawal of UNIIMOG forces in 1991 marked the official end to the Iran–Iraq War.