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USS Forrestal C-130 Hercules Carrier Landing Trials

jaglavaksoldier · 5.7M views · 2008-08-22 · 1:29

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Overview

Short archival footage of a USMC KC-130F Hercules making unarrested landings and takeoffs on the USS Forrestal in 1963. It is the largest and heaviest aircraft to have landed on a carrier, and the tests were judged successful but too risky for routine use.

On Hacker News

HN commenters link it as the go-to example of what a carrier deck can handle and as an impressive flight feat.

Recommended by 1 HN people across 1 months · HN mentions 2016–2023

Topics

Aviation & aerospace engineeringMilitary history & warfare
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c-130aircraft carrieruss forrestalnaval aviationflight tests

What people said

toomanybeersies · 2018-07 · Recommendation

The video of a Hercules landing and taking off on the USS Forrestal without no arrestor or catapult might interest you: [VIDEO]

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docandrew · 2023-03 · Reference

A little longer than 20 feet, but a much heavier aircraft and still impressive - a C-130 landing on an aircraft carrier: [VIDEO]

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adamjb · 2022-03 · Reference

They successfully tested landing and taking off a loaded C-130 from a carrier in the 60s so I guess if you designed a new long range STOL airliner from the ground up it wouldn't be impossible and might even have a slim slim chance of being economical. But existing airliners, no way. And with the risks of carrier operations I don't reckon it'd be anywhere near as safe as 6 hour ETOPS. [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by jaglavaksoldier, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

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