By Marty van Duyne
For PotomacLocal.com
Falmouth, Va. –– Stafford Sheriff’s Deputies stopped traffic at the intersection of Butler Road (Va. 218) and Cambridge Street (U.S. 1) Thursday morning.
But the sight of a nearly 100-foot long and 40-foot high aircraft fuselage being hauled over road was enough to stop most vehicle occupants in their tracks.
The fuselage of a U.S. Air Force C-130E Hercules was being transported from the 314th Air Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base to Aberdeen, Md. on a lowboy trailer.
According to Arlo Taylor of the 314th Air Wing Public Affairs Office, the plane has been used as a GITA (Ground Instructional Training Aircraft).
Taylor said the wings, engine, and other equipment were transported earlier.
“The E is an older version of the C130 aircraft,” said Taylor.
Most retired aircraft are flown into Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson to reside in the bone yard. But sometimes the Air Force receives specific requests for transfer of aircraft.
“One of the commands at Aberdeen requested the C-130E,” said Taylor.
Before making its way into Stafford County, the fuselage traveled by police escort through Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg Police Public Information Officer Natatia Bledsoe said the department was notified Wednesday afternoon that the load would be transiting the city.
“We examined all the required permits and insurance documents from the DoD contractor and everything was in order,” said Bledsoe. “They requested escort for their transit through the city.”
“I was listening to the radio traffic between the escort vehicle drivers and the tractor driver,” said Bledsoe. “And I was impressed at the team’s constant communication and attention to detail in relaying information.”
The convoy that consisted of the tractor-trailer and three escort vehicles had to divert off of Interstate 95 to Va. 2, then merged to continue onto U.S. 1 until they crossed the Rappahannock River at the Falmouth Bridge.
At that point the Fredericksburg Police handed off the escort duties to the Stafford Sheriff’s Department. A deputy closed the intersection at U.S. 1 and Butler Rd. and escorted the convoy to the entrance to I-95 north at mile marker 133.
Upon the arrival of the fuselage, the complete aircraft will be at its final destination in Aberdeen.
Marty van Duyne is an award winning independent photographer and journalist.
More to the Story
C-130 Hercules Tactical Transport
By Marty van Duyne
For PotomacLocal.com
Lockheed Martin developed the C-130 in the mid 20th century as a short take off and landing (STOL) capable military transport.
Originally fielded as the C-130A with three-blade propeller Allison engines, it has been modified throughout the years to include a myriad of capabilities from firepower to airlift.
But the aircraft also set a standard with an integrated rear mounted folding ramp. This feature has supported easy roll on roll off capabilities as well troop ingress on the ground and egress both on the ground and while airborne.
The C-130E was fielded in 1962 and added two external fuel tanks, increased the internal fuel capacity, and upgraded the Allison turboprop engines to the four bladed propeller T56-A7a.
It has a wingspan of 132 ft. 7 in., height of 38 ft. 2 in., and length of 97 ft. 9 in.
The current C-130J Super Hercules has been praised as a force multiplier providing a payload capacity of nearly 40K lbs. for a range of more than 2K miles.
Marty van Duyne is an award winning independent photographer and journalist.
