Hero to Many
the c-130 knows its place
By kizzy bailey

A C-130E Hercules from the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Islands ANGS, Calif., uses the Modular Airborne Firefighting System to make a Phos-Chek fire-retardant drop on the Simi Valley fire Oct. 28, 2007. Pilots flying eight Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo airplanes dropped 129,600 gallons of retardant on the Simi fire during 48 sorties and 32 flying hours in the first several days of the fire. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Dennis W. Goff.

The C-130 Hercules is a legend in the aeronautical world. This versatile four-engine turboprop transport aircraft has been built in Marietta for the last 55 years, making it the longest continuously active military aircraft assembly line in history. Just a few years after its first flight on Aug. 23, 1954, the C-130 was pressed into service to deliver various cargo, personnel, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to all corners of the world.

The following images show a few of the extraordinary recent missions that have received a helping hand from the C-130.

Hurricane Katrina survivors, stacked five-high, were medically evacuated from New Orleans to NAS Jacksonville, Fla., aboard an Air Force Reserve Command C-130 Hercules Sept. 4, 2005. Photo by PM2 Andrea Decanini.		Air Force members help earthquake refugees board a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Clearwater, headed for Homestead, Fla., Jan. 16, 2010. Around 60 people boarded the aircraft, including children and elderly. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Pamela J. Manns
Burmese troops form a line to carry water supplies off a U.S. Air Force C-130 at the Yangon (Rangoon) International Airport May 12, 2008. The aircraft, from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, carried water, food and medical supplies to provide relief to Burma after it was struck by Tropical Cyclone Nargis May 2, 2008. U.S. Marine Corps photo		"It supports our troops, aids those in need and is the best aircraft made.” – Darrin Ellis, C-130 lead tank sealer
"Everyone works together as a team." – Melodie Jordan, C-130 structural assembly worker		"It's designed for success!" – Sam Hill, C-130 lead 606 structural assembly worker

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