Aviation made tremendous strides during WW II, but nevertheless, while jet fighters roared overhead in the Korean war, piston-engine planes were still used for transport of men and materiel. The U.S. command became convinced a newer design was needed, and issued a proposal request to the major aircraft manufacturers for a new model, a true transport plane that could carry up to 92 passengers and have a 41x9x10 cargo space. Lockheed’s design won out, helped along by its ability to take off on unfinished runways.

On this day, August 23, in 1954 the first prototype of the Lockheed C-130, designated YC-130 flew from Burbank to Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The C-130 entered service in the late late 50s and were put to use in all sorts of conditions. Some were sent to operate in the Antarctic, and were outfitted with giant skis rather than the usual landing gear. Others were configured for airdrops, evacuations, electronic reconnaissance, and even firefighting duties with the U.S. Forest Service. Test pilot Stanley Beltz and copilot Roy Wimmer used only 855 feet to make that first takeoff. The test pilot of the right flight, Stanley Beltz is said to have quipped: “She’s a real flying machine. I could land it crossways on the runway if I had to.”