On 10 September 2014, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) celebrated 800,000 flying hours for its C-130 Hercules transport fleet with a three-ship formation flight over Sydney Harbour, the northern beaches of Sydney, and RAAF Base Richmond. In November 1958, the RAAF became the first air force outside of the United States to operate the Hercules, with a No. 36 Squadron crew making a maiden flight of a RAAF C-130A from the Lockheed manufacturing plant in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the next 56 years, the RAAF has accumulated 800,000 accident-free flying hours across 48 individual airframes, with the RAAF having flown the C-130A, E, H and J-model variants of the Hercules. Today, the legacy is carried by the latest generation C-130J Hercules, with a fleet of 12 operated by No. 37 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond.
See more images: raaf.gov.au/1ovzFnh