How needed are C130's longterm?
500N poses the question "How needed are the C130's longterm"? Given that the RAAF has been operating C130's since late 1958 the type have certainly etched their place in our Air Force history. I cannot comment on the C130J (they don't have a seat for a Flight Engineer), however having operated the A-E-H variants I am sure that the C130 will be on the RAAF inventory long after I'm a mere memory. In fact, former C130A A97-212 is still in operation, the sole Aeroproducts equipped C130A still flying. It is now N131EC and owned by Earl Cherry. As mentioned, the only two major failures in 53 years of RAAF operations have been two instances of NLG strut failure. One on an A model in Medang around 1974 where the axle fractured and broke away from the bottom of the strut and one on a H model a couple of years back which was of a similar nature as I understand it. Long live the Lockheed Legend.
If it ain't Boeing I'm not goin' (unless its a Lockheed)