Lars Olausson

Lars Olausson is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Swedish Air Force, who has published an annual volume on the history of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules airlifter currently titled the Lockheed Hercules Production List 1954-2014, the thirtieth edition having been printed March 2012. "For each aircraft listed, the Lockheed model number, military designation, owner and serial number are quoted, with additional information in a remarks column, giving such details as delivery dates, earlier or later markings, using squadron and write-off date."

Olausson began his 27-year career in the Svenska Flygvapnet as an officer cadet, flying the Bücker Bestmann, Harvard, Vampire, and P-51 Mustang, in that order. Deciding that he was not suited to be an officer, he got himself into the Technical University in Stockholm. After 4½ years, he reentered the SwAF as an engineer officer, flying the Saab J 29A fighter, A 32A Lansen attack, and AJ 37 Viggen (also attack but primarily doing check flying after maintenance).

Olausson's main job was as base technical officer, with general responsibility for all technical activities on the base (but not building and field maintenance), a diversified position. He was locally responsible for the introduction of the C-130 Hercules, starting with a technical four week course at Marietta in 1965. He logged only a few hours on the Hercules, but added about 30 minutes pilot time on the C-5 Galaxy.

As a retired pilot and officer of Swedish C-130 F 7 Wing squadron service, his worldwide contacts have allowed Olausson to construct a detailed history of every Hercules built, with upwards of 2,350 hulls accounted for. As the Hercules has seen worldwide service in the last fifty years, it pinpoints global hotspots by its use, and Olausson's efforts provide a source for operators' discrete records, from Air America and the CIA in Southeast Asia, up to the covert rendition aircraft of current day. It would appear that Lockheed-Martin, the current producer of the C-130, finds the volume a useful reference, as they provide substantial new production information each year. The current edition runs 170 pages, the upper limit of international postal weight rates the author is willing to bear.

Lars and his wife Gudrun are resided in Såtenäs. Olausson's efforts have contributed a valuable resource to the Hercules community.