After 29-thousand-985 flight hours, and 25 years of service, the U.S. Coast Guard retired HC-130H #1503 on 21JUN2019. Its final flight was from Clearwater, Florida, to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Video of final take-off, by Petty Officer Second Class David Micallef:
Then, on 10FEB2021, it was revealed that 1503 had been saved from certain death in the scrapyard!
Photo by Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC), Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
According to the MyCG (Coast Guard) report, in December 2020 the Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) School located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, acquired 1503 for hands-on avionics training: “Thanks to the coordination between our AET School Chief, our Training Delivery Branch, and our partners at the Aviation Logistics Center, we were able to save this aircraft from demolition and repurpose it as a valuable training aid.”-Captain Brian P. Hopkins, ATTC commanding officer
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.
In September 2018, 1503 deployed to Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in response to Hurricane Florence.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.
1503 was loaded with hurricane relief supplies, which included parts for a MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter.
USCG video, 1503 taxis out for Hurricane Michael, October 2018:
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
August 2017, Hurricane Harvey response in Texas. Notice that ‘1503’ is painted in gold, that’s because 1503 became the oldest active HC-130H in USCG inventory in 2017.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
1503 preps for take-off to conduct Hurricane Matthew damage assessment, October 2016. You can better see the FLIR pod hanging from its nose like a grey booger.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.
October 2016, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Hurricane Matthew response.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
In November 1998, while operating out of Kodiak, Alaska, 1503 crashed during bad weather.
The 1500 though 1504 series of USCG HC-130Hs were originally ordered under a U.S. Air Force (USAF) contract. 1503’s USAF # was 73-0844. Over the decades, 1503 has been based in North Carolina (1994-2010) and then Florida in 2011, but operated where ever needed.
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