Stunning C-130 Hercules Images | Military Machine (2024)

Officers and senior enlisted service members at Al Asad Air Base stand in formation as the Combined Force Air Component Commander Lt. Gen. David Goldfein arrives on a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

A C-130 Hercules from the 144th Airlift Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, flies away from Denali, the highest point in North America, March 4, 2017. After 41 years of flying the C-130 aircraft, the 144th Airlift Squadron’s eight C-130s were divested, with the planes either being transferred to outside units or retired from service. The unit’s last two aircraft departed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, the following day.

Pararescuemen from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, load an all-terrain vehicle into a C-130 Hercules at Grand Bara, Djibouti, Feb. 20, 2017 as part of a training exercise. The 82nd ERQS conduct full spectrum personnel recovery, casualty evacuation, medical evacuation, and sensitive item recovery in support of DoD personnel within the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa operations area.

Six C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft line up before flying Feb. 21, 2013, during a readiness week at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The 374th Airlift Wing uses C-130s to support combatant commanders in the Pacific region.

374th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists prepare for a high altitude low opening parachute jump out of a C-130 Hercules on 26 Oct. 2016, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The SERE specialists are trained for contingency situations, such as evading and escaping capture behind enemy lines.

Aircrew load an M777 A2 Howitzer onto a U.S. Air Force C-130J at Bagram, Afghanistan, March 14. The C-130J is part of the newly assigned 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, that has been set up to assist with the increase of U.S. troops to the region.

A C-130 Hercules sit on the runway during Operation Christmas Drop 2016 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 6, 2016. This year marks the 65th year of Operation Christmas Drop, which began in 1952, making it the world's longest-running airdrop mission.

Joint Communication Support Element operators jump from a C-130 Hercules before a parachute jump at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The JCSE's core mission it to provide premier communications, anywhere across the planet.

Members of the 179th Airlift Wing Maintenance Group must heat the four turbo prop engines of the C-130H Hercules in the cold early morning at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio, as part of normal training operations, Dec. 21, 2016. The 179th AIrlift Wing is always on a mission to be the first choice to respond to state and federal missions with a trusted team of Airmen.

U.S. Air Force Major Steven Stroney, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron pilot, checks the horizon after a take-off inside a C-130H Hercules from an undisclosed location, Dec. 9, 2016. The 737th EAS provides airlift, airdrop and reconnaissance support for Operation Inherent Resolve.

U.S. Marines from the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force sit and wait for the opportunity to jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules during jump week at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 11, 2017. The training not only allowed the Marines to practice jumping, but it also allowed the Yokota aircrews to practice flight tactics and timed-package drops.

Ten C-130s taxi on the runway during a large formation mission at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 22, 2013. The C-130s flew towards the Aomori region, testing Yokota's capability to launch aircraft and assist anywhere in the Western Pacific region.

A formation of C-130 Hercules cargo fly in formation as they prepare for a training mission above Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 21, 2013. Six C-130s participated in the flight to practice airlift tactics and procedures.

An Illinois Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft takes off from the Red Devil Landing Zone during Exercise Cerberus Strike 16-02 on Fort Carson, Colorado, Sept. 12, 2016. C-Strike is a joint exercise where contingency response forces rehearsed potential real-world situations by training with Army counterparts in cargo uploading and downloading on aircraft, aircraft engine running off-loads, communications, aerial port procedures, and air mobility liaison officer operations with airdrops from aircraft.

An Airman from the 374th Maintenance Squadron checks a C-130 Hercules for potential damage during Operation Christmas Drop 2016 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 6, 2016. This year marks the 65th year of Operation Christmas Drop, which began in 1952, making it the world's longest-running airdrop mission.

A Royal Australian Air Force maintainer marshals a C-130J Herculesduring Red Flag-Alaska 15-3 on Aug. 20, 2015. RF-A is a coalition exercise testing the capabilities of air forces from around the world in high-stakes aerial combat situations.

A modified C-130 Hercules soars overhead as it prepares to spray herbicide at the Saylor CreekTraining Range, Idaho, Sept. 17, 2016. The aircraft, from the 910th Airlift Wing, flys only 100 feet above the ground to spray aerial herbicide.

Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, pilots a C-130 Hercules over mainland Japan during a large formation mission on Oct. 22, 2013. The surge showcased Yokota's capability to perform airlift operations in the Western Pacific region.

Capt. Joseph Goetz, right, 36th Airlift Squadron pilot, checks a map with night scope during training mission above Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 21, 2013. Yokota conducted a readiness week, allowing airmen to showcase their professional airlift capabilities and ability to support any contingencies in the Pacific.

(Left to right) Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, Tech. Sgt. Ivory Wilds, 36th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, and Capt. Chance Hansen, 36th Airlift Squadron pilot, approach Yokota Air Base, Japan, after a surge flight, Oct. 22, 2013. The crew flew as part of a large formation flight that showcased Yokota's mission as the primary airlift hub for the Western Pacific.

A C-130 Hercules flies during a training mission over Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 24, 2013. The C-130H provides tactical airlift worldwide. Its flexible design allows it the capability to operate in austere environments.

Observers watch a C-130 Hercules with the 36th Airlift Squadron from Yokota Air Base, Japan, take off of an austere runway used for training during RED FLAG-Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 14, 2015. The training allowed C-130 aircrew to practice austere landings and take offs, combat offloads and supply drops, but also allowed friendly competition between participating Air Forces: U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Thai Air Force. Seasoned C-130 aircrew from each country judged the training exercises from the ground, allotting points based off predetermined timing and accuracy requirements.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. David Billings, C-130 flight engineer, does an inspection of the wings before his flight out of Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Jan. 9, 2013. Billings was on the first of the C-130H model aircraft to permanently relocate out of Bagram to make room for the newer C-130J model aircraft.

U.S. Marines from the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force drop from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, assigned to 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 11, 2016. The training not only allowed the Marines to practice jumping, but it also allowed the Yokota aircrews to practice flight tactics and timed-package drops.

Staff. Sgt. Andrew Thompson, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules loadmaster, prepares for takeoff during Operation Christmas Drop 2016 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 6, 2016. Every December, C-130H Hercules aircrews from Yokota head to Andersen Air Force Base to execute low-cost, low-altitude humanitarian airdrops to islanders throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau.