What is it like to fly a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (such as Fat Albert from the Blue Angels)? Why is it so beloved as an aircraft by militaries around the world?

It's big, loud and rugged. I've flown the civilian version, the L-100-20 (similar to early C-130-E's) In the winter, the older models it was damned cold in the cockpit.

130's could land just about anyplace and anytime if the ground was reasonably flat and 3,000 feet long. These birds can take a beating. Very reliable too. I don't know of a single pilot that hated it. They love the stability of the airplane. Not to heavy on the controls and went where you pointed it. I had an engine out landing (#3) and barely noticed as I landed it like it was running on all four.

Addendum:

The Israeli Air Force used 2 of them for its mission to rescue the hostages at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976. I believe they were E models. The pilots in several documentary's stated they overloaded them by several tonnes and still managed to take off in very hot conditions, climbing at barely 50' a minute. They flew most of the sortie below 100 feet!!! - to avoid radar detection.

Since that time, the Herc's reputation has been ironclad.



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