Hercules arrives at Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford

Saturday 13th August 2011, 11:15AM BST.

Aircrew from the RAF’s No 47 Squadron after landing the Hercules for the last time at RAF Cosford

The Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford has taken delivery of a 44-year-old RAF Hercules plane. The Hercules C130K mark three aircraft is one of the last remaining planes of its kind in active service.

It landed at the base yesterday after leaving its former home of RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.

The American-built aircraft made its final flight into Cosford piloted by aircrew from 47 Squadron.

An RAF Cosford Museum spokesman said: “The aircraft will undergo a short period of maintenance, which will be carried out on the airfield at RAF Cosford.

“After work has been completed, the aircraft will be moved on to the RAF Museum site and will go on permanent display as part of the museum’s extensive collection.”

“This is the second new aircraft to arrive at the museum this year, following the arrival of a Dominie in February.”

The plane was delivered to the RAF in August 1967 and underwent a fuselage extension for use on longer routes and for paratrooping.

In 1981, it was used by RAF Lyneham in the Transport Wing, Wiltshire, and in 1986 the plane was refitted with an in-flight refuelling probe above the cockpit.

It went into storage with the Marshall of Cambridge engineering company and was more recently kept at RAF Brize Norton.

This plane has taken part in many air shows, including the Air Tatoo at RAF Fairford in 1994 and was also featured in the Air International magazine in 1983.

View more: Raf Cosford news.

1
Tom

August 18, 2011 at 10:02

I was at lyth hill shrewsbury as 2 of these massive planes come flying over head i snapped a load of photos with my slr

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