Almost exactly 20 years ago, on March 20, 2003, the first of three C-130 Hercules landed in Austria. This marked the beginning of a new era in red-white-red military aviation. These aircraft were used C-130 Hercules from the Royal Air Force in Great Britain. Following a general overhaul, they were put into service in Austria in 2003 and 2004. Since the introduction of the C-130 in Austria, around 17,000 flight hours have been successfully completed.
Recognition of exceptional performance
In a message, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner paid special tribute to the exceptional performance of the crews: “You can rely on them in any situation and, thanks to our own air transport system, we are able to bring Austrian citizens or soldiers home safely from crisis areas. However, the C-130 Hercules is also indispensable in supplying our foreign contingents. Without this air transport capacity, it would not be possible to independently supply remote areas of operation, such as in Mali or Lebanon,” says Tanner.
Representing Upper Austria’s Governor Thomas Stelzer, Provincial Councillor Wolfgang Hattmannsberger emphasized: “Freedom, peace and democracy do not exist without security. The Austrian Armed Forces guarantee this. Security begins not only at home but also abroad. We are committed to Vogler Air Base as an air support base for our army.” In his speech, the commander of the air force, Brigadier Gerfried Promberger, emphasized the need for an independent air transport capability. Especially in connection with the armed forces’ missions abroad. Future of the Hercules
The C-130 Hercules transport system is now approaching the end of its service life and will be decommissioned in the next few years after a total service life of more than 55 years. Defense Minister Tanner has already announced that she is taking all measures to ensure a smooth takeover by a successor system and that a decision on the successor will be made quickly. https://militaeraktuell.at/wir-haben-viele-plaene-in-der-schublade/ The C-130 Hercules from US manufacturer Lockheed Corporation is a military transport aircraft with four turboprop engines and is primarily used for military transportation. It is loaded via a rear door. The Hercules is primarily used to transport personnel and supplies, especially as part of foreign military operations. However, it is also available for the evacuation of civilians from crisis areas. The aircraft is almost 30 meters long, has a wingspan of 40 meters and a total output of 4,508 shaft horsepower. It can carry a maximum payload of 19 tons or a maximum of 92 passengers. The Austrian C-130 Hercules were put into service in 1967 and 1968.
