Original photo caption:

HEAVY WEIGHT -- A Lockheed C-130 Hercules lives up to its name as it takes off from Edwards AFB, California, carrying on its wings four remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) test units, weighing 44,510 lb (20,189 kg). The aircraft was modified for this mission by Lockheed Aircraft Service Company, Ontario, California. While no official National Aeronautical Association category exists, this is believed to be a world record for lifting external weight by a turboprop aircraft. The aircraft was modified to give it the capability of carrying and launching 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) class RPVs. The modification to a DC-130H configuration also increased the airspeed and altitude over current USAF RPV carriers.

Newsbureau, Lockheed Aircraft Service Company (a division of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation) Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California. For immediate release / Monday, July 26, 1976.

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10/31/2018. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The C-130H production version featured more powerful engines and could also carry underwing tanks as an optional extra. The USAF purchased several versions of the C-130H, mostly for Rescue duties, before ordering this variant in its basic transport form.

In 1964 the Air Rescue Service of Military Air Transport Service received its first HC-130H rescue and recovery aircraft. The HC-130H featured a re-entry tracking system in a large blister above the forward fuselage and also used the twin-forked Fulton Recovery System. Deliveries were made to rescue and recovery of the USAF, USAF Reserve, ANG, and USCG, and were based in the USA, Asia and Europe. A considerable number of HC-130Hs were later converted for special duties, including satellite recovery, weather reconnaissance, in-flight refueling, and drone launching.

The pictured aircraft was originally built as a HC-130H-LM and was delivered to the USAF rescue and recovery community in March 1966. In 1976 it was extensively converted to the sole DH-130H, being fitted with four underwing stations for the air-launching of Teledyne Ryan Model 259 BGM-34C multi-mission drones. Reportedly the units seen under the wing during the record flight, were mass simulators consisting of a large-diameter fuselage fitted with wings and wing tip pods. The latter are likely to simulate the moments of inertia of drones with long wings and/or external stores. Five BGM-34C multi-mission validation drones were ordered in November 1974 and in September 1976 flight-testing began, including the 6514th Test Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, ending after 32 flights in June 1977; the DC-130H mothership entered storage at MASDC. Due to the vulnerability of the drones to electronic countermeasures, the entire remotely piloted vehicle mission was cancelled early in 1979, the drones were broken up for scrap.

In December 1977 the aircraft was converted to an NC-130H and used by a number of service units for a variety of test programs. In 2001 it was loaned to the USN, returned to USAF on July 14, 2002. On January 18, 2006, the aircraft was delivered to Boeing and fitted with a high-energy chemical laser developed by Boeing Missile Defense Systems. On June 4, 2010 it was stored at AMARC.

Coded "439" it is in service with its last and present operator NASA, it was registered to the agency as N439NA on March 15, 2012. It is assigned to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia. It is used to perform scientific research, provide logistics support on an as-needed basis to other airborne science missions, and can be used as a technology test bed for new airborne and satellite instrumentation."