The last C-130E Hercules aircraft at the US’s Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany has left for Poland after 30 years of service to the air force.

The C-130, tail number 1,299, departed for Poland under a foreign military sales lease agreement between Air Force Materiel Command and Poland for six C-130Es.

The aircraft will aid the Polish forces in building their airlift capability to allow them to support their forces in Afghanistan.

The Polish Air Force learned maintenance techniques on the aircraft while USAF 86th Maintenance Group personnel performed a scheduled home station check in preparation for the departure.

The C-130E will be replaced by 14 C-130J models which is a fully computerised and automated.