End of an era: RAF flies workhorse C-130J Hercules for final time 

As a member of the Lockheed team that helped contract with the MOD to sell C-130 J's to the UK I have to say I'm surprised that they are ending its service life. The aircraft is incredibly versatile.

Good by old friend, you will be long missed too! That is long after, those who are responsible for your wrongful retirement from the RAF and HMF service. Have themselves, been long forgotten about! You our old trusted and loyalty friend, the Glorious Hercules of the Skies, will always live on in our fond memories! Thank you C-130K's and thank you C-130J's, you served us the British Servicemen and Women well! You either brought us all home safe to our families, or you returned a few of us wounded but back home safe too. You even return a few of our fellow servicemen and women's bodies, back home to their families and friends when necessary too. We never had to question the Might Hercules, you were a true friend to us All, sad to see you go old friend. They should have kept just one Mighty Hercules flying, with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, along side the venerable Douglas Dakato C-47 too. But we are talking about narrow minded uncaring Conservative Defence Ministers and MoD Civil Servants, who don't have a military heart beating in their chest!

This is a big mistake to phase out the Hercules from RAF service so early, especially considering that the current Hercules have many years of airframe life remaining. Expensively acquired capability is being squandered presumably to make some minor cost savings. Competent air forces generally require a range of different size transport aircraft from small to large to best suit different tasks. The Atlas and Globemaster are much larger transports while the Hercules is a medium size transport aircraft that better suits many tasks. Keep the Hercules and add the smaller C27J Spartan as well to complement the Atlas and Globemaster. It appears it is not possible to have adequate defence forces with the bankers running your government.

Ad Memoriam. Farewell Hercules and thank you to all those who made, flew and serviced her for all those 56 years. Live long and prosper

I loved flying in this. Sad to see it go, a true workhorse

Why would we ditch these? Beast of a plane that's amazing for ground support amongst many others.

They couldn't keep one on for Fairford and Farnborough this year and let it go out in style

So retiring c130s is RAF's idea of expanding its capabilities in face of Russian threat.

Will they keep any on the heritage flight?

I flew in one of those for the first time when I was 16, which is now 43 years ago.

Keep at least one preferably two for heritage flight. Also it would in this ole ground pounders perspective. Ideal solution to convert several four to six into spectre gunship type roles. This would add a major fire support capacity for both regular troops and special forces. While still maintaining the operational requirements for special forces airdrop insertion/extraction. The costs of conversion of airframes still in our possession with the established support networks still in place would save a massive amount of money over purchase costs of new aircraft from America. With the bonus of as and when the converted airframes are deemed no longer needed they will generate a far higher return cost when sold on.

Need to keep a few for the special forces

I loved being on the Hercules first 70 Sqn the 47 Sqn SF then 24 Sqn Training truckies to fly Low Level ! The people were great. There were a few exceptions but everyone was mostly fantastic.

RIP ALBERT

Farewell from Cape Town and thank you, Fat Albert. SAAF still flying the Herc... and the Dakota.

Had a brilliant two years on Fat Albert at Lyneham in the 80,s

Red On Green Go ⬛️🟩🟦🟥🔷

Why are they being removed from service? Any ideas?

What is going to replace it? Easy Jet ?

Why the hell are we getting rid of it? Baffling idea

Utter stupidity putting C130s out of service

But the 130J has started his journey in 1999 🤡

WORST DECISION EVER= ROYAL AIR FARCE

RIP FAT ALBERT FROM A FORMER MEMBER OF 2 PARA

Fat Albert transported me all around the world whilst on LXX Sqn, goodbye old friend!

To retire the C-130J's will be a huge mistake.

👍👍

I,ve worked on every one of our Hercules while in the Air force. It,s a big mistake to get rid of the “fat Alberts”😢

So sad to see it go lots of memories in that plane.

A very bad move, Just to support Euro Airbus.

Sad

A mistake....

This is crazy - yeah ok there is the A400M, BUT why not keep these aircraft going until the A400M is ready

Send those Hercules to Ukraine, someone who can actually use them:)

British government should hang their heads in shame for the way they are getting rid of all of our aircraft.... What's next all the tiffys and T 2's!!!!

It was built to terrorize small countries but not with Russia 😂

And we are going to transport troops and vehicles.... how? On the carrier ship that has a useless electric engine? Typical UK Forces joke.

can't these C130 be delivered to Ukraine?

Why not offer them to Ukraine for free

The United States can buy the Hercules from our British friends!

It should be donated to underdeveloped countries

Sad.. :( But hey! Hand them over to us in Sweden! We still use and love hercules! ;)

Jumped out of them a fair few times, 2 Para/Red Devils 74-97.