Recycling the Incredible ‘Hulk’
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. – Contractors load the remains of a C-130 transport aircraft onto a truck for removal from the end of the flightline on April 1. What was left of the wings was sawed off, and the 56,000-pound hulk will be driven to recycling plant where the aluminum will be smelted down and reused. The C-130 remains have long been a fixture on base. It was damaged beyond repair during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and was subsequently used for training by the 70th Aerial Port Squadron for many years. The aircraft was one of Lockheed Martin’s original C-130 “A” models produced in 1956. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Erik Hofmeyer)