The Lockheed C-130 Hercules does the Los Angeles cargo jobs no airliner-derived freighter can touch. A rear ramp, short and unpaved field ability, and a tolerance for destinations without cargo handling equipment.
Lockheed has built the C-130 since the 1950s and civil L-100 variants operate commercially. Four turboprops, a rear loading ramp, a high wing that keeps the cargo floor at truck-bed height, and the ability to work short, rough and unprepared strips. Every Lockheed C-130 Hercules we arrange flies with an operator certificated under FAR Part 135, the FAA rules for on-demand, for-hire charter.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Cargo Aircraft
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
- Year introduced: 1970
- Seating: Crew only (cargo)
- Crew: 3
- Range: 1,334 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 291 knots
- Service ceiling: 23,000 feet
- Length: 112.8 feet
- Wingspan: 132.6 feet
- Height: 38.3 feet
- Baggage volume: 6,057 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Crew only
Why the Lockheed C-130 Hercules Fits Los Angeles
The rear ramp is the whole point. Vehicles, drilling equipment, generators and relief supplies drive or roll straight on, and at the far end they roll straight off without a loader. For remote destinations out of Los Angeles that is often the only workable answer.
Range and speed are modest against any jet freighter, so this is not the aircraft for a transcontinental express run. It is the aircraft for a destination that has a strip rather than an airport.
Disaster relief, energy and mining logistics, film production in remote locations and outsize project cargo are the realistic Los Angeles use cases.
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules run $8,000 to $12,000 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The C-130 quotes mid-band for freighters, and its rate reflects capability rather than capacity. When a jet freighter can do the job, it will do it for less.
Other Cargo Aircrafts Available
- ATR 72F
- Antonov An-124 Ruslan
- Boeing 737-400 Freighter
- Boeing 737-800BCF
- Boeing 747-400F
- Boeing 747-8F
The full cargo aircrafts category page lists every cargo aircraft we arrange for Los Angeles departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Lockheed C-130 Hercules charter in or out of Los Angeles, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or head to our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.