Could anyone help ID what this might be?

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ericopera@reddit

At first I thought it could be some variant of an AN-12. Are there any usually flying in your area ? Seeing the other pictures I also vote for C-130 family.

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

i've never seen any an12s. i see lots of c130s (as the other picture i've sent in comments shows) but never seen one that looks like this which is why i didn't think it was a c130

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EmpathOwl@reddit

Mods took a photo of mine down that was much clearer than this, this post is gonna get nuked for sure

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

there's no rules against bad quality photos from what i saw. are you sure yours was removed for image quality and not some other reason?

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EmpathOwl@reddit

I'm certain. https://preview.redd.it/3idttqwflstf1.png?width=921&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c9b9c5cdec8d57d368fde00e93126fac807ec3e

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Mudlark-000@reddit

It’s a C-130 - just from an odd angle and with crap phone camera zoom

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

look at the front though there's a large bulge on the bottom, this doesn't appear on c130s. the nose also seems more pointed compared to the round c130 nose.

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According to google, there are over 70 produced variants of the C-130, according to other sources, there are 40 variants. The Hercules has been around for a VERY long time and because of that, it has been modified heavily and in countless ways, it’s not insane to think there’s a C-130 with a pointy radome out there

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Malthas130@reddit

I’ve flown on Herks for 15 years and still have more to come. That’s a C-130, it’s just being squished oddly by what I’m guessing is your phones electronic zoom which is really just cropping and image sharpening.

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Booty4Breakfasts@reddit

Your average C-130, today, is an MC-130 (since the release of the C-130J or Super Hercules in 1996). All of the 130's that roll out of the factory are MC-130's, from there, they are modified to other variants (HC, AC, EC, etc.) The only in-service variant that is not J models is the EC-130's which are currently flying a few H models. The rest have been retired. Judging off of the paint scheme and lack of visible gun pallets (though those are on the left hand side), that looks like an MC-130. If western Colorado is accurate, Peterson AFB flies MC-130J's and Sierra Nevada Corporation does modifications of AC and MC-130's in the same area. I worked there for several years doing mod/retrofit on the ol' dirty 130's.

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Malthas130@reddit

Based purely off production numbers, the MC-130 is not “the average Herk”. The main factory is in Marietta but I’m well aware there’s a large SNC facility in Colorado Springs. The reserve unit at Peterson flies C-130Hs which the OPs photo looks to be… external tanks but no refuel pods. Could also be one of the EC-Js that are being converted to MC for the PA guard. The possibilities are endless though. That’ll happen when the plane has been in continuous production since the 50s

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Booty4Breakfasts@reddit

Absolutely, with the photo quality, its purely speculation. I guess its could've worded it different. The MC-130 is the basic configuration for the C-130J. Also, the C-130H was retired in 2023, so there are still some around including AMC at Peterson while they're being phased out for the Js. The same thing happened at a unit I performed manning assist for in Florida as they phased out the HC-130H for the Js

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Malthas130@reddit

I still don’t agree with the MC-130 being the basic config for the J. Maybe the “basic” config of all the special mission Js, but even that is a weird way to define this. There been ~600 C-130J series aircraft built. Of which like 60 were MCs- some later converted to gunships. The HCs and KCs came off the line in Marietta as HCs and KCs respectively, I believe the ECs did too but not sure on that one. SNC has done tons of mods to these since then, but other than the MC to AC, none of them have changed designations after leaving Marietta.

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Booty4Breakfasts@reddit

So that's coming from LM themselves. From technical data to from what ive heard from their engineers and manufacturing teams, the MC is the basic config. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong, by all means. I know far from everything of this platform, I've only worked it for 5-6 years. What I was told was, the HCs and KCs from Marietta were originally built as MCs and modified on-site to the HC and KC varients. And consider that of the 500 built, they were spread across 22 countries, so while they did only make 57 MCs many of the 500 130Js went to Australia, Canada, India and many others.

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BOOM_Shakalaka2004@reddit

Its tough to answer what the standard C-130 variant off the line is currently. First off they have two different length aircraft now (C-130J/C-130J-30). All of the specialized mission sets (AC,MC,HC,KC, small number of EC’s) are based off the stubby (C-130J) model. The C-130J-30 I would say at this point is primary model being built and probably will be foreseeable future just based on the extra cargo capability and the ability to place externals on if needed. The customer base in the US and worldwide will mostly be updating the H’s to the -30’s. So I would say whoever told you the MC’s off the line being the basic config is wrong. I’m an air force C-130 pilot btw.

