THIS LEFT US STUNNED! C-130J HERCULES TACTICAL DEPARTURE VERTICAL STEEP CLIMB OUT • RAF LAKENHEATH

This C-130J Hercules of the 37th Airlift Squadron requests a 'Tactical Departure' at RAF Lakenheath. Not knowing what to expect, this was another breathtaking departure to add to the many stunning takeoffs that we have ever seen.
What is a 'Tactical Departure'?
Well, for us aviation enthusiasts, it is a large airlift/cargo aircraft making a steep (sometimes almost vertical) climb on takeoff. They look impressive due to the sheer size of the aircraft. It is a heavy version of a 'Performance Take Off'. The Tactical Take Off can also be used in a combat environment / battlefield, when the aircraft needs to depart from the runway and evade enemy fire. It is used to get the aircraft off the runway and to reach altitudes by manoeuvring into a steep climb when the threat of enemy attack.
The C-130J of the 37th Airlift Squadron is part of the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The tail code for Ramstein AB is 'RS' which you can see proudly and you'll notice a white tail flash with blue diamonds, indicating the 37th AS. You'll also notice 55831 which is part of the serial number, the full number is 15-55831.
#c130 #c130j #runway #ramstein #usaf #usafe #tedconingsby #trending #besttakeoff #tactical #combat #airlift #raflakenheath #lakenheath #37TCS #37AS #wow #love #life #best #military #aircraft #planes #c130hercules #herc
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[@ronnichols884]

I was stationed at Dyess AFB. I was sent to Biggs Army AFB in El Paso to fix a broken C-130. The plane I fixed was tasked to take me back to Dyess. We did a Tactical take off. I was told how to stand for the takeoff. It was a thrill. We also did a tactical landing. Loved it.

[@jasongeerer8163]

I didn't know what to expect when we were landing....I love Rollercoaster, just wish I had warning, I had been sleeping most of the flight and was barely awake enough to know what was going on. 2 NCO's across from me smiling and laughing because they knew what I didn't know because I wasn't awake for the announcement from the pilot....you see where this is going right?

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii Ron, thank you for serving sir 🇺🇸🫡 this was such a great sight

[@tacbear]

I was a SP at Dyess and I have done ALOT of those. We use to put on a Demo recovering stolen Nukes involving 2 C130's doing assault Landings and Takeoff on the dirt strip next to the active runway....FUN Times!!

[@warrenjones744]

There are few things more thrilling than a combat landing or take off in a C-130. As a combat engineer we did those in excersizes quite often and for real in 1991. I aways felt comfortable in a C-130 and flew in them any times.

[@margobaxter8344]

the majestic Hercules still proving it can deliver the goods, as well as a Performance Take Off. It's a legend

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii Margo this was an awesome steep climb out

[@JonBowe]

Been on one of those departures coming out of Basrah, the young naval officer next to me was nearly sick from the manoeuvre.

[@trains4one]

A tactical takeoff is more than just a steep climb out. It also includes the getting a fully loaded, 155,000 pound, C-130J off the ground in 3,290 feet minimum. Notice how far down the runway this aircraft went before stopping and then starting the takeoff roll. Engines at max throttle and and the adjustable propellers biting as much air as they can before releasing the brakes. It is quite a site in person and more fun to watch from a control tower.

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

love how the pilot holds it on the deck to gather even more airspeed before yanking that chunk of a bird right up into the sky - damn sexy

[@sherlock1895]

Now that was impressive!

[@greenyonline]

Love these planes. I was a jet engine mechanic on these in USAF. Worked on many, rode on many. So much respect for these planes.

[@TedConingsby]

Thank you for serving sir 🫡🇺🇸🗽

[@SB-ry1bi]

JETO assist would have added icing on the cake!😊

[@planelvr07]

Love the Hercules C-130! What an aircraft!

[@TedConingsby]

[@RWBHere]

Thanks Nikos. The Hurkybird is still an impressive aeroplane. Well captured! 🙂👍

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiiii thank you very much

[@markthurman3414]

When I was a FE on C-130B and C-130H2’s. We called it Maximum Effort Takeoff and Assault Landings. I also had to close the bleed valves and turn off non essential equipment to maximize engine performance. Sure miss those fun times.

[@4speed3pedals]

RS on the tail means it is assigned to Ramstein AFB, Germany, 86th Airlift Wing. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels have one or two C-130s and travel with the jets. The pilots of the C-130s can also put on a show such as buzzing the tower, incredible turns, climbs. They are fun to watch.

