C-130H -
Portugal
This is the C-130H of Esquadra 501 "Bisontes",
of the Força Aérea Portuguesa, based at BA 6, Montijo.
C-130H-30 -
Portugal
This is the C-130H-30 of Esquadra 501
"Bisontes", of the Força Aérea Portuguesa, based at BA 6, Montijo.
In 1977 / 1978, the FAP received five
C-130H.
Since the phasing out of the Lockheed
PV2-5 Harpoon and until the delivery of the P-3P Orion the C-130
also performed SAR and Maritime Patrol roles.
The FAP received one MAFFS kit
allowing the C-130 to perform fire-fighting operations against forest
fires, so usual every year during the summer season.
Between 1991 and 1992, the FAP
received one C-130H-30 and kits to strech two of the existing airframes.
The C-130 carries flare dispensers on
the fuselage sides, AN/ALQ-131 jamming pods under the wings (outside the
engines) and another jammer under each wingtip.
Esquadra 501 has been taking part in
the "Volant Rodeo" exercise since 1983, having achieved, among others,
the following results:
- Best C-130 aircrew (1986)
- Best allied aircrew (1986)
- Best shortfield landing (1986)
- Best foreign crew (1992 and
1993)
The Roles of Esquadra 501 are:
Primary Roles
- Tactical Airlift Operations
Secondary Roles
- SAR Operations
- General Airlift Operations
- Fire-fighting Support Operations
Esquadra - Squadron
Bisontes - Bisons
Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP) -
Portuguese Air Force (PAF)
Base Aérea (BA) - Air Base
SAR - Search And Rescue
MAFFS - Modular Airborne Fire Fighting
System