ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The 139th Airlift Wing received its first H3 variant of the C-130 Hercules aircraft on Nov. 4, 2025. The aircraft was transferred from the Montana Air National Guard’s 120th Airlift Wing and features NP2000 eight-bladed propellers and avionics upgrades, including an electronic propeller control system.
This transfer is part of a broader divestment program as older airframes are phased out of service.
The H3 model offers improved performance over its predecessor, flying slightly faster and with greater fuel efficiency. These enhancements contribute to longer range and more flexible mission capability.
The aircraft will undergo an acceptance inspection followed by an isochronal inspection before being cleared for flight operations at the 139th, according to Senior Master Sgt. Danny Mears, a production superintendent for the 139th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
Mears also said that the H3s are anywhere from 3 to 6 years newer than the wing’s current fleet of H2.5s.
The aircraft was flown from Montana to St. Joseph by aircrew from the 139th, with maintenance personnel accompanying the mission to provide support during the transfer process.
“The plane flew great,” said Lt. Col. Chase Bodenhausen, commander of the 139th Operations Support Squadron. “The eight bladed props are quiet, and power adjustments are immediate with the electronic valve-housing as opposed to the mechanical systems we have on the older H2’s.”
Beyond the propeller upgrades, one visible difference inside the cockpit is the location of the radar.
“In the H2, it is sitting on the dash, which restricts visibility for the pilot cross-cockpit,” said Bodenhausen. “The H3 has the radar display on the lower right side of the dash for both the pilot and copilot. This opens visibility outside of the aircraft for the pilot and copilot and puts the flight engineer in a much better position to aid in scanning outside the aircraft.”
The 139th is slated to receive another H3 variant C-130 from the Illinois Air National Guard in the near future, as that unit has transitioned to the newer J-model aircraft.