It all started when…
Following the project for 47 Squadron, Marshall Aerospace at Cambridge got in touch. They were celebrating 50 years of sterling work, providing support and maintenance services to the Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules fleet. The first of the RAF’s Hercules C Mk.1s was delivered on 16th December 1966 and the type operated with distinction throughout its service life, with various modification programmes expanding its role through to the introduction of the C-130J in 1999, when the earlier model became known as the C-130K. Having supported the aircraft throughout that time, Marshall Aerospace was very keen to gain permission from the RAF to paint an aircraft to recognise the anniversary and approached the designer of the 47 Squadron aircraft for advice and ideas.
This project was completed within the Ministry of Defence and not under Dynamic Vectors. It serves only as an illustration of what some of our designers can do.
The Marshalls team were very keen to see some extensive designs which utilised the eagle at the centre of the RAF’s original badge to convey a sense of historical recognition, whilst stylising it to make a real impact on a younger generation who might see the aircraft in the 21st Century. That concept was adopted not only for the tail, but also along the fuselage; in a bold design which we hoped the RAF would support.
Discussion was also had about returning a C-130 to bare metal, as they had appeared on arrival in 1966, but the engineering support to maintain and airframe in that state was considered too extensive. The second consideration was to revert a J-model to the original camouflage livery but the application time would ultimately have been too long. So, a compromise was agreed to bring colour to the tail and overlay an impressive piece of art over the existing green of the fuselage.
“We are proud to celebrate Marshall’s contributions to the entire Hercules community and look forward to many more decades of partnership with the Marshall team.”
When Marshall Aerospace saw the initial designs they were delighted and enthusiastically committed to them, offering to fund the project on behalf of the RAF. Sadly, the Royal Air Force was not supportive of the concepts so professional Service designers asked for the project to be handed over, so they could create what they wanted to see. We had a lot of fun working with Marshalls, despite the original design being altered significantly by the end.
Video courtesy of Oliver Drury, Head of Corporate Affairs, Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group.
“I would like to thank our dedicated employees and suppliers for their continued support in helping Marshall achieve such an incredible milestone.”
Image by Liam Daniels.
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