If the number of buyers of an aircraft, the number of missions it has performed, and the length of time it has been in continuous production are used as the criteria, the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Corporation of the United States is undoubtedly the most successful military aircraft to date, without a doubt. Even if it is measured by its contribution in peacetime and wartime, the C-130 is well-deserved to be classified as one of the most important military aircraft in history.
The C-130 has developed into more than a dozen modified models and is active in various missions. The "C130, Classic Transport Aircraft" series of articles tells you the origin, present and future of the C-130.