Photos: From airborne ops to laser gunship

This is the first H model in the C-130 AMP, taking off for its maiden flight at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Note the way the rear of the C-130 fuselage rises up at a steep diagonal to the tail structure, or empennage. That arrangement allows for a large ramp that drops down to let vehicles and pallets be loaded on--or airdropped out. Paratroopers go out that way, too.