Turned her into the wind, backed the Herky up as far as they could, and flew it off. An empty C-130 can take off in an amazingly short distance. It was after all designed for short unimproved (read packed dirt) runways near the front lines. Add a JATO (rocket pack used for takeoff assist) and it pretty much jumps into the air, although I don't think they used the JATO to get it off the carrier. "Fat Albert" the C-130 that accompanies the Navy's Blue Angels, does a JATO takeoff for every show. It's impressive that something that big can get off the ground that fast, and then climb so steeply.