[@carl5381]

When I was in Afghanistan the tactical takeoffs were actually fun. It was like riding a roller coaster. It was the landings I didn't like as we would come in closer than a normal plane would lining up for a landing with their easy glide slope etc. We would come straight down like we were circling a drain. That's when the tummy got queezy as we felt the effects of near zero g's. Hated the landings lol.

[@williamhammock293]

Lol thought I was gonna die one time during landing. Straight fn down !

[@DanielWalker4524]

Such a soaring beauty she is the C130J. Looks tremendous and climbs well. That must have been spectacular live. Always delivering more than you expect. Ohh yeahhh

[@thomasdragosr.841]

You should see that when they use the JATO's, it's even more impressive.

[@TedConingsby]

[@philhand5830]

Tactical Departure....when I was in C-130 maintenance we called it a max effort takeoff...

[@shenmisheshou7002]

The C-130 follows in second place to the B-52 as one of the longest serving designs still in widespread use, and unlike the B-52, which went out of production decades and decades ago, but the C-130J was still in production as late as 2022. Modern jets get all of the glory, but these magnificent planes have been serving with distinction longer than any of these new airplanes will last. You can't wage war without air supply, and the C130 has been bringing beans, bullets, and band aids, to the troops for close to 70 years.

[@sstrick500]

It's amazing how a few fan blades can even move such a beast... let alone get airborne.

[@rvnmedic1968]

When I was stationed in Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut AB, the Hercs did the tactical T/Os and landings. And that was in 68-69, no J models! Cheers, and welcome home to my Brothers....

[@TedConingsby]

Thank you for serving sir 🫡

[@trains4one]

'68-'69 would have been C-130Es. Some of the C-130s in that time frame would have been equipped with JATO assist for overload conditions. The US Navy's Blue Angels support C-130, "Fat Albert", is equipped with JATO. Quite a site to see. @rvnmedic1968 "Thanks for your service".

[@bc1969214]

@@trains4one I think Fat Albert doing that is a thing of the past. With the new model 130 they mentioned it has the same performance as the old w/JATO plus the bottle supply is apparently low years ago.

[@trains4one]

@@bc1969214 Just did a little research and the C-130J the Blue Angels are flying now is a former RAF aircraft.

[@daveholloway81]

Love to see this a big heavy doing a tactical take off

[@TedConingsby]

Oii Oii Dave

[@mikeg2862]

After 34 years, 20 USAF, E's, H's, and MC's, plus 14 years at Lockheed Martin, on the J's, both my wife and I still hoot and holler like PJ's, when the Dobbins ARB H's fly low-level across our house to RTB. P.S. the best place to be is standing is on the flight deck, during that kind of take off!!!

[@shelbythomas]

I remember the Blue Angels C-130 that had rocket-assisted (?) take off. Was cooooool.

[@Echho1]

Herc quick climb! 🤩love the sound! they were like *see ya!* ohh yeahh send it!

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii Eric, this was awesome and loved the spotter’s “OMG” in the background. Added the awesomeness of this departure

[@ellesee7079]

That was quite something to watch! Thanks Ted and Nikos. Always something interesting to see and learn about

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii Oii Ellesee sure was quite something

[@jayc4562]

I have experienced both. But the knarliest one I know of for sure was a H model that was brand new landing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. the aircraft had about 200 hours on it. Just at touchdown 5 moose ran out on the runway, the pilots firewalled the throttles. and they swore that the aircraft went straight up. It was light on fuel and only had crew onboard. They brought the aircraft back to the Air Guard base at Kulis ANGB and we proceeded to do an over torque inspection which included replacing all four engine mounts.

[@josephinebennington7247]

A musician friend in the RAF band told me the pilots used to like doing performance take offs, and tip the band’s instruments to the back of the fuselage.

[@youchris67]

The C-130 gets a huge boost in lift due to the props shoving their air blast over the wings and thus giving the aircraft its V/STOL capability as we see in this video.

[@unclecarguy1888]

I remember the C17 Tactical Departure from Mildenhall that was awesome

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii that was also a great departure. Well remembered

[@TerryCheever]

Did that a few times when on first assignment to Pope AFB. You learn real quick to better tiedown your equipment, like on the first one. Cool to see from the outside and a rush on the inside.

[@simplyamazing880]

In 2006 I flew in and out of Baghdad Airport on a Russian airliner and they did tactical landing and takeoff where they went up steeply and spiraled up and down. That was an interesting ride.

