Lockheed Martin has rolled out the first HC-130J combat rescue tanker for the USAF from its Marietta facility in Georgia.
The aircraft is the first of 115 special operations equipped C-130Js for the USAF, comprising 78 HC-130Js for Air Combat Command (ACC), and 37 MC-130Js for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The first aircraft will be presented to the USAF on April 19 and after flight testing, is due to enter service in 2012.
Interestingly, April 7 marks the 55th anniversary of the first flight of the first A model C-130 Hercules.
