(FS24) Hercules C-130J - At my hometown airport (O'Hare)...

[P_7878]

Many moons ago, while in FSX, I'd acquired all the (Captain SIM) C-130 variants (an impressive collection of 18 different models). The add-on Pack had come conveniently in an All-in-One Combo called "C-130 X-perience". See below for the full listing of all the variants in this incredible (SIM) collection. 

The 'C-130 X-perience' All-in-One Pack delivered complete collection of 18 models of the following C-130 variants:
• C-130E
• C-130A (3-blade props)
• C.Mk1 (with refueling probe)
• HC-130 (USCG)
• C-130J (6-blade props)
• C-130J (with refueling probe)
• C-130T (with JATO)
• CL-130 (on floats with JATO)
• KC-130 (tanker)
• C-130J-30 (stretched)
• C.Mk3 (stretched)
• C-130H
• C-130H French
• C-130H-30 (stretched)
• LC-130 (on skis)
• NC-130 (AEW&C)
• L-100
• AC-130 Gunship

So, I had once flown the C-130 Hercules to my heart's content...🙂...including the curious "JATO/Jet-Assisted Take-Off" and the "Ski" versions of C-130. I recall I'd even picked up a few RW Hercules Flying Tips, here in this Forum, from a (former) National Guard C-130 Crew Member...🙂...good times indeed. Today, I found this (C-130J) variant popping up in the MSFS2024/Xbox Marketplace. While in MSFS2020, I'd actually planned to get the Captain SIM C-130 but never got to it...before it was too late for me in MSFS2020...🙂...Anyway, better late than never...🙂...This SIM a/c here reflects the Lockheed Martin C-130J variant Super Hercules which is the last version of the C-130 Hercules, and the only model currently in production. 

I had definitely some growing pains learning today, for better part of the entire day, trying to set up this Hercules for Navigation and Approach e.g., for ILS Approach, for which the steps are as listed below. In this MSFS version of C-130J, the so-called (and elusive) "RADIO BEAM COUPLER SWITCH" is hidden under the armrest of the pilot (remains hidden even after the armrest is moved), and, therefore, without some redefined [VC] Camera views, is not directly visible nor easily accessible. It surely caused a bit of headache...🙂...Oh well...

Automatic Approach (aka: ILS Approach): 

• PILOT SWITCH: ON
• RADIO BEAM COUPLER SWITCH: APPROACH (APP)
• FLT DIR Switch: NORMAL
• MODE SEL Switch: VOR/ILS 1 or VOR/ILS 2
• ALTITUDE CONTROL SWITCH: any (when the glideslope is intercepted, the altitude control switch will go to the OFF position)
• ILS receiver: set to the desired frequency
• Pilot's HSI: set the inbound localizer course with the Course Set Knob

Please find this collection of images, below, from my short flight today, of the legendary Hercules, as it lifts off westward (i.e., inland, away from Lake Michigan) from my hometown Runway 28R/KORD, and circles back to land on ILS Runway 10L/KORD.

Hope you enjoy. Thanks for viewing...!

Edited April 19 by P_7878

[Alaska738]

Very nice shots! 😉 

[pmplayer]

Fine shots from the workhorse Hercules..

cheers 😉

[P_7878]

Will, pmplayer:

Appreciated the comments...🙂...and glad you liked the pictures...

Hope this workhorse continues to improve in MSFS...CS had once a good simulation of it...during CS's glory-days...🙂...cannot believe I used to spend more time then in their Forum than what I spend on this Forum here...🙂...

Edited April 20 by P_7878

[pmplayer]

3 hours ago, P_7878 said:

Will, pmplayer:

Appreciated the comments...🙂...and glad you liked the pictures...

Hope this workhorse continues to improve in MSFS...CS had once a good simulation of it...during CS's glory-days...🙂...cannot believe I used to spend more time then in their Forum than what I spend on this Forum here...🙂...

Yes, once i think it was at FSX times CS was one of the best developers, i loved there work had allmost all of them but unfortunality time changed things and seems there best time is over now.

To bad but thats real life..

cheers 😉

[bernd1151]

Great shots, P_7878. It appears that we all here remember those fine FS9/FSX days when CS B707, 727, 737, and C-130 planes populated our skies. In those days, my favorite Hercules was a shiny black John Players Special livery 😉

[andiflyit]

Great shots of the Hercules P_7878. And I have it in P3d since years, there is a good LM model coming with it.

But also have the CS model in FS9 since long time and this didn't work in FSX.

You are a hard text worker, such a long text with all these details....🙂

[andiflyit]

Short addition: i while do some shots in P3d of the LM Hercules next days just to compare it. It's not bad...

[badaboom]

We might have to Lure You over to DCS...this one's in the pipeline 😁

 

[P_7878]

On 4/21/2025 at 4:03 AM, bernd1151 said:

Great shots, P_7878. It appears that we all here remember those fine FS9/FSX days when CS B707, 727, 737, and C-130 planes populated our skies. In those days, my favorite Hercules was a shiny black John Players Special livery 😉

Thanks, Bernd. Those were good times indeed...John Players Hercules included...🙂...Painters would then color the C-130 in all conceivable liveries. And, CS had once monopoly on all those classic Boeing airplanes...we really miss those SIM a/c...

 

On 4/21/2025 at 4:34 PM, andiflyit said:

Great shots of the Hercules P_7878. And I have it in P3d since years, there is a good LM model coming with it.

But also have the CS model in FS9 since long time and this didn't work in FSX.

You are a hard text worker, such a long text with all these details....🙂

Appreciated the comment, Andreas. Yes, (FS9 through FSX through FSX:SE) spanned ~20 years of my SIM life...🙂...I do recall how gradually our popular a/c became not (officially) supported through these transitions. Some a/c would work but with the label "use-at-your-own-risk"...🙂...Of course, the same held true for the various P3D versions. 

I wished to show here the full list of CS C-130 variants since we may not be visiting that website much ...🙂...It was a wonderful collection of Hercules a/c that, I know, had attracted the attention of even some RW former C-130 Pilots who were flying it here...

Cheers...!

 

On 4/23/2025 at 1:27 AM, badaboom said:

We might have to Lure You over to DCS...this one's in the pipeline 😁

Thanks...! There was a time I was flying DCS for a bit...recall well the MiG-21bis...I'm a civilian simmer by heart...🙂...but have a great deal of respect for the authenticity and fidelity of DCS aircraft...and those who fly them here.

Nice that C-130 will be on DCS...that would be as close to the real stuff as it gets for us on the desktop...

(BTW, I have passed by KPWK several times when I used to visit someone in Waukegan but have never been to that airport. To us folks in the southern suburbs that's somewhere up north near Wisconsin...🙂...)