Pilot Logs 10,000th Hour in a C-130 at Eglin Air Force Base

Veteran C-130 pilot Gary Hogg recently achieved a remarkable career milestone, surpassing 10,000 hours of flight time in the Air Force’s iconic C-130 Hercules, according to a post on Eglin Air Force Base’s website by Samuel King, Jr.

Hogg, a civilian pilot with the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), hit the 10,000-hour mark on September 24, 2024, during a routine test mission on the MC-130H II Hercules. This achievement makes the 65-year-old Kentucky native the first pilot to log such an extensive amount of time in the C-130 across its various models.

Hogg has more than a year in the air in the C-130 after meeting this mark.

Reflecting on his 41-year career, Hogg expressed his gratitude. “It’s a milestone in a career I never knew was possible, but I am so thankful I had the chance to live it,” Hogg said. “When I stop to think about the last 40-plus years, I know I have truly been blessed.”

The plane first called to Hogg in 1983 when he completed his qualification training at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.

Shortly after, he deployed to Europe, where his passion for the aircraft solidified. “I loved the concept of flying with a crew and the way everyone worked together to get the mission done,” he recalled.

Over the years, Hogg has flown nearly every C-130 variant, including the C-130E, MC-130E Combat Talon, and MC-130H. His most memorable mission occurred in 1993 when his crew provided support to MH-53 Pave Low helicopters en route to Haiti. Battling severe thunderstorms, Hogg’s team managed to refuel a separated helicopter, ensuring it could land safely despite their own dangerously low fuel levels.

Hogg’s experience spans both military and civilian roles. After retiring from active duty as a lieutenant colonel in 2004, he continued his career as a civilian pilot, contributing his expertise to C-130 flight testing and evaluation. In his current role with AFMC Detachment 1 at Eglin, Hogg helps test new models and capabilities, ensuring the C-130 remains at the forefront of military aviation.

“He’s absolutely a source of continuity here,” said Col. Brian Taylor, AFMC Det. 1 commander told the public affairs unit at Eglin Air Force Base. “He has experience flying every Air Force C-130 variant, and our unit leverages that experience and his relationships with the operational units, to oversee the diverse mission sets of the C-130 operations.”

Hogg’s friends and family were there to celebrate his 10,000-hour milestone, with his grandson Anthony Lindstrom, 11, helping marshal the aircraft upon landing. Reflecting on his career, Hogg emphasized the joy of teamwork. “The thought that keeps coming to me is how much I enjoy the team that it takes to fly a C-130. A smooth-running team is just pure joy in the air.”

With over two million miles flown, Gary Hogg’s legacy in the C-130 Hercules is unmatched.