Old military transport aircraft to get new lease on life as waterbombersBy Canadian Press on August 7, 2026. A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules sits on the tarmac of the John G. Diefenbaker Airport in Saskatoon on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. They’re part of a fleet of 12 retired by the Royal Canadian Air Force back in January. The 10 Hercules aircraft being sold will become large tankers that can carry thousands of litres of retardant and deploy to anywhere in the world. Sometimes they’re used to their end of life spans and Ottawa has no choice but to dispose of them.