What It's Like to Fly the C-130 Hercules!

Today, I'm taking you up close to experience the thrill of flying in the Mighty C-130J Super Hercules!

MY SOCIAL MEDIA!
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Special thanks to the incredible team at Dyess AFB for hosting me!

Video Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:12 Background & Capabilities
2:20 C-130 Walkaround
4:24 Loadmaster
5:30 Cockpit Tour
6:36 Mission Planning
8:10 Takeoff Time
9:05 C-130 Flight
10:30 The Bubble
12:00 Ramp Surfing
13:35 One Final Surprise
14:29 Conclusion

*Views expressed in this video are my own and do not represent the official views of the United States Air Force or Department of Defense*

*Disclaimer: Airdrop operations were NOT conducted on the portion of the mission depicted from 11:40-12:50 and all safety precautions were followed in accordance with AFMAN 11-2C-130JV3 para. 15.6
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Email: ✉️

[loadedhog]

I have over 5000 hours as a C-130 Flight Engineer and was an instructor for most it. I flew them in Antartica with VXE-6 and then in Navy VR squadrons participating in 4 of our countries conflicts. I've been on all seven continents with it. This amazing aircraft always brought us home. It is by far, the most influential and legendary aircraft to ever rotate off the runway...or ice...or dirt...or an aircraft carrier.... Hello to all my C-130 brothers and sisters. This is "Getch"

[SamEckholm]

Disclaimer: Airdrop operations were NOT conducted on the portion of the mission depicted from 11:40-12:50 and all safety precautions were followed in accordance with AFMAN 11-2C-130JV3 para. 15.6

[locossanity]

When I was a kid (13) I flew out of a city under siege (Sarajevo) in one of these...we reached the airport in an APC through front lines. Entered the plane from the back of course - massive mounds of earth around the airport to protect from shrapnel and rounds. The troops called it 'maybe airlines'.
The pilots were very cool to let my brother and I fly up front in the cockpit. We were the only kids in the cargo bay (sat on the nets on the sides) so they thought they'd cheer us up - it still ranks as one of the coolest memories. I remember climbing up the ladder up to the cockpit, the 3-4 seats and the bunk beds in the back, the massive windows . It was absolutely epic

[trustmetours]

Hi from the Uk, I'm an ex RAF Loadmaster and was lucky enough to accumulate 4000 C130 flying hours and the vast majority of those was on the J model. 2 Pilots and 1 Loadmaster was as much fun as you could ever have and my role as Loadmaster was as much fun as you have.

In 38 and bit years of service I did about 13 as an Avionics Technician, then 9 years as a Helicopter Crewman before finishing as a C130 ALM, great life and I don't regret a minute of it.

[jamescliftonbates]

I am not a pilot, not military, not related to the flight industry whatsoever, but you have a new subscriber based on the quality of your edits and storytelling! Well done! Very interesting and look forward to watching more!

[newww]

I was a C-130J Loadmaster for 4 years... Got out a couple years ago but this will still be the coolest job I've ever had.

[thomasr]

You’re so respectful of their work!

I work with an old loadmaster and it is a vital, but “behind the scenes” role that doesn’t always get the appreciation it deserves.

[Mububban]

Memories from my childhood! My dad was in the air force and when he worked on the opposite coast from where his family was, we'd sometimes hop a flight in the back of a Herc across the country rather than drive. Those webbing seats, the cold air, wearing ear plugs, stepping over the cargo rollers to go to the toilet behind the canvas sheet, getting shown the cockpit, having lunch packed in a cardboard lunch box - what an adventure for a small boy to have 🙂

[lukesdoings]

As a C-130 maintainer, I get to fly with the crew occasionally. I've been in the bubble and sat in the back with the ramp door down watching paratroopers jump out the back. Yes, both of those experiences are indeed as cool as they look in this video!! 👍 This is an excellent video on the C-130!!

[michaeltipton]

I am retired Air Force myself. I never flew except in a C141 once. The crew invited me to the cockpit during a flight. That was quite amazing and left a lasting impression on me. One of the bases I was stationed was Elmendorf AFB AK. I actually worked in the Squadron that was responsible for the C130's. I enjoyed that assignment very much and always went out of my way for the good of the Squadron. The C130 will never win a beauty contest or be as sexy as a fighter jet but it's more than earned it's place in the sky. It's a go almost anywhere do anything plane that is rightfully called a Hercules.

