The Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento sent one of its HC-130 Hercules aircraft over Bulldog Stadium for the traditional military flyover before Fresno State’s football game against Hawaii on Saturday, Oct. 9.
HC-130 aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and in service since 1964, are used by the Air Force and Coast Guard for a range of missions.
The Coast Guard deploys them on search and rescue, law enforcement and other missions, many of which required extended flights of which the Hercules is capable. The aircraft also can be adapted quickly to fly cargo, equipment and personnel great distances.
Air Station Sacramento is the only fixed-wing Coast Guard unit on the West Coast. Crews cover an enormous expanse of the Pacific Ocean, stretching from the Canada/Washington Border to the Galapagos Islands and west halfway to Hawaii.
Flyovers are part of many Bulldog athletic events. They pay tribute to various branches of the armed services and honor the sacrifices of thousands of Fresno State alumni who have served in the military through the university’s first 100 years.
