The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford today took delivery of its latest acquisition, an RAF Hercules C130K Mk.3 transport aircraft. The aircraft made its final flight into RAF Cosford at 11.30am this morning after a farewell flypast over the Museum.
XV202 Hercules C130K Mk. 3 was an American aircraft built by Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia and was used by the United States Air Force. It was acquired by the RAF in 1966 and used mainly on longer routes and for paratrooping.
This particular aircraft was one of 30 Hercules modified during the early 1980’s, with the fuselage being lengthened by 15ft. Work was carried out by Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd, using fuselage plugs in front of and behind of the wing.The aircraft was flown into RAF Cosford by No 47 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton.
The RAF Museum Cosford is home to over 70 aircraft and the award winning National Cold War Exhibition. The Museum is open daily from 10am, admission is FREE. For more information on the Museum please call 01902 376200 or visit http://www.rafmuseum.org
LOCKHEED HERCULES C130K/C.3 XV202
Built at Lockheed Marietta, Georgia as a C-130H-130-LM Hercules. Given USAF serial No. 66-8552 then this aircraft was part of a batch sold to the RAF as Hercules C-130K/C.1 XV200/XV223 as one of 66 C-130K Hercules acquired for the RAF between December 1966 and May 1968.
Manufacturer’s No. 382-4226
17 Aug 67 Delivered to RAF as Hercules C Mk.1 following painting and fitting out by Marshall of Cambridge.
Converted to Hercules C.Mk.3 with fuselage lengthened by 15ft/4.57m by Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd as one of 30 such conversions done between 1980 and 1985, using fuselage plugs fore and aft of the wing supplied by Lockheed-Georgia. Used mainly on longer routes and for paratrooping.
1981 With MoD (PE) at Cambridge as newly converted C.3.
To RAF Lyneham Transport Wing, (Wiltshire – latterly consisting of Nos. 24, 30, 47 and 70 Squadrons and 242 O.C.U, all part of No. 38 Group) and from 1986 retrofitted as a C.3P with in-flight refuelling probe above the cockpit.
1994 Displayed at International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Glos, as part of the Hurcules 40th anniversary and was serving as part of the Lyneham Transport wing.
21 Jan 2009 To Marshall, Cambridge for storage.
2011 Current with No 47 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton – with the planned closure of RAF Lyneham in 2012, the last four Hercules left Lyneham on 1st July 2011.
12 Aug 2011 Planned delivery date by air at 11.30 from RAF Brize Norton to RAFM Cosford.
This was expected to be the final landing of the last RAF C130K Mk.3 (remaining RAF Hercules Mk.1 and Mk 3A aircraft being due to remain in service until December 2012)
Thanks for looking
Lee
I hope we can go inside!
