Lockheed MC-130

Lockheed MC-130
País	E.e.u.u
Papel	Aeronaves de transporte militar de operaciones especiales
Primer vuelo	Abril 2011
Construido	100+

el Lockheed MC-130 es la designación básica para una familia de aeronaves de misión especial operadas por el Comando de Operaciones Especiales de la Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos (AFSOC), un ala del Comando de Educación y Entrenamiento Aéreo, y un ala ganada por AFSOC del Comando de Reserva de la Fuerza Aérea. Basado en el transporte Lockheed C-130 Hercules, las misiones de los MC-130 son la infiltración, exfiltración y reabastecimiento de fuerzas de operaciones especiales, y el reabastecimiento de combustible aéreo de (principalmente) helicópteros de operaciones especiales y aviones de rotor basculante.

Fuente: Lockheed MC-130 en Wikipedia

Lockheed MC-130P Combate Shadow Walk Around
Fotógrafo	Vladimir Yakubov
Localización	Espectáculo aéreo de la ciudad capital
Fotos	146

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Hercules C-130
Fotógrafo	Unknow
Localización	Unknow
Fotos	46

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The “Shadow” in the Night

el Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow was a specialized variant of the C-130 Hercules, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Its primary mission was the clandestine air-to-air refueling of special operations helicopters, such as the MH-53 Pave Low and MH-60 Pave Hawk. Operating primarily at night and at low altitudes, the Combat Shadow provided the “long legs” necessary for deep-penetration rescue and infiltration missions behind enemy lines.

Attribute	Technical Specification (MC-130P)
Papel	Special Operations Air Refueling / Infiltration
Equipo	7 (2 Pilots, Navigator, Flight Engineer, Radio Operator, 2 Loadmasters)
Planta motriz	4 × Allison T56-A-15 turboprops
Horsepower	4,591 shp (3,425 kW) per engine
Velocidad máxima	289 knots (333 mph / 535 km/h)
Refueling Speed	105 to 120 knots (Critical for helicopters)
Service Ceiling	33,000 feet (10,000 m)
Electronic Warfare	ALR-69 Radar Warning, ALE-40 Chaff/Flare dispensers

Critical Engineering and Mission Systems

Low-Speed Aerodynamics: To refuel helicopters safely, the MC-130P had to fly at exceptionally low speeds, often near its stall limit. This required precise throttle management and specialized training for the flight crew.
Dual Drogue Refueling: The aircraft was equipped with two underwing refueling pods (usually the Sargent-Fletcher system). These pods extended hoses with “drogue” baskets that helicopter probes would plug into.
Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Compatible: Every light on the aircraft—inside and out—was modified to be compatible with NVGs. This allowed the “Shadow” to fly “blacked out” during covert operations, remaining invisible to the naked eye while providing a beacon for friendly forces.
Advanced Navigation: Unlike standard C-130s, the MC-130P featured highly accurate self-contained navigation systems, including GPS and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), to find isolated landing zones or refueling points in total darkness.

Operational Legacy

From HC-130P to MC-130P: Originally designated as the HC-130P for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), the aircraft were transferred to AFSOC and re-designated MC-130P in 1996 to reflect their broader special operations role.
Combat Proven: The Combat Shadow saw action in nearly every major U.S. conflict since Vietnam, including Operation Just Cause (Panama), Desert Storm, and the early years of the Global War on Terror.
Rescue at Sea: Beyond combat, the MC-130P was frequently used to drop pararescue (PJ) teams and survival equipment to distressed vessels in the middle of the ocean.
Retirement: The MC-130P was officially retired in 2015, replaced by the more powerful and technologically advanced MC-130J Commando II.