The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has officially retired its five C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft, marking the end of an era that has lasted for six decades. A ceremonial flypast over Northland kicked off the farewell, with another flight scheduled over the South Island next week.
Following their decommissioning, four of the C-130H aircraft will be relocated to RNZAF Base Woodbourne in Blenheim, while one will be preserved at the Air Force Museum located at Wigram. Throughout their service, the C-130Hs achieved remarkable milestones, including over 155,000 accident-free flying hours and approximately 100,000 landings across various international missions.
The RNZAF received its first three C-130 Hercules aircraft in 1965, originally delivered in the standard C-130 variant and assigned to No. 40 Squadron at RNZAF Base Auckland. Their early missions included support operations for the New Zealand Army and allied forces during the Vietnam War. Impressed by their performance, the New Zealand government expanded the fleet, acquiring two additional Hercules aircraft just four years later. Over the years, the planes underwent numerous modifications, including a critical life extension overhaul in 2005 that led to their redesignation as C-130H.
The C-130H Hercules fleet has been instrumental in several significant operations throughout its service life. Among the notable missions were short-notice evacuation tasks in the Middle East, humanitarian assistance across the Indo-Pacific region, and transport operations for allied forces during the Cold War. In 2001, the aircraft played a vital role by transporting the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment to Afghanistan, contributing to a 20-year military support mission in the region against insurgent threats.
More recently, the C-130H fleet has also been involved in logistical support, including the transportation of military aid packages to aid Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion. As the RNZAF transitions away from the C-130H model, the future has already been planned with the introduction of the new C-130J-30 Super Hercules, selected by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence in anticipation of the aging C-130H’s retirement.
