Philadelphia air cargo charter sizes the aircraft to the shipment, and the shipment sets the departure time.
Lockheed Martin introduced the Lockheed C-130 Hercules in 1970. It is flown by a crew of 3. The type carries Crew only (cargo) passengers, cruises at 291 knots, tops out at 23,000 feet, covers 1,334 nautical miles and holds 6057 cubic feet of baggage. An aircraft of this size normally operates under FAR Part 121 or the foreign equivalent rather than FAR Part 135, and those standards generally carry stricter crew and operating requirements than FAR Part 91 and FAR Part 135.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Cargo Aircraft
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
- Year introduced: 1970
- Seating: Crew only (cargo)
- Crew: 3
- Range: 1,334 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 291 knots
- Service ceiling: 23,000 feet
- Length: 112.8 feet
- Wingspan: 132.6 feet
- Height: 38.3 feet
- Baggage volume: 6,057 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Crew only
Why the Lockheed C-130 Hercules Fits Philadelphia
Freight out of Philadelphia moves through Philadelphia International (KPHL), which takes anything up to airliner size on a 12,000-foot runway for the largest aircraft, and through Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE) for smaller and more urgent loads.
A published range of 1,334 nautical miles brings Palm Beach, Miami, Naples, Florida and Nassau within reach of Philadelphia, before the operator applies reserves and routing for the day.
Weight, dimensions and any hazardous classification all need confirming with the operator before the aircraft is committed. Your advisor will check them against the size of your load.
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules run $8,000 to $12,000 per hour as of 8/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
As a rough guide, Philadelphia to Nassau is about 912 nautical miles, which is roughly 3.0 to 3.5 hours of flight time at this aircraft’s cruise speed before winds and routing are applied.
Other Cargo Aircraft Available
- ATR 72F
- Antonov An-124 Ruslan
- Boeing 737-400 Freighter
- Boeing 737-800BCF
- Boeing 747-400F
- Boeing 747-8F
Contact
For a quote on a Lockheed C-130 Hercules charter to or from Philadelphia, call 1-888-987-5387 or visit our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.