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Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:24 pm
by Matthew Clements
Afternoon,
During March 2016 I was fortunate enough to work with the USCG Air Station Barbers Point who operate the legacy HC-130H located in Oahu, of the Hawaiian Islands. The area of responsibility for the HC-130H in Hawaii is massive, they cover remote islands all over from as far West as Guam, South to Samoa, the Marshall Islands, Wake and Midway. It is not uncommon for the legacy HC-130H to be launched out on a SAR case 2,000 miles from station.

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3139 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3190 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3222 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3284 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3352 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3403 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3414 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3456 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3475 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3528 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3535 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3563 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_3583 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_9146 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_080316IMG_9168 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_3741 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_3824 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_9499 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_9539 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_9747 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_9783 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_9857 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_9908 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_0077 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

ImagePHJR_090316IMG_0087 by Matthew Clements, on Flickr

If you want to learn more about USCG Air Station Barbers Point and their operations with the HC-130H there is a full feature in the October 2016 Edition of AIR International Magazine shop.keypublishing.com/issue/View/issue/AI915

Cheers,
Matt

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:57 pm
by Morseman
Nice.

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 2:32 pm
by Dan D'Air
Now that is something different. Great shots of a very photogenic aircraft.
TFS.

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 2:55 pm
by slogen51
Lovely stuff

For me they are amongst the best looking hercs out there.

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:07 pm
by Proteus
Stunning images, thanks for posting.

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:37 am
by DanBeeden
Beautiful set of images - great compositions. What an awesome opportunity.

Best wishes, Dan

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:13 am
by bigcrow
Very nice indeed Matt... :thumb:

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 1:21 pm
by Stroudy
Very good set.

If they can be called out on SAR for that distance I wonder why they don't have the two L/R tanks under each wing that the MC-130's have? I know they AAR from the outer ones on the MC, but I guess that fuel can still be used by said Herc?

Thanks.

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 2:19 pm
by Hunter49
Great pic,s and scenery! The patches worn by the crew seems to look like part of a union jack ? Thanks Rob

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 2:51 pm
by paddyboy
Hi Matt :P

Stunning scenery: stunning shots and a great painted 'frame to boot :thumbs:

I would of course expect no less from a fellow Naaarridge Booy ;)

Cheers and well done you :thumb:

Paddyboy :clap:

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 3:55 pm
by Matthew Clements
Hunter49 wrote:Great pic,s and scenery! The patches worn by the crew seems to look like part of a union jack ? Thanks Rob
It appears on the flag of the state of Hawaii, it is a remnant of the British Empire's influence on Hawaiian history.

Cheers!

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 4:01 pm
by Matthew Clements
Stroudy wrote:Very good set.

If they can be called out on SAR for that distance I wonder why they don't have the two L/R tanks under each wing that the MC-130's have? I know they AAR from the outer ones on the MC, but I guess that fuel can still be used by said Herc?

Thanks.
I think the acquisition of the HC-130J has taken longer than anticipated, the J will bring 40 percent increase in range over the HC-130H.

There was also a program running to replace the Center Wing Box on the HC-130H fleet, so I would imagine the two additional pods would increase fatigue.

HTH

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:16 pm
by Blackcat1
Beautiful set!! Surely not very wise to be looking at Facebook whilst flying though! ;-)

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:27 pm
by Reach1985
Old skool hercs and a nice paint job too! Super pics!!

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 8:35 pm
by Duane Hewitt
Stunners all of them!

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 8:59 pm
by Alfie
Wonderful set of pictures, thank you for sharing

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:28 pm
by rusty1
Brill photos :thumbs:

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:53 pm
by donfairburn
Great pics,see you caught Chinamans Hat in pic 4(Mokali'i)

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:39 am
by 114PM
Beautiful :) Congratulations!

Re: Hercules, The Hawaiian Guardian! (USCG HC-130H)

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:30 am
by GhostFlight91
Stunning