Happy 66th Albert [A Birthday Thread]. The maiden flight of the iconic C-130 Hercules took place OTD 1954. Since then >2400 have been built and it's seen service with >70 countries but I'm going to focus on the UK.

The RAF received its first C-130K (UK) in 1967. 66 were delivered, operated by 242 OCU, 24, 30, 36, 47, 48 & 70 Sqns with one (Snoopy) used by the RAE (later DERA) for weather research. Sadly (and unwisely) 36 & 48 Sqns were disbanded in the 1975 Mason Review along with 13 ac.

The C-130 in its K & J variants has been involved in every UK conflict since 1967 and is still on ops today. In 1982 6 were rapidly converted into tankers to provide an airbridge to Ascension, and later, AAR for Harriers & Phantoms defending Falklands airspace.

They provided logistic support for the Gulf War in 1990 and again in 2003, supplied besieged Sarajevo in 1995 and supported Kosovo in 1999. They flew paras to Sierra Leone in 2000 rescuing civilians as they did in Libya in 2011. They've been in Afghanistan since 2001.

The Hercules community has known tragedy. Training accidents killed C-130K crews in 1969 (Fairford) 1973 (Colerne), 1971 (Sicily) and 1993 (Scotland).

Also both C-130Ks and C-130Js have been lost on ops. Personally, I'll be raising a glass tonight to Steady & his crew who were killed when their aircraft was shot down between Baghdad and Balad in 2005.

However, the Hercules is loved by her crews. Anyone who has flown the C-130K will remember with affection that smell of sweat, oil & racasan which told you were home wherever in the world you were.

In 1999 the C-130J entered service with the RAF and in 2011 both variants left their home at RAF Lyneham as the RAF consolidated its air mobility force at Brize Norton and Lyneham was handed to REME

In 2013 the C-130K retired after 46 years' sterling service. The last aircraft to leave was the first to be delivered: XV177. She owes the taxpayer nothing.

Today the C-130J is a vital component of RAF air mobility. Reprieved in the 2015 SDSR the C-130J is planned to serve until 2035; a decade less than the K but impressive nonetheless.

But it's likely C-130s will be in service with other air forces well into the second half of the 21st century. What a remarkable aircraft Lockheed built. Happy Birthday Albert.

With a tag for @gazrich1970 who reminded me of this

And @scottiebateman and @nickstrings because I bet they’ve got some good Herc pics & dits.