[@REDMAN298]

The JATO take off they do with Fat Charlie is even more impressive. They do it as part of the show with the Blue Angels.

[@ronjamski3911]

I was on a USAF c130 leaving Kunsan AB ROK for Kadena that did this with JATO. It was a blast

[@mirandahotspring4019]

The C130 entered service in 1956, and while there have been many variants and updates pilots who fly them still say, "The only replacement for a Hercules is another Hercules." "I had two trips to Fiji and back in a Herc and saw one perform a JATO (Jet assisted takeoff) from a small grass airstrip years ago. Great planes!

[@TedConingsby]

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

I did those in Es and Hs. A lot of fun.

[@susanhill3147]

Wow gobsmacked absolutely amazing 👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧

[@TedConingsby]

Ooohhh yeah

[@douglas_brighty_tan127]

Absolutely steep climb from a single C-130J Hercules 😊🤩

[@TedConingsby]

Ooohhh yeah. Wasn’t expecting this, nor was the chap in the background

[@douglas_brighty_tan127]

@@TedConingsby haha now that is awesome 😎

[@and7barton]

@@TedConingsby I'm trying to guess how many degrees that angle of take-off was !

[@InssiAjaton]

This reminds me of a story I once heard. The American crew in Ramstein, Germany has a tradition collecting and delivering Christmas gifts to some orphanage in Finland. One year such delivery had to land in an old, very short and nowadays already extinct air strip in Tampere, where it stopped in the middle of the runway - uphill in both directions. A problem with its landing gear was the reason for the whole situation. What to do? Oh, no problem, another C130 brought a spare part from Ramstein, landed in the half length runway, rolled to the grass next to the first C130, delivered the spare part, rolled back to the remaining half of the runway and nicely took off. As did the original C130 after its repair. The orphanage is somewhere further North in Finland.

[@annieg5487]

😱 that was Tedtastic, the amazing young men in their flying machine

[@TedConingsby]

Oooohhh yeah

[@slomotrainwreck]

Impressive! 👍

[@TedConingsby]

[@rjb6327]

When I was in the Air Force in the 60s, I used to fly into an old WWII German field close to Karamursel,Turkey and the C-130 is the only aircraft that would land there. It had to do a tactical takeoff and landing every time going there. Quite an experience. Quite an aircraft.

[@TedConingsby]

Oh wow 🤙🏼 Thank you for serving sir 🫡

[@rjb6327]

@@TedConingsby Thank you.

[@BabsR]

oh my goodness, that is something you have to see to believe

[@TedConingsby]

It was amazing and loved the guy in the background “OMG” which kind of added to it

[@muzmason3064]

Nice job 😊 So during the Vietnam war US personell were besieged at Khe San and the C130 crews developed the tac TO and the Khe San approach which is a steep dive to flare and airdrop or land . 🇬🇧🕊

[@bugler75]

It’s fun in the back too😁👍🏼

[@TedConingsby]

Wow I bet

[@olafeklund6200]

Gotta love the Herc!

[@BritishBeachcomber]

The Hercules regularly flew over my Devon smallholding at 200 ft or less. Awesome sight and sound. Also, one did an emergency landing on the beach, with engine #2 very smokey. The maintenance team from Chivenor was on the scene in minutes. Only took them ½ an hour to fix it.

[@mentorofarisia371]

Gotta love the Herky-Bird.

[@nickgrazier3373]

In the early 90’s when Serbia was trying to gut the rest of the the area, Sarajevo was surrounded and needed UNHCR humanitarian aid, food, goods, blankets etc. I was detached to C130 a/c from Lyneham to help with the airlift. This was very similar to to the post WWII Berlin Airlift and the international military aid a/c flew the goods into Sarajevo. All well and good but the Serbs didn’t like it so we had to do the runs tactically which meant doing the landings in the same way but carrying tons of aid on pallets. Think the reverse of the takeoff as in this peacetime vid. Us erks in the back every time we did it experienced zero gravity for a good few seconds on the way down especially way near the tail. Of course it was part of my position to eyeball any missiles being thrown at us wedged in the rear door well. Takeoff was exciting on the way up also!!

[@muchasgracias6976]

Ooh Yeah Baby!

[@davidturner4987]

That is nuts that something that big can climb like that and it semed like a short takeoff roll too. It has to be a hell of an experience sitting in the back cargo area when it does that.

