Air Transportation: C-130 Forever In Canada

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January 20, 2010:  The first American C-130J for the Canadian Air Force has been built and will be delivered shortly. Canada is buying 17 C-130Js to replace its older C-130Es. Canada has been using the C-130 since 1960. The most common version is the C-130H. It has a range of 8,368 kilometers, a top speed of 601 kilometers per hour, and can carry up to 18 tons of cargo, 92 troops, or 64 paratroopers. The latest version, the C-130J, has a top speed of 644 kilometers, 40 percent more range than the C130H, and can carry 20 tons of cargo. The C-130 has been in service for over half a century, and is used by more than 50 countries.

Canada has also bought four C-17s for supporting international operations. The 290 ton C-17 can carry up to 100 tons (including one M-1 tank) anywhere in the world because of in-air refueling. The C-17, costs about $250 million each. Britain is the largest foreign user of the C-17. Australia and Canada each got four. The U.S. Air Force operates 173.