After 60 years, C-130 still a 'magnificent machine'

It was only a 25 min ride up to the DMZ that day from DaNang.
The C-130 did it job.....many times over too.
Thank you AF.
A great ride indeed.

I inspected C-130's for a number of years at Lockheed, they had their share of issues like any plane but the H model was the best and still flys in a lot of countries. Just like in any big military program, the Company lobbies Congress to keep building them even if the Military says " we have enough " that is how the J model came about, it has upgraded power plants and avionics but pretty much does the same thing as the H models plus it has the 6 blade composite props from Downey that are problem areas. Hundreds of various models are parked in the Az desert that still are useable.

Just like the DC3, it has surely earned it's place in aviation history. Probably the two best airplanes the military ever had and more than likely the C130 will be around in civilian applications long after the military discontinues them.

I flew around the Mediterranean from Genoa Italy to Rota Spain in a Navy C-130 in 1965 stopping at Nice France and Barcelonia Spain. They had trouble regulating the heat roasted some of the time,froze the rest of the time.

I had the chance to catch a ride in one of them, from CFB Europe to London and back, quite rare for a civilian I think. Talk about a purpose built machine.

As the story says, that C 130 that was the last out of Saigon is now on display, right outside the main gate, at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville AR.