The 19th Airlift Wing is among the numerous underappreciated units of the United States Air Force, which are often not directly responsible for figҺting but rather for ensuring that other units are capable of doing so efficiently. Additionally, it operates the most extensive fleet of C-130 aircraft in operation globally.Conversely, at present, the 314th Airlift Wing, the sister organization of the 19th Airlift Wing, operates a total of 47 C-130J Suρer Hercules from its base at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. The final aircraft of the group was transferred to the base in May 2020.

The Suρer Hercules is one of the largest members of its family and the most recent variant of the C-130 Hercules. It has a length of 132 feet (40 meters) from wingtip to wingtip and 112 feet (34 meters) from snout to tail.

It has a maximum takeoff weight of 164,000 pounds (over 74 tons), of which the payload alone can account for as much as 46,700 pounds (21 tons). Lockheed Martin claims that in C-130J-30 configuration, it has the capability to transport 30 percent more cargo, 44 percent more paratroopers, and 50 percent more Container Delivery System (CDS) bundles compared to a standard Hercules.

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Lockheed announced the production of the 500th Suρer Hercules for the United States Air Force in March 2022. However, there are more of them, as the aircraft is in use by 22 countries. If you mustered the fortitude to comprehend it, this enormous fleet operated for a cumulative duration exceeding 2 million hours.

The particular specimen depicted here atop some Arkansas woodlands with its red snout flying does, in fact, service the United States. Presently enlisted with the 19th Airlift Wing (specifically the 61st Airlift Squadron), it is observed in this photograph undertaking a formation flight that commenced earlier this month.