Commemorative jump, symbolic flight, documentary, monument and special ceremony were the actions in recognition of the plane
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Marize Torres
Essential to various missions of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the C-130 Hercules aircraft received a series of tributes on its farewell. A commemorative jump, a symbolic flight, a documentary and the installation of a monument were some of the actions carried out last week in recognition of this icon of world military aviation, which has been used in Brazil since 1965. The ceremony marking the 59th anniversary of the First Transport Group (1st/1st GT) – Squadron Gordo and the operational legacy of the C-130 Hercules was held with great emotion on Thursday (29/02) at the Galeão Air Base (BAGL) in Rio de Janeiro.
To celebrate this historic moment, military personnel from different generations who have flown missions on the aircraft’s wings took part in the ceremony, which was presided over by Air Brigadier Sergio Roberto de Almeida and attended by various authorities. The ceremony honored former commanders of Squadron Gordo and a select group of C-130 crew members with a symbolic memento.
Passing of service
Developed for similar missions, the KC-390 Millennium aircraft carries the challenge of continuing the victories and operational legacy achieved by the C-130 throughout its 370,000 flight hours in the Brazilian Air Force. Symbolizing the “passing of service”, flyovers of a C-130 Hercules and a KC-390 Millennium at BAGL marked the farewell event. Also at the ceremony, the C-130 Hercules landed at BAGL, followed by the KC-390 aircraft, a moment marked by emotion among all those who attended the ceremony and which will go down in history.
Legacy and memories
In his speech, the Commander of the 1st/1st GT, Lieutenant Colonel Umile Coelho Rende, spoke of how the Squadron’s history is directly related to the Hercules and how significant its legacy is for the FAB and Brazilian society. “When we think back on everything we’ve experienced on board this imposing four-engine aircraft, all the experiences we’ve shared with our comrades in uniform, all the challenges we’ve overcome on the most diverse overseas frontiers, all the history we’ve built over these 59 years, we are categorical in saying: this aircraft represents us!” he said.
With unforgettable achievements in the Peace Operation missions in Haiti, humanitarian support to neighboring countries such as Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru, the search for the Gol 1907 aircraft and the Air France 447 aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean, fighting forest fires in Chile and Colombia, supporting all Brazilian federal entities in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, among many stories, the pride of the First Transport Group was expressed by pilots from past and contemporary generations when paying tribute to the aircraft.
Former Commander of Squadron Gordo from 1987 to 1989 and one of the honorees at the ceremony, Air Major Brigadier Cezar Ney Britto de Mello declared that the C-130 was a love he had since he was a young cadet. “In my first year at the school, at Campo dos Afonsos, I was asked to come here to Galeão Air Base for the ceremony to welcome the C-130s acquired by the Air Force. This aircraft was a watershed for the FAB, which at the time was practically supported by twin-engine C-47s. The acquisition of these first five aircraft was a giant step forward for the Air Force in terms of its operational rationale,” he said.
“This celebration is important both for the airmen who had the opportunity to fly the C-130 and for the country. In these 59 years, this aircraft has been wherever Brazil needed it, in peace missions, rescuing nationals, in search and rescue, helping to fight fires, in missions in the Amazon, playing an integration role, supplying Air Defense, among other various missions. All the pilots who had the opportunity to fly the C-130 are very proud of having served Brazil through this aircraft, carrying out great aerial missions,” said Major General José Madureira Junior, who flew the aircraft on the occasion.
History of the aircraft
Produced by Lockheed Martin, the Hercules was incorporated into the FAB aircraft fleet in the second half of 1964, in the C-130E version and, over the years, received the SC-130E (Search and Rescue/Reconnaissance), C-130H and KC-130H (In-Flight Refueling) models.
In 1983, the C-130 Hercules began carrying out missions in support of PROANTAR, contributing ever since to the development of scientific research on the Antarctic Continent, totaling around 400 missions. Also noteworthy are the humanitarian missions to Congo in 2003, El Salvador in 2005, Haiti between 2009 and 2017, Peru in 2017 and Chile in 2010. In-flight firefighting missions in Chile in 2014, 2017 and 2023.
In Operation COVID, the project transported almost 2 million kilos of cargo (various hospital supplies and materials), 640,000 liters of oxygen (O²) and more than 20 Oxygen Plants.
Photos: Sergeant Muller Marin / CECOMSAER / BAGL *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***