The C-130J remains versatile and capable even in the 21st century. The aircraft is also robust enough that a hard landing will not knock it down for the count.
A United States Air Force Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules that sustained damage to its wing, landing gear, and engines has been successfully returned to service. The aircraft suffered a hard landing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, during a training sortie in April 2020, and an initial inspection determined that the Super Hercules should be retired from service.
According to the Air Force, the damage resulted in “structural integrity of the wings, engines, and landing gear assemblies.” The issue was complicated by the fact that the C-130J was based in Germany and could not be flown back to the United States for repairs.
However, maintenance crews at the US Air Force’s Ramstein Air Base were given a chance to repair the aircraft. The C-130J required new wings, engines, and other components to be shipped from the United States, but with these parts in hand, Ramstein’s 86th Maintenance Group from the 86th Air Wing was up to the challenge.
“The project started when the program office took a look at the hard landing and the specifications and decided that it would be more cost-effective to return the aircraft to the fleet rather than to retire it completely,” explained US Air Force Col. Lucas Buckley, 86th Maintenance Group commander. “Between the engineers, planners, and technicians, taking the steps to put the aircraft back together was the best investment for the Air Force.”
Repairing the Damaged C-130 Was a Four-Year Effort
Work on the Super Hercules was slow going—taking longer than it would have taken for a new aircraft to be built from scratch. In total, the repair team spent four years, including planning, transport, and actual repair work. After the wings were shipped from the United States, a depot team from the 402nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia, worked with the 86th AW to replace the wings and other components.
In all, the job took nearly four years, with Robins AFB fabricating the necessary components and then shipping them to Germany—marking the first time that such repairs were made to a C-130J variant in the field.
“Ultimately, this project reaffirmed the Air Force isn’t just about advanced technology,” added US Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Justin Jordan, 86th Maintenance Group quality assurance superintendent. “It’s about the people who make that technology work. It’s about grit, discipline, and the unwavering belief that no aircraft is beyond saving when the mission demands it.”
The efforts paid off, and following months of planning, followed by the hard work of the maintainers, the C-130J made its first test flight on July 15, 2025. Following additional work, the Super Hercules was able to return to the United States on July 28.
Although the Air Force has not explained why the return trip to Robins AFB was necessary, the aircraft will likely get a more thorough maintenance check before resuming normal operations.
The successful resurrection of the C-130J Super Hercules followed the similarly complicated efforts to merge two damaged Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, resulting in a flyable combat aircraft. Work on the “Franken-bird” was completed at Hill AFB, Utah, last year, and the refurbished stealth fighter made its first flight in early January.
The C-130 Is the Workhorse of the US Air Force
The US military currently operates just under 600 C-130 Hercules across all branches. As noted by Harrison Kass, writing for The National Interest, “The C-130 is the longest continuously produced military aircraft in the world. In 2024, the C-130 hit 70 years of continuous production, which began in 1954.”
The aircraft remains versatile and capable even in the 21st century. It is also evidently robust enough that a hard landing will not knock it down for the count!
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
