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CC-130H Hercules

The CC-130H Hercules is primarily used for search and rescue operations. While it also carries out transport missions, its main focus is saving lives through the Canadian Armed Forces’ search and rescue mandate.

It has a range of more than 7,200 kilometres and can transport approximately 80 passengers, operate on short unpaved runways and fly in severe weather conditions. These capabilities make the CC-130H an excellent aircraft for search and rescue operations over the vast span of Canada’s central and northern regions.

Length 29.79 m
Wingspan 40.41 m
Height 11.73 m
Maximum gross weight 87,320 kg
Maximum speed 556 km/h
Range (without tanks) 7,222 km
Locations
  • Greenwood, N.S.
  • Trenton, Ont.
  • Winnipeg, Man.
This aircraft is used for Search and rescue
Printable fact sheet
An orange twin-propeller aircraft in flight

Search and Rescue Technicians use many different kinds of equipment to do their job, but they rely on aircraft to transport them where they need to go to save lives. Here are the aircraft that Canadian Search and Rescue Technicians use in their everyday work.
January 17, 2022

Group photo of the members on Exercise COOPERACION VII

The Canadian Armed Forces visited Colombia (South America) from 30 August to 11 September 2021 to participate in Exercise COOPERAÇION.
November 15, 2021

A big four-engine propeller aircraft sits on the tarmac while the sun sets behind it.

The Hercules has served Canada and Canadians quite well throughout its long and diverse history, carrying just about anything and everything, supporting SAR missions, and conducting air-to-air refuelling.
November 17, 2020

Many people wearing different kinds of military uniforms and masks stand on a runway. Three of those people, who are wearing green camouflage uniforms, are using thermometers to take the temperature of two people wearing dark blue uniforms and blue berets.

The RCAF’s 436 Transport Squadron, based at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, is providing support to the United Nations’ Cross Mission Logistics Operations in Uganda.
November 16, 2020

Three aircraft flying in formation in a blue sky. The middle aircraft has propellers and is much bigger that the other two on its sides, which are jet fighters.

When Lockheed engineers and designers created the Hercules aircraft in the 1950s, it’s doubtful that they had any idea how versatile and iconic the plane would turn out to be and that it would one day celebrate 60 years of service in the RCAF.
October 14, 2020

Other Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft

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