First and Foremost

FEW AIRCRAFT HAVE ACHIEVED THE SAME LEGENDARY STATUS AS THE LOCKHEED C-130 HERCULES.
The RAAF’s association with the transport began in December of 1958 when the first of twelve A models replaced an ageing Dakota fleet. However, this was only the start of a long association with C-130s. Over sixty years the C-130 fleet has operated many roles including tactical along with humanitarian and disaster relief.Key to these operations has been the ability to take-off and land on short, unsealed runways often to deliver troops or equipment into combat zones. Beginning in February 2003 the RAAF’s Hercules aircraft operated in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). Between 2006 and 2008 37 Squadron deployed within the MEAO, alternating between crews of the C-130H and newer C-130J models. During that time 37 Squadron lived up to its motto of ‘Foremost’. C-130H, A97-011 was one of the airframes delivered in 1978 that served with both 36 and 37 Squadrons. By the late 2000s it was deployed to the MEAO as part of 37 Squadron before making a final flight from Richmond to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook on retirement in December 2012.
Here it remains on display with other variants of the RAAF’s Hercules workhorse.