[dathyr]

I was in the Air Force in the tail end of the Viet Nam war and was a Crew Chief on the C-130 aircraft. Flew with the aircraft and got to see several countries I will never get to see again. Was in Viet Nam, Cambodia, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Hawaii, and my last year was at Edwards Air Base. Quite an experience for me.
The C-130 was quite a versatile aircraft and we carried just about everything and anybody to different destinations.
Thanks for the video. Take care.

[loutimmons]

This was BRILLIANT! Ideally filmed and hosted! And Capt Vargas and the crew are incredible!! Thank you all!

[MadGoat]

My dad was a flight engineer on the C-130 in the RCAF up until the mid 1990s. I was fortunate enough to go with him on some test flights, and slept in the same bunk you were in looking out the dome. I was also fortunate when the captain asked me if I wanted to try flying it. At 13 years old, I simply could not refuse! I got about 30 minutes of flying time on a C-130.

It's an experience I won't ever forget. Also box lunches were amazing!

[LandNfan]

Amazing planes. My late cousin spent his entire career with Lockheed and the C-130. At first he was a line mechanic supporting the birds, including 6 months in Antarctica. By the time he retired, he was in charge of all C-130 sales to civilian operators and to foreign governments. He gave me a wonderful tour through the factory in Marietta where they and the C-5 are built.

[itlupe]

It was surprising that someone chose the Herk as a subject to tout.
I have 6840 (+/-) hours in this bird as a Command and Control Systems operator/tech.
We (TACAMO) provided 24 hour coverage as a survivable communications link to strategic forces (subs).
The US Navy kept one of these birds in the air (constant coverage) 24/7/365 from 1968 to 1989.
It was a pleasure and an honor to fly with these crews for 12 years (on/off). The pilots and 'my' crews were an extremely professional and dedicated lot.
Thank you for highlighting what a wonderful this aircraft has been for so long.

[davidm]

I was a C-130H Crew Chief, seeing how advanced the 'J' model was incredible. Thank you for this video!

[ユキヒョウ]

For over 17 years, my father flew the C-130 in Bolivia, in a time when the US was an ally and many joint operations took place. He has incredibly fond memories of this aircraft, as do I as I pretty much grew up inside one. I showed him this video, and it brought tears to his eyes, not a very common thing! Wonderfully shot video and a real delight to know these work horses still grace the skies. Hopefully in the future our countries will be able to work side by side again, until then our C-130s will continue to do their work tirelessly.

[smithdog]

Light infantry veteran here, spent a fair bit of time up in them, longest flight was down to Panama for the invasion. C-130's were indispensable, both for troop transport and hitting ground targets. I flew down in one and cleared the barracks and other buildings, which the C-130 gunships hit. WOW did they do some amazing damage to buildings, walking threw them right after they were hit was beyond bizarre. Roofs just Gone, pipes and stuff everywhere, even the flooring was pockmarked from impacts. I could not image being one of the people inside when that happened.

I wish they had used the C-130 gunships on Rio Hato instead of trying out their new stealth fighter toy, which missed and cost the lives of some good soldiers including my former Platoon leader, who jumped in with the Rangers. I went threw those barracks too, they were only hit with small arms fire but the tennis court and an open field got nailed good with 5, 000 pounders. And by missing their targets they have the PDF time to do a lot of damage and the C-130's had to drop the men from only 300 feet which caused about fifty really bad jump injuries, including broken backs and blown out knees.

Then they used Seals to try to sneak up on a small Airport instead of wacking it with C-130's, because they thought they might catch Noriega I guess. Hew wasn't there and instead a bunch of Seals ended up dead. They should have sent us straight up infantry guys in with a gunship for backup and nobody would have died except some guards. I was at that airport on Christmas day, pulling guard and getting shot at. Eery unit wanted a part of the action I guess, so some good guys had to die instead of letting us infantry do what we do best, which includes ground support from our Gunships. Marines were lucky their showing off didn't get a bunch of them killed to. For some unknown reason they decided to do a beach landing and got stuck in the mud, Panamanian civilians formed a chain and pulled them out while under fire. No reason on earth to do a beach landing when we already controlled the beach.

Enough ranting, but it does go to show that when you have a tool like that to use, it's best to stick with it, rather than trying to get fancy. KISS The C-130 might be a simple platform but it Works. (Which means they will probably get rid of it in favor of a some boondoggle.)

[mtnride]

Loved the 130. When I was in the AF I was attached to a tactical fly away hospital and clinic. Loadmasters took care of all our equipment, ambulances and our personnel Much respect to that aircraft. Nice video.

[srairmand]

314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock right here! Man, look at her go. Miss watching them fly over our heads.