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Booty4Breakfasts@reddit

I was a maintainer on the 130s in the AF for a bit, and did mods on them for several years after getting out. The MC being the "basic configuration" is literally in black and white in the tech data. Again, I'm not claiming to know everything, this is my experience with the airframe as a maintainer and what I've been told by the TDs from Lockheed.

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BOOM_Shakalaka2004@reddit

Ummm this is mostly all wrong except I do agree that is a C-130.

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mwbbrown@reddit

I was also thinking C-130, as and IT guy I would add that this looked like the type of distortion from a rolling shutter. The affect would be visible while taking the picture. Basicly the camera doesn't store the entire image at the same moment, but scans across the image very fast, so if the target is moving fast things get wonky. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling\_shutter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_shutter)

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Malthas130@reddit

Rolling shutter also explains the two different colors of blue across the image.

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WhiskeyMikeMike@reddit

the photos op put in comments aren’t the same plane, they’re for reference as they said.

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

it looked exactly like that irl as well so i don't think the photo squished it. the nose looks off for a c130 as well.

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ClaytonLaroy@reddit

Looks like a C130

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John_L64@reddit

I'm going with an airplane, but don't hold me to it.

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NovelEffective2098@reddit

A plane.

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Ok_Investigator7545@reddit

C-130

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Battlemanager@reddit

The aeroplane from Disney's, Tailspin.

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treadmill880@reddit

C130 aircraft

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the_friendly_one@reddit

No, I cannot. Sup, I'm Jared. I'm 19, and I never fucking learned how to ID planes 😎

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aviation-ModTeam@reddit

Your comment has been removed for breaking the r/aviation rules. This subreddit is open for civil, friendly discussion about our common interest, aviation. Excessively rude, mean, unfriendly, or hostile conduct is not permitted. Any form of racism or hate speech will not be tolerated. If you believe this was a mistake, please message the moderators through modmail.

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ItsMarch0@reddit

Incredible reference

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nickgasm@reddit

Now that's a throwback.

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BooBooKitty@reddit

It makes me feel old that Vines are now throwbacks.

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Hodgetwins32@reddit

Waddup Jared

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

at least you're honest 🤣

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Boating_Enthusiast@reddit

If it had a T-tail, I'd say it looks like a ShinMaywa US-2, but everyone's right. It's a distorted C-130

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1213Alpha@reddit

It's some variant of C-130

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Notme20659@reddit

Not C-130. Only two engines. The other pods are wing tanks.

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1213Alpha@reddit

There are both 4 engines and wing tanks

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Parfilov@reddit

This is the closest I have managed to find, Boeing C-124 globemaster II. https://preview.redd.it/zjd44jvdpjtf1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=72510746a8c9a14a693cea9fcaac779b9e94670f

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Notme20659@reddit

No. My Dad flew those and absolutely this isn’t one. To start with, only two engines

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DoomsdayToast@reddit

I just comment the same. I didn’t think any were flying these days though.

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jadedwelp@reddit

Hmmm, that’s a plane.

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Austerlitz2310@reddit

Restart the timer bois

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

what's the timer for? new to the sub so i dont really know anything sub-specific

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Austerlitz2310@reddit

The joke is that the C-130 is the most common request for identification. But I guess the joke is getting old judging by the downvote I got

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MaRtoff@reddit

C-27 is my take

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Vellian1@reddit

Sir, that’s a plane

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lr_science@reddit

Photo expert here, I can confirm this is the correct answer.

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Own-Two2165@reddit

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s Superman!

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NoSwimmers45@reddit

For once it’s not a C-17!

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

https://preview.redd.it/jjeb9gzwxjtf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76d6339e3b003258823833d9c77c2330d46d2456 :)

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awkwarddachshund@reddit

That's the f47

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Travelingexec2000@reddit

Yeah this looks fat

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notadroid@reddit

C-130 can't tell the variant

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

Thought c130 at first as well but the wing shape and the tail fin just doesn't match up with all the other c130s i've seen. the tail fin in my post looks more swept backward unlike this picture of an actual c130 where it's almost vertical. https://preview.redd.it/8t82adu7djtf1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5279c4fe95231491831aca9ddf55edaacb6fd5d

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notadroid@reddit

this second pic really makes me feel like its a c130 now... with wing based fuel tanks or something else hanging off the wings other than the engines.

