The C-130 fleet operated by the Força Aérea Portuguesa, or FAP, the Portuguese Air Force, reached the 70,000 flight hour mark in December 2011. Portugal received five C-130H aircraft in 1977-1978 and one new C-130H-30 in 1991. Two of the original aircraft were later stretched to the -30 configuration by OGMA, the Alverca-based certified Portuguese C-130 major repair and overhaul facility. The FAP C-130s are operated by Esquadra 501 (501 Squadron) and based at Montijo. Known as the Bisontes, or Bisons, the squadron is tasked with air transport, medical evacuation, and search and rescue.
