An impressive low-altitude flight of four USAF special operations MC-130Js

@DefAviation ES 6·12·2022 · 20:30 0

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is, without a doubt, one of the most versatile aircraft in the entire history of aviation, with versions for the most varied missions.

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In the mid-1960s, Lockheed began the design of a variant called the MC-130E Combat Talon I, developed from the C-130E and with the aim of covering unconventional warfare missions, specifically for infiltration, exfiltration and logistics supply to special operations units, in addition to in-flight supply of the helicopters of these units. One of the most unique features of the MC-130E was the Fulton method of exfiltration yoke that was mounted on the nose of the aircraft, allowing soldiers to be retrieved in mid-flight.

The most recent version of this special operations variant is the Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II, developed from the C-130J Super Hercules and which made its first flight in April 2011. A total of 37 aircraft of this type have been built. type, all of them operated by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). This model has already been used in real operations, specifically in Operation Kayla Mueller with which the US managed to eliminate Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, then head of the ISIS terrorist group, in Barisha (Syria) in October 2019.

A few days ago, the YouTube channel Elwyn R Pirate Life published an impressive video showing four USAF MC-130Js flying at very low altitude in the famous Mach Loop in Wales, a mountainous area where many fighter planes are often seen. war flying low, to the delight of aircraft photographers:

According to the author of the video, these four MC-130J belong to the USAF's 67th Special Operations Squadron, the "Night Owls", a unit created in 1994 and based at RAF Mildenhall, England.