Hercules makes final flight into Cosford
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford today took delivery of its latest acquisition, an RAF Hercules C130K Mk.3 transport aircraft. The aircraft made its final flight into RAF Cosford at 11.30am this morning after a farewell flypast over the Museum.
The XV202 Hercules C130K Mk. 3 was an American aircraft built by Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia and was used by the United States Air Force. It was acquired by the RAF in 1966 and used mainly on longer routes and for paratrooping.
This particular aircraft was one of 30 Hercules modified during the early 1980’s, with the fuselage being lengthened by 15ft. Work was carried out by Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd, using fuselage plugs in front of and behind of the wing.
RAF Museum Curator, Al McLean says:
“We are very pleased to be given a Hercules. For more than forty years it has been the corner stone of the RAF’s tactical transport fleet and has operated all over the world.”
The aircraft will remain at RAF Cosford for the next 3-4 weeks and will undergo a short period of maintenance carried out on the airfield. After work has been completed, the aircraft will be moved onto the RAF Museum site and will go on permanent display as part of the Museum’s extensive collection.
The aircraft was flown into RAF Cosford by No 47 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton. This is the second new aircraft to arrive at the Museum this year, following the Dominie’s arrival in February. More aircraft are expected to arrive later this year, including a Nimrod.
