After 56 years service with the RAF the C130J Hercules Farewell Flypast Wednesday 14th June 2023

Just running into Cambridge now then Mildenhall

Thank you AmarokUK the map shows them passing directly above us around 1330.  

Hopefully payback for the number of times they have sneaked in a rooftop height above us to play at Spadeadam.

Seems only a short while ago that the three Tornados passed this way on their final flight.

Thank you 🙂 

Maybe you guys could find a suitable location to watch the flypast together,  and if there is time, maybe have a punch-up as well !

”They are ALL Hercules”  (Thwack !)   

” (Oooof! )  No , they have only been in service 33 years. I am not even going to look!” 

Etc, Etc 

E3x C-130J Hercules Flypasts – 14th June 2023:

01 • 10:00 – Depart RAF Brize Norton
02 • 10:25 – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas
03 • 10:34 – RAF Cosford
04 • 11:22 – RAF Valley
05 • 11:48 – FS Aldergrove
06 • 12:51 – RAF Lossiemouth (with Typhoon escort)
07 • 14:08 – RAF Leeming
08 • 14:10 – RAF Topcliffe
09 • 14:23 – Beverley
10 • 14:35 – RAF Waddington
11 • 14:38 – RAF College Cranwell
12 • 14:58 – Cambridge Airport
13 • 15:04 – RAF Mildenhall
14 • 15:15 – Colchester Garrison
15 • 16:22 – MOD Boscombe Down
16 • 16:25 – Salisbury Plain (West Down Camp)
17 • 16:32 – MOD Lyneham
18 • 16:36 – Royal Wootton Bassett
19 • 16:39 – Defence Academy of the UK, Shrivenham
20 • 16:43 – Dalton Barracks, Abingdon
21 • 16:51 – RAF Halton
22 • 16:55 – RAF High Wycombe
23 • 17:05 – RAF Brize Norton 

My point still stands, many countries operate Herks much older than the RAF “J”s. (20 some years ago, an active duty USAF unit was still flying Vietnam-era Es and a unit I was associated with was flying the “new H”s, which were 20+ years old.).

So, they either were maintained poorly (not likely)…

Accrued high than average flying times (very possible with a small fleet)

Or are being made a scapegoat by a government forcing the service into doing something shortsighted. Do the Js really need new wings, I thought that issue was resolved when the Js were designed.

At any rate, even if they need some money spent, maintaining a freighter workhorse like the 130 is a “cost of doing business” almost on par with fuel, salaries and the electric bill for any self respecting military.

Replacing the 130 with the larger Airbus (which has to have greater operating and fixed costs), is merely delaying the inevitable. The politicians and military leadership who are making these decisions will be retired when the chickens comes home to roost when the A400s need expensive work or replacement, so they need not concern themselves about the long term implications.

If the RAF can’t find money to maintain a relatively low cost turboprop transport, perhaps it’s time to call it a day. 

Just keep the BoBMF and the Red Arrows (arguably the most visible parts of the RAF) to make the average taxpayer feel protected and patriotic.

This ex RAF Herc rigger suggests otherwise.

I agree they are both Hercules types, but the C130J has not been in service with the RAF for 56 years.

Finally, why do keep claiming that [I] claim to know ‘everything’? I have never myself claimed such a thing. True, I do usually know where the to find answers, but that’s because I have an interest in history, research and delving into archives. If that annoys you then so be it.

One C-130J found a new home,the  U.S.Navy formally acquired this ex-U.K. Royal Air Force C-130J as the Blue Angels next Fat Albert in 2019 at the cost of around $29.7 million. The U.K. Ministry of Defense had previously decided to retire all of the RAF’s short-fuselage J models, which that service had designated Hercules C5s, based on the recommendations of the country’s 2010 Strategic Defense and Security Review.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cody Hendrix/Released)

My first flight in a C-130 was in XV221 from RAF Colerne to RAF Fairford in a formation of three on the 26 March 1968. Colerne was the reception base  for the C-130’s on arrival from the US following crew training.

The flight into Fairford was to form No.’s 36 and 47 Sqdns.

Great days great a/c.

“The C130J Hercules is very similar to the original K model… “ 

Seriously? Externally they may look generally similar, but that is it.

Its not a Simple as that I’m afraid, The J models are now 23 Years old, the RAF now only have 4 in operational service with approx 10 others up for sale over at Cambridge.
To operate any aircraft you need Trained Crews, a very expensive spares backup plus midlife updates.

The biggest update for ALL C130’s is the WingBox change due to Cracking which is a Massive job wings off and new Wingbox fitted with a couple of months at Marshalls in Cambridge and Big costs,

Hence the C5’s went a few years ago prior to this update 😉

A good contact of mine works for Marshalls and he tells me that last year they were asked by the RAF to do a feasibility study on keeping 5 C130J C4’s in full operational status (Crew training, spares updates etc) till 2026 they even thought of using some of the stored Hercs as Christmas trees to support the active fleet of 5 and the costs were not sustainable so Govenment says RAF you need to save money !! ( a bit like the early doors on the Harrier fleet in 2010) so unfortunately its the final curtain for the Hercules.

Plus on my last visit to the Boneyard there were upwards of 350 to 400 C130’s all carefully stored in the desert not many J models I agree but lots of cheap second hand Hercs none the less

The Atlas need to take up the slack left by the Hercules , will it be sucessful ? I am sure (as a ex RAF Herc engineer) the RAF will do their best to make it work

Kind regards

Why the retirement?

Plenty of other Js the same age or older are still in service.

Age/hours/condition?

Budget/force drawdown?

What will the RAF use now, I would think for many missions the C-17 and A400M would be too large. So getting rid of a smaller type might be false economy.

56 years service with the RAF? Not the C130J. ??

a bit Pedantic don’t you think ?

The C130J Hercules is very similar to the original K model and as the RAF don’t have any K models left,  do you suggest 23 years service of the C130J Hercules and the 33 years service of the C130K model will be commemorated on 14th June by a Flypast of 3 Lockheed C130J Hercules ?

LOL

56 years service with the RAF? Not the C130J.