Free Republic

The transporter was carrying more than 90 people, mostly troops, when it overshot the runway on Jolo island. The dead are mainly military personnel, but three civilians on the ground were also killed, the defence ministry said. Rescue workers scoured the wreckage of the Lockheed C130 Hercules in a wood near several buildings. The aircraft burst into flames on crashing, sending a large black cloud into the air. Several dozen people were injured, and five are still missing, the military said. A nearby military hospital treated survivors.

Its last known position was about 390 nautical miles from Punta Arenas and 280 nautical miles from the Antarctic base, according to the Air Force. There were 17 crew members and 21 other passengers on board, who were on their way to perform "logistical support tasks" such as repairing the floating oil pipeline that provides fuel for the base, said the Air Force. In addition to crew members, the plane was also carrying personnel from the armed forces, an engineering firm, and the University of Magallanes. After the plane lost contact, the Air Force declared a state of alert and...

watch"><>p>Just a cool video about the Blue Angels' C-130.

U.S. to give Poland five C-130 Hercules planes 2008-08-26 00:06:58 WARSAW, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Poland will get from the United States five 40-year-old C-130 Hercules transport planes as part of allied assistance, Rzeczpospolita daily reported on Monday. The first one is expected in Poland in October and the last one in 2012. 50 Polish pilots and technicians are being trained in the U.S. to service the planes. According to the newspaper, the planes will be used for soldier and equipment transport for military missions. At present the Polish Air Forces use Spanish CASA C-295M which are not fit for...

More than 65 Iraqi Police recruits line up to board an Iraqi C-130 Hercules set to transport the men to the Iraqi National Police Training Academy in Sulamaniya, Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey. NEW AL MUTHANA AIR BASE — The Iraqi Air Force provided airlift support to more than 360 National Police recruits bound for the Iraqi National Police Training Academy in Sulamaniya, Dec. 26. The Ministries of Defense and Interior executed a very smooth operation consisting of six airlift sorties by the Iraqi Air Force and administrative and logistical command and control by the...

The Pentagon may not halt production of the Marietta-built C-130J Hercules after all, Sen. Johnny Isakson said Wednesday. President Bush released a budget proposal Monday that called for eliminating the plane after next year. But Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has told Georgia lawmakers that the Pentagon is already re-evaluating that decision. Rumsfeld did not pledge to spare the plane during a meeting with senators Tuesday, Isakson said. But as soon as Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Isakson asked why the Pentagon was recommending that the plane be scrapped, Rumsfeld was quick to offer assurance that a review of that recommendation was...