Hercules

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Read the legendary story of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, seen through the eyes of former RAF captain Scott Bateman

‘An engaging and revealing read’ JOHN NICHOL

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Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow. Whether it’s war, natural disaster, or humanitarian emergency, for over fifty years the RAF’s Hercules force was the first in and last out of any crisis faced by the UK government around the globe.

First conceived in the 1950s, the US-built Lockheed C-130 Hercules earned its spurs flying difficult and dangerous missions in the Vietnam War before entering service with air forces around the world. Originally designed as transport aircraft, the Hercules has been pressed into service as an aerial tanker, gunship, spyplane, air-sea rescuer and bomber.

Instantly recognisable, it became synonymous with daring special forces missions like the legendary raid in Entebbe in which dozens of hostages were rescued from the clutches of terrorists. In RAF colours it’s seen action on every continent on the planet including Antarctica, flying life and death missions in the Falklands, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Sudan and all points in between.

Former RAF Hercules Captain Scott Bateman opens the cockpit to give an action-packed insider’s account of what it’s like to fly this legendary flying machine in peace and war, and at home and abroad, paying tribute to the remarkable men and women who operated this much loved aircraft, and to those comrades in arms who, in doing so, made the ultimate sacrifice.

Scott Bateman has been a professional aviator all his adult life. He began working as an air loadmaster on C-130 Hercules in the RAF in 1990, then was selected to train as a pilot in 1997, serving in the RAF for 18 years. Following his military career he worked as a pilot and fleet manager for a large airline. He now blends his aviation career with a successful career as a television producer through his company, 9-Line Media. Born and raised in a small village in Scotland, Scott now lives in the West Country with his wife and three adult children.GB

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