48 Hour Photo Competition - The Mighty Herc

[Blackbird]

I've liked the Herc for as long as I can remember. What I'm looking for in this competition is unusual variants and/or operators. They don't have to be top quality images. I've posted a couple of examples neither of which would be award-winning photos. The first one is surrounded by GA clutter and you can't see the Herc in full, but how often do you stumble across a Bolivian Air Force example?
Bolivian Air Force Lockheed Hercules FAB 65 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

This one was taken through an aircraft (dirty) window on take-off from Colombo airport.
NR6A0442 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

As usual, a maximum of three per post. Over to you!

Andy

[jalfrezi]

Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call - 03 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

Lockheed C-130H Hercules - 05 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

Lockheed C-130E Karnaf - 5 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

[rebel14]

USAF @ MILDENHALL 2004

IMG_0097MLD by MARK MEADES, on Flickr

TURKEY @ FAIRFORD 2008

IMG_0326a.jpgm by MARK MEADES, on Flickr

CHILE @ WADDINGTON 2008

IMG_0125a.jpgm by MARK MEADES, on Flickr

[Andyph]

These are pretty unusual in the UK - from as far away as you can get!

also unique model - built as an E but with the engines of an H

also a bit of a different angle!

C-130 low level Herc by Andy Heap, on Flickr

and from the outside IMG_5489 by Andy Heap, on Flickr

and one of our neighbours - rare in the UK I'd have thought - very welcome here as a disaster aid flight after the Kiakoura earthquake.

IMG_3968 by Andy Heap, on Flickr

[Draken]

1. Does pink count as special?


2. Samurai Herc


3. Air Contractors

[capercaillie]

Was the unique EC-130V, here designated as an NC-130H at Edwards in 1997. It is now a fire fighting air tanker.
img106 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

USAF LC-130H first arrival for Cottesmore RIAT in 2000
img094 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

And a skier from the US Navy, LC-130R from VXE-6 at NAS Point Mugu
img911 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

[Wrexham Mackem]

Who doesn't love a Herkybird?





and an old specimen in the modern era

[AndyXH558]

MC130js in lovely golden light.
580A4829 by andrew abbott, on Flickr

ZH880 is now with the Qatari AirForce. this was one of the last times we saw her in RAF colours
47 sqn herk by andrew abbott, on Flickr

Ok this is fairly normal, yet this was the last time i ever saw one of the old C130s in RAF colours, this one ended up with the Austrian airforce, but it seems shes been used now for spares recovery.
Herky 296 by andrew abbott, on Flickr

[SuffolkBlue]

AC-130A, 53-3129, was the first production C-130 built. The "First Lady", as it is known now, was rolled out at Marietta, Georgia on the 10th March 1955. It was first flown a few weeks later on the 7th April and converted to gunship configuration (AC-130A, "Spectre") in December 1968.
It was retired and placed on static display at the USAF Armament Museum at Elgin AFB, Florida, in 1998. I was lucky enough to have the “keys” to have a look inside during my visit but sadly it was hotter than an oven inside, so I didn’t spend as long in there as I would have liked.

Lockheed AC-130A Spectre - Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, June 2011 by Chris Day, on Flickr


Colombian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules - Royal International Air Tattoo 2012, Saturday 7th July 2012 by Chris Day, on Flickr

TC-130G Hercules, Cn 382-3878 was the Blue Angels support aircraft from 1991 to 2002 and now preserved at the USN Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.

Lockheed TC-130G Hercules - National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, June 2011 by Chris Day, on Flickr

[PeterR]

Starting with my most exotic Hercules; a Uruguayan example seen arriving at Santiago airport in the early morning light. It was delivering the delegation from Uruguay to visit the FIDAE airshow in 2018.



Next up from the same location, one of the Chileans airframes which is also used as a tanker, with refuelling pods similar to those seen on the MC-130 fleet on the outer wing section.



And finally a little closer to home but still really seen. One of the Romanian Air Force's veteran C-130B airframes in lovely camouflage landing at its homebase at Bucharest airport.

[buccs2b]

Tricky this one. Here goes

Pair of DC-130As at Mojave
199610_DC130As by Tony Adams, on Flickr

USCG HC-130H
199610_Sacramento_0018 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

One from Red Flag, with a Fulton nose
01_Nellis by Tony Adams, on Flickr

[Spiny Norman]

Good theme, certainly got me thinking (and searching). Have gone back a bit, firstly to Greenham Common in 1983.

USAF C-130A



Jordanian C-130H



Australian C-130 at Fairford in 1993.

[Wbirdnut]

The RAAF repainted their C130Js from light to dark grey some years back,
obviously taken around this time.


RAAF C130J in 50th year markings.

[Seamus]

Can't really compete with the exotica above...

Lockheed Martin CC-130J-30 Hercules | 130612 | Royal Canadian Air Force | RNAS Yeovilton | 13/07/19 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed C-130H Hercules 5153/61-PJ Armee de L'Air Biggin Hill 20/08/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed C-130E Hercules 64144 Pakistan Air Force RAF Fairford 11/07/16 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

[pako-2008]

First is a Qatari during Anatolian Eagle last year:
Qatar Emiri Air Force | Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules | 211 (MAH) | 12 Transport Squadron, Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar

Second is from one of the best impromptu visits I've ever had, from meeting the Wing Commander at Araxos during the A-7 retirement, him flying back via the C-130 whilst we drove back to Elefsis, where he was waiting for us at the front gate to walk us round his squadron:
Hellenic Air Force | Lockheed C-130H Hercules | 745 | 356th Tactical Transport Squadron (356MTM), Elefsis Air Base, Greece

Last is the furthest I've travelled for one, Brazil:
Força Aérea Brasileira | Lockheed KC-130H Hercules | 2462 | 1º/1ºGT, Base Aérea do Galeão, Brazil

[Blackbird]

Thank you all for such a varied selection of contributions which has made judging this really tricky!

Honourable mentions go to Peter R's Uruguayan model, Nick's EC-130 and Tomasz's pink Herc - who did that belong to? However my winner is Capercaillie's excellent EC-130V. How I would love to have seen that one!

Many thanks to you all for taking part - Paul, over to you.

Andy

[capercaillie]

Cheers Andy, it was a pleasant surprise as I hadn't realised it was part of Edwards test fleet until I saw it there.

I am jealous of Peter's Uruguayan one and confused by Tomasz's pink one as well.

New comp up in the morning with a very free hand of choice.

[Draken]

Ha! Thanks Andy - Pink Herc belongs to UAE Air Force, pink color comes from smoke left after Al Fursan full formation low pass during Air14 in Payerne.

[Blackbird]

Ha! Thanks Andy - Pink Herc belongs to UAE Air Force, pink color comes from smoke left after Al Fursan full formation low pass during Air14 in Payerne.

Thanks for the explanation!

Andy