THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE A...C-130A HERCULES

The first USAF transport crews where just delighted after the 1956 introduction ot the C-130 into operational service. Maybe it was just  because of the “race car performace “ of the new C-130A´s compared to their previous cargo planes (C-47,C-54,C-119,etc…). But an occasional situation brought four really highly trained and experienced C-130 commanders (and crews) and their wonderful Hercules at the same place , at the same time….and the results couldn´t be better…

The place was: Fort Campbell

The year: 1957

The type of mission: dropping airborne troops

Weather at the DZ*: was below minimums

*DZ: Drop Zone

So our group of heroe´s wanted to show those “fixed on the ground audience” what those planes were capable of (typical AIR FORCE), while waiting for the weather conditions at the DZ to improve…First they were just doing fly bys. Then formation flying with four planes at low altitudes, again fly bys.

The spectators were delighted, and the reaction was faster than expected. There were a lot of request to the improvised C-130 UNOFFICIAL DEMONSTRATION TEAM. And after that little performance, the humble idea turn into a sensation, reaching international level overnight.

They didn´t have a fancy name like the USAF “THUNDERBIRDS” or the US NAVY “BLUE ANGELS”. At first they were called “THUNDER WEASELS”, but finally “THE FOUR HORSEMEN” prevailed. It was accurate, after all they were four heavy stallions being ride by USAF Cowboys…

Imagine to fly close formations with those heavy beasts less than 8 feet from wingtip to wingtip. But the Herk is a pilot´s plane, it is big and heavy but behaves almost like a fighter aircraft, executing steep turns with grace and high maneuverability, and it is exquisite over powered.

The FOUR HORSEMEN only survived three years, those C-130´s were on high demand, and the USAF couldn´t afford to have them only for Airshows. 

PHOTOS BY COURTESY OF THE USAF

THE MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS ….ANOTHER TALE OF HERCULES LABORS/FEATS

  And we are not talking about an atomic bomb…we are talking of a “conventional bomb”…only bigger than expected/usual. The BLU-82 is the biggest airborne bomb of this world, and it is so big and round that it only fits inside our beloved Lockheed C130 Hercules.

   The development of this great explosive device also known as a “DAISY CUTTER” was answering a need from the troops on the ground, in a place called VIETNAM.

This massive ordnance is delivered like any other big cargo from a HERK, it will leave the aircraft by the ramp. The loadmasters will drop an extraction parachute via the ramp, once it is fully open that parachute will take the cargo out of the compartment once the pallets braking systems is released. In a matter of seconds the bomb leaves the cargo compartment, becoming an incredible weapon.

Of course there is always the risk that the “palleted explosive device” gets stucked in the cargo compartment changing the center of gravity, with consequences that will at least destroy the aircraft and severely endangering the lives of the crew.

The specs were:

·         Weight: 7 tons

·         Diameter: 58 inches

·         Length: 142 inches

And even the B-52 and the B-2 will be in everybody´s list,but their bomber bay is “not wide enough”, so there was the chance for the incredible Hercules to show the world…and mostly the enemy what this incredible plane is capable of….

This big slamming bomb was used during the VIETNAM war to make “instant helipads” in the middle of the jungle. This helipads were just roughly cleared areas to help the helicopter missions (mostly CSAR*), get closer to lives at stake.

But history gave the Herk another chance…. In another place of earth, and on the XXI century. During “OPERATION ANACONDA” (March ,2002) the systematic attack to Al Qaeda and another terrorist cells in Afganistan, the XXXX bomb was used.

The target was not a jungle, but a number of underground bunkers that serve the talibans an another dangerous characters deep in Afganistan.

During Anaconda several BLU-82´s were dropped from a flying C-130 HERCULES.

So when you think that there is an unbreakable limit the HERCULES ALMIGHTY can not achieve, he will prove you wrong with his nice and humble achievements.

*CSAR: Combat Search and Rescue