The Maple Leaf

The CF welcomed the delivery of the final CC-130J Hercules to 8 Wing Trenton May 10, on-budget and three months ahead of the contracted deadline of August 30. This workhorse of the RCAF joins the  16 other CC-130J Hercules tactical aircraft that have been delivered since June 2010.

The CC-130J Herc is a four-engine, fixed-wing turboprop aircraft that can carry up to 92 combat troops or 128 non-combat passengers. It is used for a wide range of missions, including troop transport, tactical airlift (both palletized  and vehicular cargo) and aircrew training.

While, on the outside, the CC-130J looks almost identical to the older Hercules, inside, the J-model is essentially a completely new aircraft. The new Hercs fly faster, higher and farther, and they carry heavier loads while burning less fuel. They can use shorter landing and take-off strips, and their climb time is reduced by up to 50 percent compared to the older models. They deliver cutting-edge technology to provide the CF with a modern, cost-effective, operationally proven tactical airlift capability.

Not only is the new Hercules a more capable aircraft, but it also requires fewer crew members than the older models; it flies with a  minimum crew of three—two pilots and a loadmaster—compared to five in the older Hercules.

They deliver cutting-edge technology to provide the CF with a modern, cost-effective, operationally proven tactical airlift capability.

The first of the 17 CC-130J Hercules tactical aircraft arrived in Canada June 4, 2010, six months ahead of the original scheduled delivery date. All 17 of the CC-130Js will be based at 8 Wing Trenton, with the future Air Mobility Training Centre that will house the equipment and personnel required to train the operators and maintainers of the CC-130Js.

To emphasize the “newness” of this aircraft, the J models have  been given a new series of tail  numbers – the 600 series. The older Hercules have 300 series tail numbers  (e.g., 130337). So, the first CC-130J Hercules has the tail number 130601.

The CC-130Js are used in a wide variety of roles, including transporting equipment, troops and supplies to, from and within a theatre of operations. This fleet has already accumulated an impressive operational record supporting Operation ATHENA in Afghanistan and  Op MOBILE, Canada’s contribution to the NATO-led mission to protect the people of Libya.

Throughout Canada, the fleet has been actively participating in a number of operations and joint  exercises, including assisting in the evacuation of Canadians from  forest fires in the summer of 2011. In addition, September 2011 marked the first time that the annual resupply mission to CFS Alert in the Arctic (Op BOXTOP) was carried out using only the CC-130J.

The first priority of a robust and well-equipped CF is to protect Canadians and defend Canadian sovereignty at home and elsewhere. To do this, the CF need the right tools and equipment to get the job done. The new fleet of CC-130J Hercules aircraft ensures the CF have the equipment they need to conduct successful missions both domestically and internationally.