The only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform in the Air Force’s inventory is the HC-130P/N “King”
On March 6, 2017, King 52, the first HC-130 designed for U.S. Air Force (USAF) rescue in 1964, was retired after more than 50 years of devoted service and rescue operations performed all over the world.
In the article Air Force’s first HC-130 takes its final flight to retirement, Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice of the 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs revealed that the HC-130, tail number 4852, left Patrick Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, where it had been stationed since mid-2015.
“It was about to retire when we acquired it from Moody Air Force Base,” said Tech. Sgt. Norberto Nieves, 720th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS) expeditor and former crew chief to King 52. “It was a workhorse; that’s for sure.”
“It’s sad to see it go,” Nieves pointed out. “As crew chiefs, we dedicate a lot of time, sweat, and sometimes blood to these aircraft. They become a part of us.”
“Like Nieves said, these aircraft become a part of you and it’s tough to see something you’ve worked so hard on going into retirement,” King 52’s current dedicated crew chief, Tech. Sgt. Matthew White explained. “The most rewarding part of being a dedicated crew chief is seeing the aircraft you spent so many hours on takeoff and came back home safe and sound.”
King 52 conducted local training missions, trips to Key West, Florida, and cross-country trips to Davis-Monthan AFB while stationed at Patrick AFB.
It is a privilege for Maj. Nick Philpitt, chief of the 920th Rescue Wing Inspector General Inspections and a navigator on the HC-130 that has flown King 52 a few times to take part in the aircraft’s final flight.
“I haven’t flown a lot of missions with #52; however, it is somewhat sentimental to be flying her to retirement denoting it’s the end of an era,” Philpitt said. “Like a classic car you’ve owned and driven, an airplane becomes an extension of you. Putting it to bed for the last time is moving.”
King 52’s career comes to an end at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG) of the Air Force Materiel Command, where it will be housed with other retired military and governmental aircraft in the “boneyard.”
The HC-130P/N maintenance teams of the 920th RQW continue to put in a lot of effort both at home and overseas to keep the fleet prepared for rescue missions. The only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform in the Air Force’s inventory is the HC-130P/N “King.”
The aircraft, which made its first flight in 1964, has performed a variety of tasks. It was first modified to carry out search and rescue missions, serve as a command and control platform, refuel helicopters in flight, and carry extra fuel to increase loiter time and range.
The HC-130P/N’s mission is to quickly deploy to difficult airfields and restricted areas in order to carry out personnel recovery missions in all weather conditions whenever and wherever necessary. King crews frequently carry out tasks such as airdrops of personnel and equipment at both high and low altitudes, personnel infiltration and exfiltration, refueling of helicopters from the air, and forward area refueling points. Depending on the task, the aircraft can also be used for disaster relief, security cooperation, emergency aeromedical evacuations, casualty evacuations, noncombatant evacuation operations, and, during the Space Shuttle program, NASA space flight support.
Source: U.S. Air Force; Photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice and Steve Kraus / U.S. Air Force