The JATO would as you say provide oodles of more power and that would be as good a reason as any not to bust the torque limits and risk possible catastrophic structural damage with the increased risk of resultant mission failure.

But short of opening the LH nacelle panel on each engine and physically checking the TD valve and FCU settings (assuming they are the same as when Credible Sport was being worked up) we will never know. Having spent a couple of years flying in and fettling Albert, I am still inclined to say it is unlikely they would alter the engine settings.

I take my hat off to the Cousins, they do preserve history as Pully’s excellent pictures show. I once heard it said that they had more C130 in museums than we had flying; and it would appear that even though the aircraft has been the most loyal servant this country has known post WWII – we are only going to save probably one example for posterity.