Lockheed C-130T 'Hercules' flown by the USMC.

During the show, the plane does tight turns at up to three times the force of gravity, or three Gs.
Fat Albert pilots learn how to push the lumbering transport to its limits or brush up on the skills to do so during two months of training each year from early January to mid-March, before the Blue Angels hit the air-show circuit. And only experienced pilots with 1,250 hours of flight time can qualify to fly Fat Albert for the team, McGath said.
The four-engine propeller driven plane is also used to help haul around the Blue AngelsÕ team of 110 maintenance personnel and equipment to air shows around the country, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Garrett Kasper, the Blue Angels public affairs officer. The Blue Angels are on the road, away from their home base, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., for about 300 days a year.
According to the Navy, Fat Albert joined the Blue Angels in 1970 and it flies about 140,000 miles during each air show season, which is from March to early November. [Burlington Daily News]

Photo by Bob Nelson, Fargo AirSho practice across from the NDSU Rugby field.