Lockheed LC-130

Last updated

LC-130 Hercules
Lockheed LC-130H Hercules (L-382), USA - Air Force AN0633004.jpg
A 139th Airlift Squadron LC-130 after takeoff
Role Ski-equipped military transport aircraft
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Lockheed
Lockheed Martin
First flight1956
StatusActive
Primary users United States Air Force
United States Navy (former)
Developed from C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed LC-130 is a ski-equipped United States Air Force variant of the C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. Ten are currently in service with the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard. [1]

Contents

Design and development

The LC-130 started as a prototype model developed by modifying a C-130A with skis in 1956. [2] After testing in 1957, 12 additional C-130A models were modified with skis and hydraulics under the designation of C-130D. [2] [3] In 1959 the first four factory equipped, ski-based Hercules were produced under the Navy designation of UV-1L. These C-130s are USAF C-130B models. Later in the program the designation was changed from UV-1L to C-130BL. This designation was again later changed to LC-130F when aircraft nomenclature was standardized for all services by the U. S. Defense Department in 1962. These four aircraft were bought by the Navy Department to support the Navy's Antarctic expedition that was ongoing at the time. [3] The Navy also bought one LC-130R model in 1968. The National Science Foundation bought the second set of aircraft as replacement aircraft. The Polar Program Division of the Foundation had assumed management of the Antarctic Program in the early 1970s. These aircraft were designated LC-130R and were delivered in two lots: the first lot of three in 1974 and the remaining two in 1976.

The primary mission of the LC-130 is supporting the scientific community in Antarctica by transporting cargo and personnel from the McMurdo Station to field stations and camps, including the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.

Close up of LC-130 nose ski LC-130 Skis.JPG
Close up of LC-130 nose ski

The aircraft are equipped with retractable skis that allow the aircraft to land on snow and ice as well as on conventional runways. The aircraft have provisions for using rocket-assisted-takeoff (RATO) rockets, four on each side of the aircraft, that are installed and used when the LC-130 operates from rough, unprepared snow surfaces, sticky snow or when shorter takeoff runs are needed. Originally the expended rocket bottles were jettisonable, but due to several accidents which occurred when a bottle detached from the aircraft during takeoff, the mounting provisions were changed so that the bottles could not be released in the air.

Operational history

Video of rocket-assisted takeoff from snow

The Navy Antarctic Development Squadron Six (First designated VX-6, then VXE-6 from 1969) originally operated the LC-130 aircraft. Initially, VXE-6 was home based at the Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island and later at the Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California. Operation of the aircraft was transferred in 1999 to the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard when Navy support of the Antarctic program was terminated. VXE-6 was decommissioned after 44 years of science and cargo support missions in support of "Operation Deep Freeze". [4]

There have been two crashes in Antarctica. The first crash occurred in 1971 at an ice runway 860 miles (1,380 km) from McMurdo Station as a result of two JATO bottles ejecting improperly and striking the plane's propeller. This aircraft's registration was 148321 [5] [6] .The second crash occurred when a second similar aircraft (159131) was destroyed, while delivering replacement parts for the first aircraft; this resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries. [7] The repaired aircraft was dug out of the snow, had temporary repairs and then flown to McMurdo Station in 1987 at a cost of $10 million and thence to Christchurch, New Zealand. [8] It re-entered service and spent several more seasons doing antarctic work. The aircraft was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB sometime after 1998. [9]

Currently all LC-130 aircraft are operated by the New York Air National Guard and are based at the Air National Guard's facility at Schenectady County Airport. There are two versions. Seven aircraft are LC-130H-2 (Three of these were Navy LC-130R from VXE-6 converted to LC-130H-2). Three are the LC-130H-3 model.

Aircraft on display

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed C-130 Hercules</span> American military transport aircraft

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medevac, and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in other roles, including as a gunship (AC-130), for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting. It is now the main tactical airlifter 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed EC-130</span> 1975 electronic warfare aircraft series by Lockheed

The Lockheed Martin EC-130 series comprises several slightly different versions of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules that have been and continue to be operated by the U.S. Air Force and, until the 1990s, the U.S. Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed HC-130</span> Search and rescue aircraft version of the C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate services in the U.S. armed forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Credible Sport</span> 1980 planned US military operation during the Iranian Hostage Crisis

Operation Credible Sport was a joint project of the U.S. military in the second half of 1980 to prepare for a second rescue attempt of the hostages held in Iran. The concept included using a Lockheed C-130 Hercules airlifter modified with the addition of rocket engines to make it a short take off and landing (STOL) capable aircraft able to land on the field within a soccer stadium in Tehran. Operation Credible Sport was terminated when on 2 November, the Iranian parliament accepted an Algerian plan for release of the hostages, followed two days later by Ronald Reagan's election as the U.S. president.