[@TedConingsby]

Was totally awesome

[@joblo341]

You should see, and hear, it when they do a "JATO", Jet Assisted Take Off, version. Mount half a dozen rockets on each side of the plane and light them off! The roar is impressive. The roll is short The climb profile is similar, but faster! Quite the show.

[@TedConingsby]

Cool, as this wasn’t a JATO, this then, is rather impressive

[@joblo341]

@@TedConingsbyYes, "short field" takeoff (and landing) in any plane is a "thrill". Full flaps Stand on brakes Pull power Release Brakes quickly off the ground, hold for a moment to gain air speed haul back on the yoke and climb like heck to clear the imaginary/real obstacle at the end of the short runway level off to gain speed again raise flaps. Short field landing is also fun, except you are pulling off on power and trimming nose down and resisting urge to pull back.

[@janeknight8245]

Brilliant

[@synchrotones]

Wow... that's one impressive take-off!! Such a magnificent and beautiful plane. :)

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii this left us stunned, including the chap near us

[@stanwaters8679]

In can be more dramatic than what was shown. When necessary, the aircraft takes off and maintains 1.2 stall speed, (lift off speed), which on a light airplane results in the aircraft “hanging off the props” in a near vertical assent.

[@josephinebennington7247]

A monarch assents to a new law. An aircraft ascents (or ascends) to a higher altitude.

[@samulisolkipaa4780]

Amazing take-off ! Big Bird climb !

[@TedConingsby]

Ooohh yeah

[@robertbrassell1215]

These are fun, as long as the loadmaster is doing a great job :)

[@TedConingsby]

Oooohh yeah

[@richardgreen1383]

Hard to believe the C-130 was first C-130 flew over 60 years ago. Granted there have been improvements in navigation and power, but the basic airframe is close to the original. There hare been many aircraft that have come along to replace the C-130, some of which are no longer in production while the C-130 is still being produced. It is an amazing aircraft, and they even landed it on a carrier several times (no hook). The only reason the US Navy did not use them for this is the fact that it is so large, that if it had a problem and could not take off, it would shut down the entire carrier.

[@mikesahle1193]

Thank you 🙏 less than eight second ✈️✈️up in the clouds ☁️👏👏👏✈️✈️👍🎥

[@TedConingsby]

Ooohh yeah

[@mikesahle1193]

@@TedConingsby 👍🎥and have a joyful day 👋

[@pk7422]

You guys should see what Fat Albert w/ the Blue Angels can do with the jets on the side!

[@clay1883]

I was fortunate to do some upgrade work for the J Model. It is truly an astonishing workhorse. The "J Mods" made it faster with a shorter takeoff and landing distance and extended the distance it was able to fly. Taxpayers money well spent!

[@iantaylor1184]

when your seated sideway on a canvas seat this is always fun, even more so when someone then walks along the seat tops checking hydraulic lines during the flight oh the first time flyers

[@jasongeerer8163]

I remember enduring one of these, and I wasn't prepared for it...

[@richardmeftah2569]

What an absolute beast!

[@TedConingsby]

Ooooohhhh yeah

[@richardmeftah2569]

@@TedConingsby Can't beat a low-flying Herc!

[@johncarlsen3467]

This is exactly how we departed Somalia in ‘93 when it was time to rotate out.

[@TedConingsby]

Thanks for serving sir 🫡

[@RechargeableLithium]

'Ello Teddy!

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii

[@Gus0898uk]

I was lucky enough to get a jump seat on the Blue Angels Fat Albert for a JATO take off, that wa unbelievable.

[@klassyedward9718]

Yippi!

[@peternorthe1912]

How they hell that do that when there's a damn Abrams tank or two in the belly? Or live cargo (ie: troops)? Amazing!

[@wolfman_actual]

Love the Herc! It was like I don't need JATO to quick climb.

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii David, exactly. This was impressive even without JATO and Salmon

[@jimprior5700]

BE PATIENT! BE PATIENT!1

[@chrisjude8794]

WOW 😳😳😳👍👍👌

[@mickb474]

He’s going vertical, so am i (nearly)! 👍🏻

[@Ronaldl2350]

Fantastic! The Blue Angels do a JATO take off with their C130 in their performance. It's pretty spectacular.

[@TedConingsby]

Ooohh yeah

[@davidstrickler6570]

That was cool, I'll give it that. But i was expecting R.A.T.O.. still very impressive. Golden shellback out.

