Capy, Xavier Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Volume 2: Afrique

The second volume of Xavier Capy's series on the Lockheed C-130 worldwide offers a detailed insight into the fantastic history of the Hercules in Africa. The African continent currently has 54 sovereign states, only sixteen of which use or have used the C-130 Hercules. Unsurprisingly, the North African countries bordering the Mediterranean are all equipped with C-130s and also have the largest fleets. North Africa also saw the introduction of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules on the African continent: first in Tunisia, then recently in Algeria, with Egypt close to acquisition. With the delivery of nine C-130Bs in 1963, the South African Air Force was the first African air force to fly the Hercules. It is also one of the American manufacturer's first export customers. Several African air forces joined in the 1970s: Libya in 1970, Zaire in 1971, Morocco in 1974, Gabon and Nigeria in 1975, Egypt in 1976 which remains the largest user on the continent to this day Cameroon in 1977, Sudan in 1978 and Niger in 1979. All aircraft delivered are of the C-130H type, the latest version of the four-engine turboprop aircraft specially developed for export. With the exception of the Central African Republic, Sudan and Zaire, which no longer have any Hercules aircraft in service, the thirteen other air forces still have C-130s. However, the following pages show that information on many African countries is patchy or non-existent, and it is very difficult to say whether these fleets are actually operational: Numerous aircraft are in storage or decommissioned in more or less good condition either because they need to be overhauled or because of a lack of spare parts, sometimes also for financial reasons without it being known whether they will ever fly again.