▁the ▁Lock he ed ▁L - 1 0 0 , ▁operate ▁in ▁more ▁than ▁ 6 0 ▁nations . ▁ ▁The ▁C - 1 3 0 ▁entered ▁service ▁with ▁the ▁U . S . ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁followed ▁by ▁Australia ▁and ▁many ▁other ▁nations . ▁During ▁its ▁years ▁of ▁service , ▁the ▁Her cules ▁family ▁has ▁participated ▁in ▁numerous ▁military , ▁civil ian ▁and ▁human itar ian ▁aid ▁operations . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁the ▁C - 1 3 0 ▁became ▁the ▁fifth ▁aircraft ▁to ▁mark ▁ 5 0 ▁years ▁of ▁continuous ▁service ▁with ▁its ▁original ▁primary ▁customer , ▁which ▁for ▁the ▁C - 1 3 0 ▁is ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Force . ▁The ▁C - 1 3 0 ▁Her cules ▁is ▁the ▁longest ▁continu ously ▁produced ▁military ▁aircraft ▁at ▁over ▁ 6 0 ▁years , ▁with ▁the ▁updated ▁Lock he ed ▁Martin ▁C - 1 3 0 J ▁Super ▁Her cules ▁currently ▁being ▁produced . ▁ ▁Design ▁and ▁development ▁ ▁Background ▁and ▁requirements ▁The ▁Korean ▁War ▁showed ▁that ▁World ▁War ▁II - era ▁p ist on - engine ▁trans ports — F air child ▁C - 1 1 9 ▁F lying ▁Box c ars , ▁Douglas ▁C - 4 7 ▁Sky tra ins ▁and ▁Curt iss ▁C - 4 6 ▁Command os — w ere ▁no ▁longer ▁ade qu ate . ▁Thus , ▁on ▁ 2 ▁February ▁ 1 9 5 1 , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Force ▁issued ▁a ▁General ▁Oper ating ▁Re