Lockheed C-130A Hercules A97-214
Received into RAAF service on 14 January 1959, A97-214 was operated by No 36 Squadron, part of the RAAF's No 86 (Transport) Wing. During A97-214's long service career, servicings were carried out by No 2 Aircraft Depot and No 486 Maintenance Squadron at Richmond, and Qantas at Kingsford-Smith Airport, Sydney.
A97-214 participated in many notable RAAF operations, including support for RAAF forces in Thailand and Vietnam, flood relief and civil aid taskings, and providing relief to Darwin in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy. In 1978, A97-214 was withdrawn from service, and was stored at RAAF Base Laverton pending disposal.
Allocated to the RAAF Museum in 1988, the aircraft was transported by road to Point Cook in May 1994.