The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules was developed against a 1951 requirement for a new Tactical Trans...
The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules was developed against a 1951 requirement for a new Tactical Transport to equip the Military Air Transport Service. The USAF ordered two YC-130 prototypes from Lockheed in July 1951 and it flew for the first time on August 23, 1954. The first production C-130 flew in April 1955. The Hercules established the basic military transport configuration, with a high wing with minimal obstruction of the fuselage and a rear folding loading freight ramp. Other features ...