Manufactured by the Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics Company, the C-130 Hercules is considered the workhorse of the military’s combat airlift fleet. It has been relied on for troop and equipment transport and other operational missions in peace and war for more than half a century by the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. There have been dozens of variants of the Hercules built over the last seventy years, and many were built using asbestos-containing parts that put both military and civilian personnel at risk of malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other serious illnesses.
About the C-130 Hercules
The C-130 has been developed in both basic and mission-specific versions. It was originally designed to transport troops and equipment in combat zones via airdrop or short runways and is capable of rapid reconfiguration to accommodate different types of cargo. It has also been used in airlift support, Antarctic ice resupply, aeromedical missions, weather reconnaissance, aerial spray missions, and natural disaster and humanitarian relief missions.[1]
Designed in response to a need identified during the Korean War, the C-130 has been recognized as one of the most important aircraft in aviation history. It has proven so useful that it has been in continuous use for over 70 years — the longest continuous military aircraft production run in history and one of the top three longest continuous aircraft production lines of any type.[2]. It is distinctive for both its turboprops and the loading ramp and door located in its tail, which allows it to easily load and airdrop everything from troops to vehicles to pallets of supplies. It can accommodate loads of up to 42,000 pounds and fly at a speed of 400 miles per hour, with a range of 2,000 miles.[1]
History
The C-130’s history is rooted in the U.S. Air Force realizing that its existing transport capabilities did not meet the unique needs encountered during the Korean War. That conflict required the ability to airlift troops over medium distances and deliver them to short airfields. The government issued a specification for a new medium cargo transport in 1951, inviting multiple aviation production companies to bid on the project. Several of those invited chose not to participate, and of the five remaining companies, one of two designs submitted by Lockheed was selected.[2]
The first flight of two prototypes that Lockheed built took place in 1954; it demonstrated that the four turboprop engine design allowed the aircraft to take off with just 800 feet of runway and that it met all of the military’s performance requirements. Production was moved from the company’s Burbank, California, plant to Lockheed’s manufacturing facility in Marietta, Georgia.
The plane’s design featured a large, fully-pressurized cargo hold that could quickly be reconfigured to accommodate troops, passengers, or equipment, and the “roll-on/roll-off” rear-loading ramp combined with its lift capacity, long range, and minimal landing requirements made it remarkably versatile. Over the years, there have been several new models reflecting improvements, as well as more than 70 different variants of the original design created to meet specific applications, including a ski-equipped version and an electronic reconnaissance version.
With the first model – the C-130A — having entered service in 1956 and the most recent model — the C-130J — entering service in 1998, the majority of model modifications to the C-130 Hercules occurred during the years when asbestos was commonly used in aviation.
How Was Asbestos Used in the C-130 Hercules?
The C-130 was built to meet the U.S. military’s specifications, and in the years before asbestos was known to be carcinogenic, those requirements frequently included liberal use of the inexpensive material to increase durability and strength and to protect both the aircraft and its cargo from heat and fire.
The C-130 Hercules was built using many components that contained asbestos, including:
- Engine insulation
- Electrical wiring
- Brake systems and lining
- Cockpit heating systems
- Engine heat shields
- Torque Valves
- Gaskets
- Cargo bay insulation
- Fuselage
- Landing gear
- Sealants
- Adhesives
In addition to the products that were used to build the aircraft, asbestos was commonly found in protective gear worn by those who built, flew, or worked on the C-130.
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos Installed in the C-130 Hercules Aircraft?
From the time that the C-130 was first designed through the 1980s, asbestos was a common component of its most fundamental parts. The list of those exposed to risk begins with the workers at Lockheed’s manufacturing plant and includes supply chain workers, engineers, pilots, and the mechanics and maintenance people tasked with keeping it in top flying condition. A large number of those who were exposed served in the Air Force and, to a lesser degree, the Marine Corps and Coast Guard: America’s veterans represent an outsized proportion of those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, and exposure to military assets, including the C-130 Hercules, bears much of the blame.
Those who served at Little Rock Air Force Base, which is home to the largest C-130 fleet in the world, were at particular risk. This is especially true for mechanics tasked with repairing and replacing asbestos-containing parts: removing old components, sanding down brake linings, manipulating asbestos-containing insulation and gaskets, and even using sealants and adhesives containing the carcinogenic material to complete their repairs. These items all put them at real risk of inhaling the mineral’s microscopic fibers, and of being diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases decades later.
