NEW ZEALAND RETIRES FIRST OF FIVE C-130H HERCULES

 written by Robert Dougherty | February 13, 2023

New Zealand C-130H Hercules, NZ7003, making its final flight (Petty Officer Chris Weissenborn)

The Royal New Zealand Air Force has begun retiring its C-130H Hercules after more than 60 years of service.

The first of five turboprop military transport aircraft set to retire, NZ7003, made its final flight from RNZAF Base Auckland over Devonport Naval Base and on to its final resting ground at Base Woodbourne on February 9.

The aircraft, operated by No. 40 Squadron, was one of three C-130H Hercules (NZ7001 to NZ7003) that arrived in New Zealand in 1965, with the remaining pair (NZ7004 and NZ7005) arriving in 1969.

C-130H aircraft have a range of more than 4,100km with a payload of 12,700kg, and a crew of two pilots, one air warfare officer, one flight engineer and two loadmasters. The aircraft is used by a multitude of countries internationally as a troop, cargo and medevac transport with the ability to use dirt runways for takeoffs and landings.

The fleet is set to be replaced by the more modern C-130J-30 Super Hercules variant. It beat out competition from the Airbus A400M and Embraer KC-390. 

An RNZAF spokesperson said the C-130H had flown operations internationally from the Middle East to Antarctica.

“The aircraft has provided strategic airlift (inter-theatre) and tactical airlift (intra-theatre) as well as participating in numerous international operations and exercises,” the spokesperson said.

“It has been involved in countless humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions to our Pacific neighbours, delivering much-needed aid following natural disasters, transporting vital military equipment and aid to multiple countries, most recently Ukraine, and hundreds of flights to the Antarctic carrying scientists and equipment for essential research to the frozen continent.

“The aircraft received a number of modifications and upgrades, with the most recent being a Life Extension Programme (LEP) that started in 2005. This involved an extensive avionics upgrade of the flight deck and structural refurbishment.”

Australian Aviation reported in November how the RAAF also looks set to purchase the new ‘130J-30’ variant to replace its current fleet of Hs.

Defence said late last year it was committed to “replacing and expanding” its fleet, but the US State Department seemingly gave away more details of a possible deal when it formally granted permission for the transaction. Australia looks set to purchase 24 for up to $10 billion.

The deal would include spare parts, comms equipment and countermeasures to protect the Hercules from enemy fire.

Having been manufactured for more than 60 years, the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules is the longest continuously produced military aircraft.

In total, 48 have supported ADF operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor and Vietnam, and humanitarian disaster relief missions in Pakistan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific.

Australia obtained its initial batch in December 1958, becoming the first nation to operate the aircraft outside of the US Air Force.