Lockheed C-130H Hercules Four engine transport aircraft   In 1970 the Belgian Air Force ordered twelve Lockheed C-130H Hercules (type 382C-25D) transport aircraft to replacement its sizeable fleet of Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcars. The Hercules aircraft were delivered from mid 1972 onwards to Melsbroek based N° 20 Squadron of the 15th Wing. During the first years of operation the aircraft wore a 'Vietnam'-style camouflage scheme which later on gave way for an overall grey. In 1990 a 'Mid-Life Improvement Programme' was started, a programme that included replacement of the outer wings (from engine N°2 and N°3 outwards) in phase 1, the installation of a self-protection suite and a complete new 'glass' cockpit with advanced avionics in phase 2.  Belgian Air Force C-130's have proven their value during numerous humanitarian deployments, in which  several missions, considered impossible by some, were successfully completed. The Lockheed C-130H Hercules is earmarked to be replaced by the all new Airbus Military A-400M, but considerable delays in this multi-nation project has postponed their entry into service so that the Belgian "Hercs" will be around for at least another decade.

Picture	Serial	C/N	Date In	Date Out	History
	CH-01	382-4455	Jul 1972	Active	71-1797, CH-01, "The Nairobi Belle" special marking.
	CH-02	382-4460	Jul 1972	May 2006	71-1798, CH-02, "30 Years C130" special color scheme, 05 May 2006 destroyed in hangar fire at Zaventem.
	CH-03	382-4461	Aug 1972	Active	71-1799, CH-03
	CH-04	382-4467	Oct 1972	Active	71-1800, CH-04, "Mid-Life Update" markings
	CH-05	382-4470	Dec 1972	Active	71-1801, CH-05, "20 Years C-130" Special paint.
	CH-06	382-4473	Dec 1972	Jul 1996	71-1802, CH-06, Written off in fatal crash at Eindhoven airport on 15 Jul 1996
	CH-07	382-4476	Jan 1973	Active	71-1803, CH-07, "60 Years 15th Wing" special color scheme.
	CH-08	382-4478	Feb 1973	Active	71-1804, CH-08
	CH-09	382-4479	Mar 1973	Active	71-1805, CH-09
	CH-10	382-4481	Mar 1973	Active	71-1806, CH-10, first aircraft having received the "Mid-Live Update".
	CH-11	382-4482	Apr 1973	Active	71-1807, CH-11
	CH-12	382-4483	Apr 1973	Active	71-1808, CH-12
	CH-13	382-4047	Mar 2009	Active	64-0552, N130EV, CH-14, CH-13
	Several	Lockheed Hercules C-130H CH-03, CH-08 and CH07 at low level over the Papeteries "Arjo-Wiggins" at Virginal-Samme, South of Brussels.

 

 

 

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