Nieuw Zeeland Luchtmacht /RNZAF

RNZAF HERCULESSEN C-130H’s tho Coulson for Firefighting

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Press Release – We’re expanding our C-130H Hercules fleet to 10 aircraft with the acquisition of four from the New Zealand Defence Force. These legendary planes will be converted at our Thermal, Calif., base and fitted with our RADS-XXL tank system—the world’s highest-capacity aerial firefighting tank (4,000 gallons per drop).

With this expansion, we’re strengthening our global wildfire response and continuing our mission to protect lives, communities, and critical resources. #coulsonaviation#aerialfirefighting#c130https://f.mtr.cool/kcoktcnnk

RIAT 1979 25 YEARS C-130 HERCULES RNZAF NZ 7001

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EXHIBITION OPEN! Our Mighty Hercules exhibition is now open – and thanks to No. 40 Squadron RNZAF there is a very special trophy as its centrepiece.

The trophy has a bit of a back story, so bear with us!

Back in 1979 Lockheed decided to celebrate 25 years of C-130 Hercules production with a special competition to find the best example of the aircraft at the International Air Tattoo being held at Greenham Common in England.

Hercules NZ7001 (also known as Charles) was sent to represent the RNZAF.

There were 26 other air forces competing, all hoping their Hercules would come out best.

Before it left Whenuapai NZ7001 was cleaned to within an inch of its life, but when it landed all the cleaning bays were full of crews getting their aircraft ready.

So the Kiwis started cleaning by hand, and they must have done a wonderful job.

Because, when the judges made their decision, NZ7001 was the best in show, winning the Concours D’Elegance.

And, as well as flying the longest way, having no cleaning bay, NZ7001 was the oldest aircraft in the competition at 14 years.

The trophy normally takes pride of place in No. 40 Squadron’s hangar, but has been lent to us for this special exhibition.

Come along and see the exhibition – we’re open every day from 9.30am until 4.30pm.

And from Friday you’ll be able to see Charles in person.

PS: The picture credit is Fred de Ruiter – isn’t it a fantastic photo of a gleaming NZ7001 from 1979.

Here’s to Charles – world beater and #extraordinaryaircraft!

#rnzaf#rnzafpastandpresent

Air Force Museum of New Zealand our new Film

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Air Force Museum of New Zealand

19 november om 18:22  · 

HERC YEAH! Our new film about the extraordinary Lockheed C-130H Hercules is now in the works.

And we’d like to say a huge thank you to No. 40 Squadron for hosting us at Whenuapai, taking part in the filming and for providing NZ7002 as the perfect cinematic backdrop last week.

Also on our thank you list is retired Wing Commander Gordon Ragg, one of the young pilots who flew NZ7003 on its delivery flight in 1965.

Gordon generously gave us his time to recount his memories of what it was like to fly the brand-new Hercules all those years ago, and what a contrast it was to the piston-engined Hastings and DC-6s.

The last of the fleet of C-130Hs is due to retire in January, having served the RNZAF for almost six decades.

From Antarctica to Afghanistan the Hercs have done it all, and we can’t wait to tell their story with documentary maker Belmont Productions.

We will be putting together an exhibiton to go with the film, similar to the one we have running currently to pay tribute to our other extraordinary aircraft – the P-3K2 Orion.

In case you haven’t already seen it here’s the Orion story – https://youtu.be/IFzp9YtA-2Y – and we look forward to doing the same for the Herc.

#extraordinaryaircraft#C130HHercules#rnzaf#lockheed#p3orion