My dad flew on H models and then MC-130Ps years later. They are just now retiring the same exact air-frames he flew on 15-20 years ago, and those planes were already quite old, built in the mid-60s. These things had been overhauled so many times they weighed more “empty” than the factory stats - it was from all the…

The cool thing about those is the P-3 has their engines mounted “upside down” compared to the C-130. That aircraft like the C-130 is still a solid plane and very effective/versatile platform. I’m sure both greatly exceeded Lockheed’s expectations.

My brother is in the ANG with a C-130 squadron and his only gripe with the J model is not the plane but the fact that is has less personal assigned. Which is fine, a lot of stuff is automated compared to older models, but as a cost-cutting measure they are relying on just 3 crew members to do more and more on the…