The Pakistan AF became a Hercules operator in 1962 and since then has operated no less than 34 Herks of different variants, most of them sourced 2nd hand from the Air Forces of Iran, the US, Australia and lately Belgium. 4159 pictured here is a 1966 built airframe which served with the RAAF as A97-159 before being transferred to Pakistan in December of 2005. Five more ex RAAF followed (4171, 4171, 4178, 4180 and 4189). In Pakistan, the C-130 construction numbers are equal to the serial worn on the vertical fin.

Allocated USAF serial 65-12896. Delivered to the RAAF as A97-159 in 1966. Traded in to Lockheed as N50848 in 2000 and stored at Georgetown-Sussex County, DE. To the Pakistan Air Force as 4159 in 2005.

Former A97-159 with Australian Air Force.

This was one of 28 C-130s stored at Sussex County Airport (GED) in Georgetown, Delaware. Seven were former Royal Australian Air Force and 21 former Royal Air Force. I believe they were all taken in trade by Lockheed for C-130J aircraft. Most, if not all, of the RAF aircraft were scrapped at the airport and I believe most, if not all, of the RAAF were sold and departed the field. The aircraft were parked on a disused runway that had a track installed for ejection seat testing in the 1950s and later used to store retired United Airlines Viscounts. The C-130's were gone in a few years.

Unit: 37 Sqn. A97-159 was delivered to the RAAF in August 1966. It was traded back to Lockheed in 2000 and rebuilt as a Super-E for the Pakistan Air Force.