Italian Air Force C-130J reaches milestone with 75,000 Hours

Vincent Biondi · Post by **Vincent Biondi** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:28 pm

Hello All,
The C-130J Super Hercules of the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa reached a milestone to become the first operator outside the United States, to fly 75,000 hours.

"Seventy five thousand flight hours is a tremendous achievement," said Reynolds. "From your unrelenting missions out of Herat in support of allied troops in Afghanistan, to the Ridare la luce medical missions in Africa, you are truly the operator by which all other C-130J operators are measured."

Here is the link:

http://www.asd-network.com/press_detail ... _Hours.htm

Vincent.

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:21 pm

At what point does the airframe on a craft like that become tired,Vince?

Capitano · Post by **Capitano** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:17 am

Good question. Don't know about the Herc but this one looks like its ready for retirement; the Red Bull sea plane.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?secti ... le-6735138

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Vincent Biondi · Post by **Vincent Biondi** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:13 am

Hello Bryan,
Good question.
In the case of the C-130J, these are the new versons of the aircraft, so the milestone reached by the Italian Air Force is based on the the fleet total and not individual.
The C-130J was first deliverd to the Italian Air force on Septembe 22nd, 2000.
I think that in the past older models of the C-130 H, for example, have logged between 25,000 to 40,000 hours per individual aircraft.
The Hercules is a tough, proven aircraft as one can see.
Vincent.

stefanuccio · Post by **stefanuccio** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:45 pm

hallo Vincent
i agree with you about the hercules toughness is an etremely versatile and durable aircraft
one day i have seen one c130 hercules of the south african air force doing a flypast with only ONE engine in perfect straigth flight it was impressive
ciao stefano