Happy 60th Anniversary to the Herk! Published Aug. 22, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The C-130 Hercules reaches a major milestone Aug. 23 marking the 60th anniversary of its first flight at Burbank, California, in 1954. According to a Lockheed Martin press release, to date, more than 2,500 C-130s have been ordered and/or delivered to 63 nations. Plus, it has the longest, continuous military aircraft production run in history. At Little Rock Air Force Base, there are approximately 80 C-130H/J models on the flightline, making the base home to more than 20 percent of the total U.S. Air Force C-130 fleet. The Herk is a workhorse for combat airlift, capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. Without the Herk, Team Little Rock would not be able to provide rapid air mobility to answer our Nation's call. Little Rock AFB is excited to wish the Herk a "Happy Anniversary" to the Herk.