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

i heavily doubt it. the underbelly (is that the right wording?? not sure) of the original post image just seems too large for a c130. comparing it to the image i put in the comment above of an actual c130 the belly is around the same size as the rest of the fuselage. just doesn't seem right

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notadroid@reddit

your first image has some artifacting and its horribly shading the underside of the aircraft. your 2nd image looks 100% like a c-130. not going to change my mind, and it looks like many other commenters feel the same way.

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

the second image was a reference image i took of a c130. different aircraft from the original post

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notadroid@reddit

and I still feel the first image is a C-130... do you recall seeing any orange on the plane at all? also - whoever is down voting my replies just LOL

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

nope full gray

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germaphobi@reddit

I'm pretty sure it's a plane.

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DoomsdayToast@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/pvcj46jspjtf1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=742ec27a21789b1558b1974bc82b867313797a23 Looks like an old C-124 to me. But I don’t think there are any flying these days.

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RobinOldsIsGod@reddit

Cool C-130.

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

not a c130. here's an image i took a couple weeks ago of a c130. the wings aren't as rounded as the plane in my post. the tail is also different and there's a large bulge near the front of the aircraft. Unless it some variant i've never seen before it doesn't match up with a c130 https://preview.redd.it/6iakpatjgjtf1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1e601c92aa75df235fc3344a6e84d3188186911

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RobinOldsIsGod@reddit

>"and there's a large bulge near the front of the aircraft." They've been adding a new terrain-following/terrain avoidance radar to MC-130J Commando IIs since 2019. The Silent Knight Radar (SKR) is mounted ahead of the cockpit, atop the nose. They also have a bulge atop the fuselage behind the cockpit. https://preview.redd.it/rb7by2x0mjtf1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b5a3e4692d34a899d429e976c80a3ad6acbb6d1 The 'rounding' of the wings in your photo is due to your camera's (phone?) zoom + atmospheric distortion. A Commando not ID'ing on ADS-B also tracks.

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smoores02@reddit

Yeah it's this for sure.

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idhorst@reddit

EC-130 https://share.google/images/Yic4JrUaM7jHrL5yb

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ricky_spanish51@reddit

Are there any AN12 being operated by letter agencies for clandestine things?

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Cool-Grape7672@reddit

Looks like a plane. Hope that helps 👍

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Garbagefailkids@reddit

Maybe a Transall C160, but... *there are very few flying today *it has what may be a radome fairing on the wing, and I've never seen a C160 with that kind of installation.

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Majakowski@reddit

Also a Transall has 2 engines, not 4.

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stewi2@reddit

This almost looks like some sort of AI image processing / upscaling artifact to me…

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

looked exactly like that irl

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Twitter_blows@reddit

It’s a plane…..you’re welcome.

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hgwelz@reddit

A modified Orion - ie for NASA or firefighting? https://preview.redd.it/qvm4dkqghjtf1.jpeg?width=1030&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe0d456139bab3eb79c7571b6ffe763cb9a3ac3e

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anon0111239756@reddit

It almost looks like a c-123 to me…

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

i can definitely see that one but it still seems off. the c123 doesn't have the big mouth looking spot on the front of the belly (i don't know any better way to describe the larger part on the front lmao)

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WhiskeyMikeMike@reddit

Plus the only flying example has a brown and green paint job.

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

fair enough

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nobodyisfreakinghome@reddit

Superman

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

looks more like iron man to me

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Travelingexec2000@reddit

P-3 Orion ?

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

that was one of the first things i thought of but the p-3 has a much sleeker fuselage

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

Can't edit post but it's not a c-130. tail and wings don't match up for one and the overall fuselage shape doesn't match.

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b_squared130@reddit

Where was the picture taken?

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NOISY_SUN@reddit

[ShinMaywa US-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShinMaywa_US-2)

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WhiskeyMikeMike@reddit

The aircraft in OP’s photo is not a t-tail

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

That one looks close but the tail seems off. the one you linked has the horizontal tail fins at the top. the one i saw has them at the bottom.

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WhiskeyMikeMike@reddit

Where?

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

in western Colorado

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Over_Caramel_9616@reddit

I think c 130

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agha0013@reddit

it almost looks like a C-130 cross bred with a Martin Mars or some other large four engine flying boat. Is that all mashed up because of the image quality?

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TbProductions1@reddit (OP)

yeah idk, not from image quality since that's how it looked in real life as well. I thought c130 at first as well but the swept tail fin and the shape of the wings just didn't fit right.

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