C-130 Aerial Delivery and Retrieval Past, Current, and Future

The capabilities of the C-130 Hercules, a large fixed-wing cargo transport, are being augmented by the development of systems to enable in-flight pickup and delivery of loads, that is, “VTOL payload.” The evolution of the familiar paradrop delivery is traced, and developmental systems for low altitude restricted area pickup and delivery of pay-loads at low accelerations are described. A computer study indicating the feasibility of the unique projected Trolley delivery system is also discussed.