Operated by Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE (VQ-3) and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR (VQ-4), the EC-130Q was replaced by the U.S. Navy's current TACAMO platform, the Boeing 707-based E-6 Mercury.

The system known as TACAMO (from "take charge and move out") has been operationally deployed in 1969. TACAMO consisted of twelve Lockheed EC-130Q aircraft equipped with VLF transmitters using long trailing wire antennas. [1] VLF system was repeatedly upgraded to improve signal strength.

The NSF NCAR aircraft is a model EC-130Q, similar to the more common model C-130H model except for electrical and air-conditioning modifications. The aircraft is an all-metal, pressurized, high-wing monoplane powered by four Allison T-56- A-15 turboprop engines.

For 30 years, from December of 1963 to August of 1993 these US Navy model EC-130G and EC-130Q kept silent watch over America. For almost 20 years they flew non-stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week "Just in Case".

2025年2月7日 · Aircraft: Lockheed EC-130Q Hercules; Serial #: 382-4984; Photo date: 2024-04-17; Uploaded: 2024-05-06

EC-130Q Hercules N130AR The Lockheed C-130Q Hercules is a four-engine, medium-size utility aircraft which has proven to be one of the most well-known and versatile aircraft ever built. It has twice the heating/cooling capacity of a standard C-130H and ultimately more than twice the electrical power.

2025年3月7日 · The EC-130Q: nearly 100 feet (30 meters) long with a 132-foot (30-meter) wingspan gives a long-awaited boost to the fieldwork capacity of NCAR-affiliated scientists. The aircraft can carry 240 percent more equipment, fly 170 percent farther and ascend 10 to 30 percent higher than NCAR's Lockheed Electra.

One other model, the EC-130Q, served in two VQ squadrons. This version had a permanently installed VLF radio transmitter system used to supplement shore based communications facilities and acted as strategic communications aircraft, communicating with ballistic-missile submarines, under the TACAMO program.

Great to see the pictures of the mighty Herc, I was one of the last IFT's on the great EC-130Q while the new E6-A "Herpies" were coming online (flew a few missions on them as well). The EC-130Q flown by VQ-3 had the dash 16 engines. The difference is we had 4910 shp per engine verses 4300 in the dash 7. We also had a max gross of 175,000.

2011年7月24日 · Boeing derived the E-6A aircraft from its commercial 707 to replace the aging EC-130Q and perform the Navy's TACAMO ("Take Charge and Move Out") mission of providing secure, survivable,...