U.S. Navy photo.
“There were people out taking measurements on a Hercules, and they said they were going to land a C-130 on an aircraft carrier. I didn’t believe them. Later my CO came around and said the same thing. I still didn’t believe it, but I raised my hand to volunteer anyway. I had no idea what I was getting in to.”-Aviation Machinist Mate First Class Brennan, Transport Squadron One at the Naval Air Test Center, Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Image from U.S. Navy film.
In November 1963, a U.S. Navy KC-130F conducted its first, and last, Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) trials, making it the largest aircraft to ever operate on an aircraft carrier; the USS Forrestal CVA-59.
Image from U.S. Navy film.
The Super COD KC-130F, named “Look Ma, No Hook”‘, “…made 29 touch-and-go landings, 21 unarrested full-stop landings, and 21 unassisted takeoffs at gross weights of 85,000 pounds up to 121,000 pounds.”
Short video issued by Robins Air Force Base, I edited out the hokey music they put over the silent film:
USN photo.
The so-called Super COD testing concluded on 23NOV1963, one day after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
USN photo.
As a result of the successful testing, the U.S. Navy decided it was still too risky to use a Super COD aircraft.
USN photo.
Original ‘official’ news article about the KC-130F COD: November 1964 Naval Aviation News
According to Kenneth V. Killmeyer, “KC-130F Bureau Number 149798 was retired from service in March, 2005 and since May of 2005 is at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.”
C-130J: ONCE A RED COAT, NOW A BLUE ANGEL
RETRO DAYGLO, AND HOW NEON PAINT HELPS KEEP AIRPLANES FROM FALLING OUTTA THE SKY!