<text id=c130t003><title>Lockheed—C-130 Hercules (Transport): USAF Variants and Serials</title>
<history>US Air Force: Aircraft</history>
<article><hdr>Lockheed—C-130 Hercules (Transport): USAF Variants and Serials</hdr><body>
<list style=aflst>
<item><hi format=bold>C-130A:</hi> The initial production version with 190 examples built. The first 27 aircraft featured the 'Roman nose' although the majority were retrofitted with the conventional radome. Powered by Allison T56-A-1A engines with three-bladed propellers, and fitted with two 450-US gal (1,703-liter) underwing tanks positioned outboard of the engines.
<item>· 53-3129 to 53-3135; 54-1621 to 54-1640; 55-0001 to 55-0048; 56-0468 to 56-0551; 57-0452 to 57-0483
<item><hi format=bold>C-130D:</hi> Twelve C-130As were fitted with ski/wheel combination and provision for jet-assisted take-off (JATO) bottles for duties in the Arctic. Six subsequently operated with the skis removed as C-130D-6.
<item>· 57-0484 to 57-0495
<item><hi format=bold>DC-130A:</hi> A pair of C-130As was modified for drone director duties with an extended radar nose and four underwing pylons to air launch unmanned drones. Initially allocated designation GC-130A, but later changed to DC-130A. Others converted subsequently to DC-130A standard with only one remaining in USAF service. 57-0496 and 0497 are currently operated by a civilian contractor on behalf of the US Navy.
<item>· 57-0496 and 57-10497
<item><hi format=bold>RC-130A:</hi> Fifteen C-130As constructed for the photo-mapping role with geodetic surveying equipment and cameras installed in the fuselage. Following the abandonment of the role the 15 aircraft were converted to C-130A standard for conventional airlift duties.
<item>· 57-0510 to 57-0524
<item><hi format=bold>C-130B:</hi> The C-130B was the development of its predecessor with Allison T56-A-7 engines driving four-bladed propellers, but lacking underwing tanks, as additional fuel capacity was installed in the wing center-section. One hundred and thirty-three were ordered between 1957 and 1962, including aircraft modified to C-130B-II, JC-130B, NC-130B and WC-130B configuration, although none of these types remains operational.
<item>· 57-0525 to 57-0529; 58-0711 to 58-0758; 59-1524 to 59-1537; 59-5957; 60-0293 to 60-0310; 61-0948 to 61-0972; 61-2634 to 61-2649; 62-3487; 62-3492 to 62-3496
<item><hi format=bold>C-130E:</hi> The third basic version was designed to extend the range of the Hercules, being powered by the same Allison T56-A-7s as the C-130B but with two 1,360-US gal (5,148-liter) underwing tanks installed between the engines. Three-hundred and eighty-eight were obtained between 1961 and 1972 with a limited number of conversions, most of which are still current and are detailed under the appropriate section.
<item>· 61-2358 to 61-2373; 62-1784 to 62-1866; 63-7764 to 63-7899; 63-9810 to 63-9817; 64-0495 to 64-0572; 64-17680 to 64-17681; 64-18240; 68-10934 to 68-10951; 69-6566 to 69-6583; 70-1259 to 70-1276; 72-1288 to 72-1299
<item><hi format=bold>C-130H:</hi> The fourth major variant of the Hercules, and the most prolific version worldwide, is still in production for the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and many overseas customers. It features the Allison T56-A-15 engines, and a pair of 1,360-US gal (5,148-liter) underwing tanks installed between the engines as an option. Numerous specialist versions were produced while others were modified from airlift examples, details presented below. More than 200 have been delivered to date, including a pair of former US Coast Guard HC-130Hs demodified for the airlift role with MAC. Forty-eight airlift versions were added to the budget at the end of 1991. Some later production versions are fitted with the Long-Range Air Navigation (LORAN) system identifiable by a pair of parallel rails mounted above the rear fuselage.
<item>· 67-7183 to 67-7184; 73-1580 to 73-1588; 73-1590; 73-1592; 73-1594 to 73-1595; 73-1597 to 73-1598; 74-1658 to 74-1693; 74-2061 to 74-2072; 74-2130 to 74-2134; 78-0806 to 78-0813; 79-0473 to 79-0480; 80-0320 to 80-0326; 80-0332; 81-0626 to 81-0631; 82-0054 to 82-0061; 83-0486 to 83-0489; 84-0204 to 84-0213; 85-0035 to 85-0042; 85-1361 to 85-1368; 86-0410 to 86-0415; 86-0418 to 86-0419; 86-1391 to 86-1398; 87-9281 to 87-9288; 88-1301 to 88-1308; 88-4401 to 88-4408; 89-1051 to 89-1056; 89-1181 to 89-1188; 89-9101 to 89-9106; 90-1057 to 90-1058; 90-1791 to 90-1798; 90-9107 to 90-9108; plus additional contracts
<item><hi format=bold>LC-130H:</hi> Four ski/wheel-equipped LC-130Hs were purchased in 1983 for the New York ANG, to replace the C-130D.
<item>· 83-0490 to 83-0493
<item><hi format=bold>C-130J:</hi> new-build aircraft from 1995, with Allison AE 2100D3 turboprops, revised two-man cockpit and numerous system improvements
</list>
<hi style=hdr1>Conversion designations</hi>
<list style=aflst>
<item><hi format=bold>GC-130A:</hi> Three C-130As have been retired from flying duty and transferred to Air Training Command for ground instruction duties gaining the designation GC-130A. No modification or conversion work is carried out for the change of designation.
<item>· 55-0037; 56-0517; 57-0471
<item><hi format=bold>GC-130B:</hi> At least two retired C-130Bs have joined ATC to become airframes for technical trade training.
<item>· 58-0727; 58-0740
<item><hi format=bold>GC-130D:</hi> Three retired C-130Ds have been assigned to ATC as training airframes at technical training centers.
<item>· 57-0486; 57-0489; 57-0490
<item><hi format=bold>C-130H:</hi> The reduction in the weather reconnaissance requirement has permitted eight WC-130Hs to be converted to conventional airlifters with the removal of internal equipment.
