The C130 'Hercules' Vs The Ford Transit
So, this article is largely about the different variants of the C-130 but whilst this may be a questionable comparison and largely made for a bit of a chuckle, hear me out...
As a kid growing up, hearing the regular Hercules in loops overhead was just part of the landscape and holds a firm position in my memories through the early 90's and through the 2000's until RAF Lyneham was largely repurposed.
The C-130 has been in service since 1954, with its favored ability for short take-off and landing on unprepared runways, it has been used mostly for cargo and troop transport but over the decades of services, we have seen it being used in a wide array of different scenarios (30 or 40 variants I think?) and I'm almost certain that I have not discovered them all!
My interest in the C-130 was rekindled recently with the news that they are now working on an amphibious variant...the last thing I would have thought of doing with it, but it just goes to show how highly valued and trusted the platform is that in 2020's they are looking at further use cases for it.
So, why compare this aircraft to the Ford Transit?
The Ford Transit was first introduced in the 1960's. Over the decades, like the Herc, it has been many things to many people. Van, pick-ups, tippers, ambulances, search and rescue, fire support, police, armored security, minibuses, campervans, car carriers... you name it. The Transit has also beaten the Herc to water...
(A Transit may have been harmed in the making of this craft)
Variants over the years
1959 - HC-130 & LC-130
The HC-130 serves mostly within the realms of Search and Rescue for the Air Force and Coast Guard. However, the HC-130 can also be used to refuel certain helicopters while in flight.
The LC-130 is exact the same plane as the C-130, except the main landing gear is replaced/encompassed by a set of large skiis for artic landings. There are only ten of these in service with The U.S. military. Some LC-130 have been seen sporting the JATO take-off assistance rockets.
1962 - KC-130 & WC-130
The KC-130 is a plane used for extended-range flight. It is used by the U.S. Marines and is able to refuel other aircraft as well as helicopters. Also adaptable to carry air to ground Hellfire II air to ground missiles and other munitions for close air support.
The WC-130 is an aircraft which is used for weather related missions. For example, the WC-130 is configured with palletized weather instrumentation for penetration of tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms to obtain data on movement, size and intensity.
1964 - MC-130 & L-100
The MC-130 is a special operations-based aircraft which serves the purpose of getting special operations teams to and from their mission sites.
The L-100 Hercules is a civilian version of the C-130. It has been used worldwide to carry cargo and passengers for civilian purposes.
1966 - DC 130 & AC-130
60's the DC-130 was created to have four Ryan Firebee drones hung from its wings for strategic reconnaissance and target locating.
More information on Firebee drones is available here: Ryan Firebee - Wikipedia
The Vietnam war saw the birth of the AC-130 gunship that has continued to remain (with armory changes and upgrades), a valued asset for air to ground support with the evolution from the AC-130A, E and H Spectre platforms, AC-130U Spooky now retired through to the in-service AC-130W Stinger II and AC-130J Ghostrider variants.
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In the world of the Transit, there are armored version for SWAT in the United States and various marks over the years have been fortified into armored security vans and police riot vans.
1995 - EC-130
The EC-130 is an aircraft used for communication between troops on the ground and the base. It serves as a temporary command post for the mission and has allows leaders in the air and on ground to communicate. /
A television broadcasting Ford Transit rig shown about. Similar? Providing communications, sort of?!
1980's - XFC-130H - Operation Credible Sport
In late 1980 the United States military carried out operation Credible Sport?with the intention of rescuing hostages held by Iran using C-130?cargo planes modified with rocket engines to enable a very short take-off and landing in a sports stadium. The plan was cancelled after an accident occurred during a test landing when the forward-facing JATO units designed to slow the aircraft fired before the downward-facing units (designed to cushion the landing) did, causing the aircraft to crash-land.
JATO rockets can still be seen in use on Fat-Albert, part of the Blue Angels display team.
Ford also from time to time over the years have tried accelerating the performance of the Transit in the form of SuperVans.
So, whilst the original design was for air drop, cargo carrying, troop carrying roles, it has done so much more. Special missions' capabilities, firefighting, search and rescue and soon to be water capable, but it is a platform that has proven again and again over the many years of service that it is versatile whilst maintaining the added ability to take-off and land on short unprepared runways, helping people the world over.
Coming back to the comparison, The Ford Transit is a platform that has been used for generations the world over in police, health care, humanitarian aid, construction, people transport, cargo logistics, firefighting, car breakdown and repair. One name it, there is probably Transit that can help.
So, whilst I appreciate that the comparison between a vehicle and an aircraft might be a bit of a stretch? Both have proven to be a robustly designed base platform with the task of moving anything and everything from A to B. They have both proven to be highly versatile and continue to be versatile for the foreseeable future.
I am always keen to hear other peoples stories and views. Feel free to share in the comments.
Sources/Reference Links:
This article is my person views and opinions only.
It is not sponsored or endorsed in any way by Lockheed Martin or the Ford Motor Company. Just a fun take on two platforms based upon publicly available information.
Views are my own
2 年An interesting article here, in a similar vain. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/11/07/us-air-force-seeks-the-aircraft-equivalent-of-a-swiss-army-knife/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dfn-rss-zap
Strong Tower Partners
2 年That's awesome!