LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- After more than 52 years in service, the last C-130E, Tail No. 9815, departed Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, on a flatbed truck to Vandenberg Airport in Evansville, Indiana. It will be used to train law enforcement, Homeland Security personnel and firefighters to practice real-world scenarios.
“The aircraft served in various missions,” said Willie Goodwin, 19th Maintenance Group Engineering and technical services specialist. “It was one of the last E models to fly combat missions in Iraq.”
It retired Dec. 9, 2011, after a tornado damaged the right wing of a C-130H. Despite the E model being in good condition, its right wing was given to the C-130H which had less flying hours than the E model.
The C-130E was later used as a ground trainer for maintainers and loadmasters here as well as a donor to repair other C-130s.
Due to newer models being required, C-130E ground trainers have become obsolete. However, that does not mean the aircraft is useless.
“The aircraft is on the way to its last mission as a trainer in Evansville, Indiana,” Goodwin said. “This will be the C130Es final mission after its activation in 1964.”