How does a massive cargo plane like the C-130 Hercules manage to take?
Because it's designed as a utility aircraft with wings and high lift devices to cater for short airstrips. Because of this it suffers from higher drag, higher fuel consumption, reduced range and lower top speed. Everything in aircraft design is a compromise, if you want more in one area you have to give up something in another. It's still a brilliant design and has been going for over 50 years. Lockheed did an excellent job of putting together an aircraft which excells in the role it was created for.