Delivered as C-130E 6801 in 1977. Later converted to a C-130E-30. Reserialled as 16801 in 1995. Still operational in 2025.

This Portuguese Hercules still carries its markings to celebrate 80.000 flying hours on the tail and 42 years Bisons squadron markings on the fuselage. These markings were applied in 2019. I first saw this same aircraft back in 1983, then still as the short C-130H version and in a brown/green camouflage scheme. Amazing, more than 40 years ago! Old aircraft, old spotter...

This C-130H, operated by 501Esq, arrived on this Sunday in 1983 at Gilze-Rijen to pick up a military marching band that had been brought in two weeks earlier by 6803. In 2005, this aircraft was extended and became a C-130H-30, then serialled 16801. On the day I uploaded this photo in 2024, more than fourty years after I took it, I again saw 16801, this time at Eindhoven. Still going strong!

Presentation ceremony of the painting commemorating 80,000 flying hours of Esq 801

ex 6801