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Last C-130H Hercules leaves Peoria’s 182nd in preparation for next generation ‘Super Hercules’

C-130 Hercules aircraft from Illinois’ 182nd Airlift Wing and Connecticut’s 103rd Airlift Wing sit on the 182 AW apron in Peoria, Ill., Jan. 29, 2015. The Hercules is capable of taking off and landing on rough terrain and is a key airframe for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lealan Buehrer/Released)

PEORIA, Ill. (25News Now) – Airmen at Peoria’s 182nd Airlift Wing saluted the wing’s last C-130H Hercules for the final time as it took to the skies.

The Illinois National Guard said the wing’s C-130H mission came to a close Monday after 22 years.

The wing is transitioning to the next generation C-130J Super Hercules.

The U.S. Air Force said the C-130 Hercules is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. The Air Force issued its original design specification in 1951 with deliveries beginning in Dec. 1956.

The C-130J entered the inventory in Feb. 1999, bringing performance improvements over all previous models, including state-of-the-art technology, reducing manpower requirement, operating and support costs. The Air Force has taken delivery of 121 of the newest generation aircraft.

In 2023, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin along with U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen applauded the Air National Guard’s decision in selecting the 182nd Airlift Wing as a preferred location for the new C-130J, protecting around 370 full-time employees and 1,200 Airmen.

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