The C-130 Hercules is one of only five aircraft in the world to have a service record greater than 50 years and the only general transport aircraft among those five. First introduced in December 1956 the C-130 has served as the primary tactical airl ift transport for the American military and the militaries of many other nations besides. The aircraft takes great advantage of its ability to land on and take off from unprepared airstrips an ability that greatly expands its capabilities. Modifica tions to the airframe have brought the aircraft to a huge variety of other roles including aerial firefighting mid-air refueling and airborne fire-support (as a gunship). The C-130 family of aircraft has seen extensive worldwide service in military civilian and humanitarian aid roles and is still widely used today.Painted with a superb dark finish over handcrafted construction this model is a must-have for any collection