Using its aft loading ramp and door the C-130 can accommodate a wide
variety of oversized cargo, including everything from utility helicopters and six wheeled armored
vehicles to standard palletized cargo and military personnel. In an aerial delivery role, it can
air drop loads up to 42,000 pounds or use its high-floatation landing gear to land and deliver cargo on rough, dirt strips.
The flexible design of the Hercules enables it to be configured for many different missions,
allowing for one aircraft to perform the role of many. Much of the special mission equipment added to the
Hercules is removable allowing the aircraft to revert back to its cargo delivery role if desired.
Additionally, the C-130 can be rapidly reconfigured for the various types of cargo such as palletized equipment,
floor loaded material, air drop platforms, container delivery system bundles, vehicles and personnel or aeromedical evacuation.
The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet and will replace aging C-130E's. The C-130J
incorporates state-of-the-art technology to reduce manpower requirements, lower operating and support costs, and
provide life cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. Compared to older C-130s, the J model climbs faster
and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance. The C-130J-30
is a stretch version, adding 15 feet to fuselage, increasing usable space in the cargo compartment.
C-130J/J-30 major system improvements include: advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated
digital avionics; color multifunctional liquid crystal displays and head-up displays; state-of-the-art navigation
systems with dual inertial navigation system and global positioning system; fully integrated defensive systems; low-power
color radar; digital moving map display; new turboprop engines with six bladed, all composite propellers; digital auto
pilot; improved fuel, environmental and ice protection systems; and an enhanced cargo handling system.