[@TedConingsby]

[@HuntsChris]

At Mildenhall they sometimes turn off the runway lights and the SOG hercs carry out a night time tactical landing onto a taxiway. I can’t believe the RAF has retired the herc, considerable hole in capability created.

[@smokeyfuma]

Salutes 🫡

[@TedConingsby]

[@leannelenz6651]

Very nice, our hercs do abit of that & they are the C130H model

[@TedConingsby]

[@jasongeerer8163]

The tactical landing with all lights blacked out was almost nauseating

[@9983sp]

Those were fun.

[@paul8161]

@Ted coningsby thanks for this video and commentary, i genuinely didn't realise that C130 could take off in such a short area and get vertical so quickly, great skills shown by the aircrew..ps could i add from your knowledge I'm guessing you're either ex forces or a enthusiast?..was that a airday you filmed at?..just curious as it was just a really good video..

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii Paul thank you very much. Nikos is an enthusiast and this was a regular day’s training at RAF LAKENHEATH.

[@keathrhymer5449]

loved doing that with my bird

[@ladysky838]

omg wow just wow that was just amazing has ted flewn in a c130 it would be great if he could

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii not flown in one yet

[@EdwardCoates-zk2ug]

The Hercules shows that it is able to climb out initially very steeply after so many years of service.

[@TedConingsby]

[@MyBelch]

Plane is from 86th Air Wing, Ramstein, Germany.

[@user-co8uy5rb2s]

If I had to be rescued from some primitive field, I want the Hercules doing it!

[@justincase5272]

The Herk isn't underpowered when it's empty. Try that at 165k lbs, however, and you'll see a different profile.

[@MervynPartin]

We get most of the F15s fly over our home, but very rarely see a C130. I didn't recognise the view from that camera position. It didn't look like the viewing area. Which end of the runway was it?

[@TedConingsby]

This was runway 24

[@MervynPartin]

@@TedConingsbyThanks for the info

[@clivewilliams3661]

Was this the mail plane from Boston to Wiesbaden that stops at Lakenheath daily? Some time ago my father used to work for USAF although employed as a Brit Civil Servant. The USAF tried to insist that the civilians all use the USAF transport that included a flight on this C-130 rather than schedule flights. He tried it once and thereafter point blank refused to do it again. The problem is that the plane is very basic and noisy with USAF mandatory rearward facing passenger seats. Apart from the nausea inducing backwards travel, the take off as shown here, is downright painful as all you have is a lap strap to prevent you being thrown out of your seat on take off and there is little in the way of grab rails or bracing Landing sees you tipped backwards on a steep approach, altogether a most unpleasant experience.

[@jimroberts3009]

Beautiful aircraft, still useful. I cannot understand why the RAF has retired them.

[@jafojafo5412]

You aught to see it take off with JATO assist … now that’s something

[@captaina8697]

Hope the pilot warned the loadmasters in the back otherwise they would have had a shock😂😂. Seriously though that was an incredible take off 🫡

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii Rich this was quite something. Wasn’t expecting it and nor was the guy in the background that you can hear “OMG” which added to the awesomeness

[@DougPoulton]

Just ignore the stall warning alarm.......it needs calibration. 😂😂😂

[@TedConingsby]

[@blafoobar9997]

C130 Quadrocopter!

[@beepeeify]

ohh yeeah

[@TedConingsby]

Oooohhhhh yeahhhh

[@freddielaker2]

Being on the inside on a tac take off is magic especially when civvy wracs are on board after breakfast and everybody gets a bit as it flies down to the rear of the aircraft as they travel sideways… It happened twice to me in my past

[@TedConingsby]

Oohhh yeah

[@jerryjones7293]

BIG BIRD!

[@williamhammock293]

And dont unbuckle until he levels off, lol

[@swills4772]

well the only thing that can be said about that, is whhhhhheeeeeeeee!!!!

[@thahn3257]

You should see them takeoff with jato boosters. Of course they “can’t “ do that anymore.

[@glidingpig]

It looks a lot like leaving Orange County Airport, California. The wealthy city next door makes the planes leave like that.

[@jamiam23]

Fat Albert still got it.

[@TedConingsby]

[@colinboneham7387]

Tacan Landings in a c130 are dang scary when your 10years old.

[@TedConingsby]

[@barrywood5357]

oy oy savaloy with lots of ketchup and onions

[@mrwest5552]

with no JATO.

[@andrewj9831]

They don't need JATO anymore...with the J's they have enough power (and left overs).