Lockheed C-130 Hercules: Illustrated History Books & Guides

C-130 Hercules: Lockheed's Military Air Transport, and Its Variants (Legends of Warfare)

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules has remained in continuous production for more than sixty years, longer than any other military aircraft, with no end in sight. Since the Vietnam War, it has supported United States combat operations worldwide. Originally designed as a simple transport, it has been adapted for many roles, including gunship, electronic warfare, aerial refuelling, and search and rescue.

This book traces the aircraft's development and operational history from its first concept to front-line service.
Using numerous archival images, many previously unpublished, along with detailed photographs of well-preserved examples, the book presents a clear visual record and explains the history of this enduring and versatile aircraft.

Product details

Author:	David Doyle
Details:	128 pages, 9.25 x 9.25 x 0.83 in (23.5 x 23.5 x 2.1 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	218 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2020)
Series:	Legends of Warfare
ISBN:	9780764360794

Lockheed-Martin C-130 Hercules: Flying with air forces around the world (Duke Hawkins)

This beautiful Duke Hawkins photo book extensively presents the Lockheed-Martin C-130 Hercules, which has been in service for more than 65 years with more than 70 air forces around the world.
The book contains not only action photos, but also many "walkaround" photos that show details of the aircraft from different angles. Chapters on cockpit (14 pages), fuselage, armament and maintenance work (14 pages).

Attention to all C-130 variants: C-130H, EC-130H Compass Call, EC-130J Commando Solo, AC 130W Stinger II and AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, the MC-130J Commando II, MC-130H Combat Talon II, HC-130P Combat King I and HC-130J Combat King II, the WC-130J Weatherbird tornado fighter, the LC-130 on skis and C-130 firefighting planes.

The series "Aircraft in Detail" arose from the collaboration between pilots, aircraft technicians and modellers. This volume (No. 9) on the Lockheed-Martin C-130 Hercules family is illustrated with over 500 very high quality color photographs, most of which have never been published before.

Product details

Author:	Robert Pied, Nicolas Deboeck
Details:	196 pages, 9 x 9 x 0.59 in (24 x 24 x 1.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	500+ color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	HMH Publications (B, 2019)
Series:	Aircraft in Detail (09)
ISBN:	9782960248883

C-130 Hercules in the RAF

This book presents the complete history of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules in service with the Royal Air Force over the past fifty years. Reliable and highly adaptable, the aircraft has served as a transport for troops and vehicles, supported peacetime training, and deployed special forces on covert missions.

The narrative follows its career from the first delivery of the C-130 C Mk.1 in 1967 to later versions, including the C-130K C1/C3 and the C-130J C4/C5, and describes its many roles in training, combat, and humanitarian operations.

It also details the special equipment fitted to certain aircraft, such as infrared defensive countermeasures and the Sky Guardian 200 radar warning receiver.

Product details

Author:	Clive Bennett
Details:	96 pages, 9.25 x 6.5 in (23.5 x 16.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2018)
ISBN:	9781445652078

C-130 Hercules : A History

Developed to meet a 1951 requirement, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules became the most successful military airlifter ever built. Since its first prototype flight on 23 August 1954, more than 2.100 aircraft have been produced in over eighty versions. It serves with more than sixty air forces and many civilian operators in roles such as transport, tanker, gunship, command post, hospital, and firefighting aircraft.

The type entered service in 1956 with the USAF Tactical Air Command. During the Vietnam War it provided vital airlift, paradrop, and evacuation missions, often at low level and under fire. It later proved equally reliable in the Gulf War in transport, electronic warfare, psychological operations, and gunship roles.

Martin W. Bowman recounts the complete history of this durable and versatile aircraft.

Product details

Author:	Martin W. Bowman
Details:	256 pages, 9.7 x 6.7 in (24.5 x 17 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781473863187

Lockheed C-130 and its Variants

This revised and expanded edition traces the development and service history of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the world's leading military airlifter, from its origins in the early Cold War to the present day. It includes updated information and new photographs of current variants, as well as revised appendices listing today's units and active aircraft.

Pages of the book "Lockheed C-130 and its Variants"

More than 190 images present the Hercules in a wide range of roles and paint schemes. Coverage includes gunships, electronic warfare and reconnaissance versions, test and special-mission aircraft, and naval models.

Product details

Author:	Chris Reed
Details:	152 pages, 11 x 8.5 x 0.55 in (28 x 21.5 x 1.4 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	190 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2017)
ISBN:	9780764353338

Night Hunters - The AC-130s and Their Role in US Airpower

Air power historian William P. Head presents the first detailed study of the AC-130 gunship. While other airframes and close air support systems existed, the four-engine AC-130 became the longest-serving and most effective fixed-wing gunship.

Developed during the Vietnam War, it addressed diverse enemy tactics, difficult terrain, and challenging climates. Its capacity to carry heavy payloads over long distances at higher altitudes made it the final Vietnam-era gunship and the only one still flying missions today. It has also carried advanced weapons, sensors, targeting, and fire control systems.

The book covers both technical development and combat operations, as well as proposed uses in the War on Terror, giving a clear understanding of gunships' role and close air support in US conflicts. AC-130s continue to maintain their reputation for effectiveness in modern combat operations.

Product details

Author:	William P. Head
Details:	440 pages, 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.1 in (23 x 15 x 2.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	24 b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Texas A & M University Press (USA, 2014)
ISBN:	9781623491192

C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is one of the best-known and most versatile military transport aircraft in the world. More than 60 years after its first flight, it remains in series production. Numerous special versions have been developed from the basic model for dedicated, mainly military roles.

Civil variants also exist, including aircraft for Arctic operations and aerial firefighting. The German Air Force has introduced six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft into service.

Christian Rastätter describes the aircraft's development, technology, and operations clearly and in great detail.

Pages of the book "C-130 Hercules"

Product details

Author:	Christian Rastätter
Details:	224 pages, 10.6 x 9 x 0.67 in (27 x 24 x 1.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	210 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2022)
Series:	Flugzeugtypen
ISBN:	9783613045064