✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Verified codes to save on your next trip.
This is the last great Hercules Ecuadorian, the L-100 of the Ecuadorian Air Force FAE-893 registration continues to operate at the service of all Ecuadorians.
More than 40 years the last operational Hercules in Ecuador continues to operate in the Air Force, which is about to celebrate its centenary of institutional life at the service and protection of the country.
During the health emergency that the country and the world is experiencing around COVID-19, the Armed Forces have been key to maintaining order in the country and also in aeronautics they have been key in transporting security personnel, compatriots, medical and especially medical supplies.
Given the current scenario or mission, days ago a plane in particular made news. This plane was nothing more and nothing less than the last Ecuadorian Hercules that still flies in the country, the FAE-893, where I received endless questions about this plane as maximum speed, years of service, manufacturing, etc.
I will look in this post-tribute to talk about this L-100 (correct model of the FAE-893) some of its history and a little more detail of what all the Hercules that came to the country since the 70s have been.
The Ecuadorian Hercules
The history of the Ecuadorian Air Force indicates that the country received the first C-130 as a heavy transport aircraft on 12 July 1977 within a collaboration agreement between the United States and Ecuador, which from that moment fulfilled the missions of transporting troops, skydiving, load and connect continental Ecuador with Galapagos with the provision of basic provisions.
The glorious Hercules have accomplished outstanding missions, especially in the war conflicts of 1981 and 1995 carrying out the logistical transport of troops and equipment for the battlefront, plus other important actions in emergencies such as the earthquakes in Bahia in 1998 and from Manabí in the 2016, repatriation, humanitarian flights and other missions at the service of Ecuador.
We consult with the historian Guido Chavez to learn more about these planes and for example told us about the legend that says that even one of the Hercules that came from the United States, still had traces of some bullet holes from his missions during the Vietnam War.
Records
The different Hercules that operated in Ecuador based on Guido Chávez's registry are the following:
| BRAND MODEL | ASSIGNED ENROLLMENT | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | DATE OF ARRIVAL IN THE COUNTRY | ObservationS |
| C-130-H | FAE 743 | 1976 | 1977 | Hilly 29/04/1982 |
| C-130-H | FAE 748 | 1976 | 1978 | Hilly 12/07/1978 |
| C-130-H | FAE 812/892 | 1976 | 1978 | Stored Wing 11 |
| L-100-30 | FAE 893 | n/a | 1981 | OPERATIONAL |
| C-130-B | FAE 895 | 1958 | 1992 | Stored Wing 11 |
| C-130-B | FAE 896 | 1957 | 1993 | Stocked 11th Wing/Spare Parts Source |
| C-130-B | FAE 894 | 1954 | 1992 | Preserved Quito Museum |
| C-130-B | FAE 897 | NN | 1993 | spare parts source |
*Approximate data.
The last Ecuadorian Hercules FAE-893
The Lockheed Hercules L-100-30 (L-382G) It was constructed in 1976, with build number 382-4893, It is a multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft powered by 4 turbo-prop engines of the Allison T56 model and is the last one operating in Ecuador.
The L-100 version is an elongated version (until 4.55 more meters) of the C-130E that we know militarily, but whose objective was to create a civil version requested by Pan Am in 1959, even though this airline canceled the order, Lockheed continued with the program and built up to 1992 a total of 114 aircraft of this version.
At least 70 L-100 version aircraft continue to operate for civil and military operators around the world, among them Safair, First Air, Indonesian Air Force, Philippines, Libya, Peru, Argentina, obviously Ecuador and others.
This particular aircraft, stayed for a while in Old Quito Airport on state of conservation, until the year 2012 the FAE decided to reactivate the aircraft, for which he was transferred ferry flight to Latacunga, so that in the DIAF workshops it will be fine-tuned again.
The 7 May 2018, this plane went through its most recent maintenance process, in which a full service was performed in which a full wing inspection was performed, stabilizers, engines, undercarriage, visual inspections and non-destructive testing, hydraulic systems, electrical and others, process that takes place approximately every 6 years of service.
Basic characteristics
- Crew: Cinco (of the pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer and a loadmaster).
- Ability:
- troop transport: 92 soldiers oh 64 skydivers.
- medical evacuation: 74 camillas.
- Cargo transport: 6 pallets.
- vehicle transport: 2–3.
- Maximum speed: 592 km/h
- cruising speed: 540 km/h
- Scope: 3800 km
- flight ceiling: 10 058 m empty; 7010 m con 19 t of load.
Another Hercules in Ecuador
Possibly, few know that there was another Hercules flying in Ecuador and that it was not military, this was the L-100 of the then Area airline, with North American registration N9267R. This aircraft crashed in 1966 on the Macuma Amazon runway after a fire caused by the sinking of the aircraft on the runway before taking off.
a little tribute, more than deserved, to the last Ecuadorian Hercules.
✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Search here for hotels ALL over the world at the best price.
What was the Hercules they used to transport the journalists in the Japan Korea qualifier
Very good question, Maybe if you had photos I could identify it.
Worldwide it is still the best military transport aircraft, has been used by almost all air forces and armies in the world. In addition to being an excellent cargo plane, has fulfilled marine patrol missions, SAR, gunner plane, tanker plane and research plane. Currently it continues to be manufactured with new engines and avionics in its C-130J version, which has improved its performance..
I'm from Latacunga, I didn't know it was the last C-130, I feel lucky to be able to see him some afternoons fly, so majestic with his 4 engines, the day Thursday 25 of this month I was able to appreciate it up close, very nice to see and know that it is the last
So is, the C-130, it is an original work of art
Could you make a note about the Noratlas? I remember seeing two non-operational ones at the Quito airport back in 1978.
Interesting theme! Thanks
excellent report, congratulations to the author
¡Gracias!
It seems to me to be an old aircraft but at the same time powerful and ancient, since for the FAE-893 to have endured for so many years it must have been built with strong materials and excellent engines..
In addition I have taken some photos of the FAE-893, not from the airport nor with a perfect camera, but I think that as long as you like spotting you can enjoy it without having a professional camera.
And being a minor spotter
That's Enzo, the camera does not define the spotter, but the desire to do it.
wise words nicholas.
The Hercules FAE-893 was not in operation during the earthquake of 2016. It was after some time since the earthquake occurred.
A) Yes, if you read the note, we are talking about all the Hercules, not of 893 in that specific paragraph.
Thank you Nicolás for your exposition on a great plane. The C 130
Nicolas the C130 that is on the wing 11 if they could PDM it like they did to the L100 or the cycles of that aircraft have already finished?
I understand that doing a PDM would be very expensive for what you have left in cycles.