Lockheed Martin C-130B Hercules

In 1951 USAF submitted to Boeing Co., Douglas, Fairchild and Lockheed a request for building a tactical transport aircraft. The new aircraft had to be capable of short take-off and landing, to transport at least 92 combat ready personnel or 64 paratroopers up to 2100 km, or 30000 kg load up to 1800 km. It also had to have two side doors and a rear hatch capable of in-flight use.
Short after that Lockheed won the contest with its four-engine aircraft which was beyond the expectations from many points of view. The aircraft performed its first flight on August 23rd, 1954. It had four Allison T-56-A-1 engines, of 3250 HP each, driving three-blades propellers. The first aircraft C-130A, called Hercules and equipped with Allison T-56-A-1 engines (3750 HP) became operational on April 7th, 1955 and in December 1956. C-130B flew for the first time on 20th October 1958 and had a bigger navigation radar APN-59 mounted in aircraft nose. Later models were subjected to several upgrades thus becoming more powerful, capable and flexible. More than 2000 aircraft are currently in service of over 56 countries.
On 25 October 1996, the first C-130B Hercules entered the Romanian Air Force service, Romania becoming the first former Warsaw Treaty nation operating this type of aircraft.