The Lockheed Hercules is one of the world's best known transport aircraft. Designed to a requirement in 1951 for a STOL transport, the first YC-130 prototype flew in August 1954. The Hercules has a massive family of variants; from the AC-130 'Spectre' gunship to the EC-130E 'Psyops' Psychological Warfare aircraft. Over 2,200 C-130s have been delivered, & the type is still in production.

The C-130K Hercules is designated C1 or C3 (C3 being the stretched version) in RAF service. 66 were ordered of the C1 version, & upgrades to C3 standard began in 1979. The Hercules forms the backbone of the RAF's tactical transport fleet, & has STOL capability from rough strips. The Hercules C1/ C3 is being replaced by the Hercules C-130J, designated C4/ C5 in RAF service. The C-130J is much improved from the C-130K version, with a glass cockpit with Head Up Displays, new engines with six-bladed propellers, & improved performance. The C-130J also has improved capacity, with C4/ C5s being able to carry 128 troops or 92 paratroops, compared to the C1/ C3's capacity of 92 troops or 64 paratroops. A C-130K has been modified extensively to carry meteorological survey equipment, & is nicknamed 'Snoopy'.

The Hercules has been involved in almost all recent conflicts, & has flown in the Gulf & Kosovo with the RAF.

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