[ProudVet77]

"C-130 was specially fitted for vertical take-off and landings"
Whoever came up with that idea needed a proctologist to find what was left of his mind. To lift a C-130 straight up would take massive horsepower.

[Spktyr]

Not quite straight up, but how about takeoff in 100 feet with a max weight payload?

C-130s got JATO back during the Vietnam War. Check out http://members.aol.com/mkonvalin/fave/herk.htm for more details.