Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia is currently home to eight C-130 Hercules aircraft that were built for Libya in 1972.  Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi paid $70 million for them, and soon after they were built, the planes were grounded due to political issues.  Shortly after taking power in Libya, Gadhafi closed American bases on Libyan territory and partially nationalized all foreign oil and commercial interests in Libya. In response, the U.S. implemented export controls on military equipment and civil aircraft.  Because of this, the aircraft were never delivered, and remain at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

Views from Google Maps:

The aircraft in Marietta were painted in desert camouflage colors in preparation for a delivery that was never made.  They were reportedly serviced for a few years, but they were later left to the elements are now likely closer to scrap metal than aircraft.  Officially, they are property of Libya so they cannot be disposed of, and the State Department continues to pay the associated parking and storage fees charged by Lockheed over the past half century.

About the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules aircraft entered Air Force service in May of 1959. The aircraft was primarily designed for the tactical portion of missions and is used to bring troops and supplies into a wide range of missions in both peace and war situations. The C-130 is 38 feet, 10 inches tall (11. 9 meters), 112 feet, 9 inches (34.69 meters) wide, and the wingspan is 132 feet, 7 inches (39.7 meters).

8 COMMENTS

  1. Prime Minister of Libya P Ali Zaidan in his last visit to the United States U.S. I said America will compensate Libya 8 new aircraft replacement for aircraft, which have become scrap

  2. This is very interesting. I came out with a group of Reservist to take possession of 2 H models. On the tour of the facility, we were shown these C-130s. And that was over 20 something years ago.
    So is anything new transpired?
    Just curious.

    • It’s very interesting that for aircraft so close to being scrap metal they are buried behind so many barricades of trailers and rows of Conex.

  3. If Libya can get replacement aircraft why can’t these be auctioned off? Its a waste of money. Who is the contact point for negotiation of these aircraft in question?

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