Those at greatest risk of asbestos exposure from the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft include:
- Aircraft handlers
- Aircraft mechanics
- Aerospace engineers
- Boeing employees
- Firefighters
- Electricians
- Communications repair workers
- Supply chain workers
- Aircraft pilots/Air Force veterans
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
The risk of asbestos exposure from the C-130 extended beyond those who worked in the Lockheed factory and veterans who interacted with the planes. When those individuals returned home to their families each night, they unknowingly carried deadly asbestos particles on their hair, skin, and clothing. These invisible, microscopic fibers contaminated their automobiles and furniture, putting their children at risk, and when their wives shook out their work clothing before laundering, they breathed in asbestos dust. This secondary exposure to asbestos has claimed many lives.
Military Asbestos Abatement
Though many of the asbestos companies that supplied the military and manufacturers with contaminated parts were aware of the health risks posed by the mineral, they chose not to share this information with the military to continue earning profits. It was only once the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publicized its findings about the link between asbestos and illnesses that the government took action. At that time, it ordered manufacturers to discontinue the mineral’s use and began a robust asbestos abatement program that removed the dangerous material from all of the applications in which it had been used.
Though this abatement program included military aircraft, removing legacy asbestos was an overwhelming task, and there may be planes that still have asbestos in brake linings, electrical systems, insulation, and other parts. Those who work with C-130s manufactured before 1980 should remain vigilant and protect themselves against the risk of breathing in hidden asbestos fibers.
How Does Asbestos Sicken Those Exposed to It?
Asbestos was once thought of as a miracle mineral because of its characteristic strength and fireproofing abilities, but the properties that made it such an effective addition to so many materials also made it remarkably dangerous. There are several different types of asbestos, all of which are extremely fibrous and flexible. Though this makes it a versatile product, it also means that it breaks down easily into microscopic particles. Workers who were exposed to asbestos in countless environments frequently describe the image of its particles floating in the air like snow or settling into thick dust that frequently needed to be swept up or wiped off of equipment.
Those same particles, often invisible, are easily inhaled or ingested, and once they enter the body, they are extremely difficult to expel, in part because they often have needle- or hook-like ends that become embedded in the cells. Once in place, the carcinogenic material creates an inflammatory response. Sometimes, this results in cell death and the scarring characteristic of asbestosis, and in other cases, it leads to mutations that grow into the tumors of lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma.
Asbestos-related diseases often have extremely long latency periods; decades can pass between an individual’s exposure to the mineral and the first signs of illness. In many cases, people mistake symptoms of mesothelioma and other illnesses for more benign sicknesses and delay seeing a physician, and because these illnesses are so rare, most doctors don’t immediately include asbestos-related diseases in their differential diagnosis.
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos from the C-130 Hercules aircraft, it’s important to let your healthcare practitioner know that you have a history of toxic exposure. Having this information highlighted in your medical records will help you get to a quicker diagnosis should you begin to have symptoms, and this will translate into more effective treatments.
Compensation for Those Sickened by Exposure to the C-130 Hercules
Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like malignant mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer is emotionally and physically traumatic. In addition to needing to immediately address your health issues, you also need to address the emotional and financial impact this will have on you and your family. Fortunately, those who have been exposed to asbestos as a result of the negligence of others have multiple options for compensation and justice.
The best place to start is with an informational session with an experienced asbestos attorney. These professionals have deep knowledge of all of the resources available to you, as well as of the many different paths you can choose from for compensation. If you are a veteran, they will immediately encourage you to take advantage of the special disability compensation benefits that you are entitled to, which include both compensation and access to high-quality medical treatment anywhere in the country.
A mesothelioma attorney will ask you to trace your occupational and service history to help you identify the various companies whose negligence may have contributed to your illness. With this information, you’ll be well equipped to decide whether to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, as well as about the existence of any asbestos trust funds to which you can apply.
Pursuing legal action is a big decision, and it can be intimidating, but it can also have a significant impact on your family’s economic stability and security for years to come. You should take your time and consider all of your options, but keep in mind that there are legal deadlines that each state imposes for filing a claim. Your attorney will be able to explain the statute of limitations as it applies to your diagnosis.
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