Lockheed C-130 D Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 D model is an excellent example of the Versatility the of Hercules. In the late 1950s, the Air Force determined that a new aircraft was needed to support the DEW Line early warning radar sites located in the far north.
Testing showed that the C-130 could easily be adapted for this task. A total of twelve ski-equipped C-130Ds were built in 1958. The ski/bike rack allowed the aircraft to fly either on a normal runway or on ice and snow. Hercules is the largest aircraft equipped with skis.
The success of the C-130D in the harsh and dangerous Arctic environment led to the conversion of more Hercules Aircraft the US Navy to support the operation of many research stations in Antarctica. The C-130Ds served until the mid-1980s, when they were replaced by newer ski-equipped LC-130Hs.