Operation Deep Freeze is codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on.. Given the continuing and constant US presence in Antarctica since that date, "Operation Deep Freeze" has come to be used as a general term for US operations in that continent, and in particular for the regular missions to resupply US Antarctic bases, coordinated by the United States military. Task Force 199 was involved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">109th Airlift Wing</span> Unit of the NY Air National Guard assigned to provide Arctic and Antarctic airlift operations

The 109th Airlift Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Schenectady, New York. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williams Field</span> Airstrip in Antarctica

Williams Field or Willy Field is a United States Antarctic Program airfield in Antarctica. Williams Field consists of two snow runways located on approximately 8 meters (25 ft) of compacted snow, lying on top of 8–10 ft of ice, floating over 550 meters (1,800 ft) of water. The airport, which is approximately seven miles from Ross Island, serves McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base. Until the 2009–10 summer season, Williams was the major airfield for on-continent aircraft operations in Antarctica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sewart Air Force Base</span> Former US Air Force base in Smyrna, Tennessee

Sewart Air Force Base (1941–1971) is a former United States Air Force base located in Smyrna, about 25 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee. During World War II, it was known as Smyrna Army Airfield.

Schenectady County Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) north of the central business district of Schenectady, a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a reliever airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice Runway</span> Sea ice airport for McMurdo Station, Antarctica

The Ice Runway is the principal runway for the U.S. Antarctic Program during the summer Antarctic field season due to its proximity to McMurdo Station. The other two runways in the area are the snow runway at Williams Field (NZWD) and the compacted snow runway at Phoenix Airfield (NZFX), which replaced Pegasus Field (NZPG) in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The New York Air National Guard (NY ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of New York in the United States of America. It is an element of the New York National Guard as part of the larger Army National Guard, a reservist force under the command of the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quonset Point Air National Guard Station</span> Military base in Rhode Island, US

Quonset Point Air National Guard Station is the home base of the Rhode Island Air National Guard 143rd Airlift Wing. Naval Air Station (NAS) Quonset Point was a United States Naval Base in Quonset Point, Rhode Island that was deactivated in 1974. Next to NAS Quonset Point was Camp Endicott at Davisville, home of the Naval Construction Battalions known as the Seabees. Quonset Point also gave its name to the Quonset hut, a standardized temporary structure used by the U.S. military starting in World War II. Former US President Richard M. Nixon went through basic naval officer training at Quonset Point in 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byrd Station</span> Antarctic research station in Marie Byrd Land

The Byrd Station is a former research station established by the United States during the International Geophysical Year by U.S. Navy Seabees during Operation Deep Freeze II in West Antarctica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">139th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 139th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing Stationed at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Schenectady, New York. The 139th is equipped with the specialized ski-equipped LC-130H Hercules for polar operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed Martin KC-130</span> Aerial refueling tanker based on Lockheed Martin C-130

The Lockheed MartinKC-130 is a family of the extended-range tanker version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The KC-130J is the latest variant operated by the United States Marine Corps (USMC), with 48 delivered out of 79 ordered. It replaced older KC-130F, KC-130R, and KC-130T variants for aerial refueling. USMC reserve unit, VMGR-452 operated 12 KC-130T aircraft until May 2021; this was the last USMC reserve unit that operated the legacy KC-130s, completing the corps' transition to the more advanced Super Hercules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VX-6</span> Military unit

Air Development Squadron Six was a United States Navy Air Development Squadron based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Established at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on 17 January 1955, the squadron's mission was to conduct operations in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the operational component of the United States Antarctic Program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VXE-6</span> United States Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron

Antarctic Development Squadron Six was a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California with forward operating bases at Christchurch, New Zealand and McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Chilean Air Force C-130 crash</span> Military aircraft accident

On 9 December 2019, a Chilean Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft crashed in the Drake Passage while en route to Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, a Chilean military base on King George Island in Antarctica.

References

  1. ↑ Jackson, Kerry (22 October 2010). "New York LC-130 leaves Hickam for Operation Deep Freeze". National Guard. 13th Air Force Public Affairs. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 Bailey, Nolan W. Sr. (1996). "Development of the C-130D". firebirds.org. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  3. 1 2 Bailey, Nolan W. Sr. (2003). "C-130D Ski Herc Production Listing". Firebirds. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  4. ↑ "A Navy C-130 Hercules from VXE-6 makes the squadron's final departure from Antarctica". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "The story of 321". southpolestation.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  6. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed LC-130F Hercules 148321 D-59 Station". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "Tragic aircraft crash at the 321 recovery site". southpolestation.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  8. ↑ Stark, Krishna (July 1988). Antarctic snowbird flying after 17-year deep freeze. New York: Flying Magazine. p. 20.
  9. ↑ "The story of 321". southpolestation.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Schmidt, Catharine (31 August 2017). "Airmen come together to improve LC-130 static display". 109th Airlift Wing. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Lockheed C-130D". Pima Air & Space. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.