FabSwingers.com forum: Bye bye Albert

By *amantha TS OP Woman
over a year ago

Swindon

Today the legend that is the Lockheed Hercules (C130, or Fat Albert) bows its head and says goodbye after 65 years of service, ahead of its final operational retirement at the end of the month.

If you happen to see and recognise the 3 ship flying around today (they're doing a UK wide tour) then please stop and cherish it, for it's a sight and sound you're unlikely to experience ever again in this country.

For me, I spent 15 years of my life working on them, flying in them and sending them off to do the many tasks no other aircraft could do, in places no other aircraft could go. Today is going to be an emotional one for me.

Per Ardua Ad Astra.

By *asycouple1971Couple
over a year ago

midlands

Amazing aircraft. Seen one on youtube discharging a gatling gun wow.

By *lueFireCouple
over a year ago

just somewhere around here

I work for the company that serviced it (and worldwide c130s)

We have already had our ceremony

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Seen them at a few airshows over the years and was always so impressed with what it could do

Short take off and landing, backing it's self up etc. A very capable machine

By *lueFireCouple
over a year ago

just somewhere around here

Watching them take off and bank over the hangars is a gorgeous sight

By *wisted999Man
over a year ago

North Bucks

Love that plane.

When I lived back home we used to get the odd one flying in. The runway was right by our school playground so we used to run down and watc them land.