Lockheed C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a military transport aircraft. The aircraft was first introduced (made available) in 1957. It is still used today by over 60 countries worldwide in active service. There are over 40 models and types of the C-130.

C-130 Hercules
A United States Air Force C-130E
General information
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation Lockheed Martin
Management and usage	United States Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force United States Coast Guard Royal Air Force (historical)
Number built	2,500+ as of 2015[1]
History
Manufactured	1954–present
Introduction date	December 1956[2]
First flight	August 23, 1954; 70 years ago (1954-08-23)

Accidents

The C-130 Hercules has had a low accident rate in general. The Royal Air Force recorded an accident rate of about one aircraft loss per 250,000 flying hours over the last 40 years, placing it behind Vickers VC10s and Lockheed TriStars with no flying losses.^[3]

Specifications (C-130H)

C-130H Hercules flight deck

A Hercules deploying flares, sometimes referred to as Angel Flares due to the characteristic pattern

Cargo compartment of a Swedish Air Force C-130

Data from USAF C-130 Hercules fact sheet,^[4] International Directory of Military Aircraft,^[5] Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft,^[6] and Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft.^[7]

General characteristics

• Crew: 5 (2 pilots, CSO/navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster)
• Capacity: 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) payload
  • C-130E/H/J cargo hold: length, 40 ft (12.19 m); width, 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m); height, 9 ft (2.74 m). Rear ramp: length, 123 in (3.12 m); width, 119 in (3.02 m)
  • C-130J-30 cargo hold: length, 55 ft (16.76 m); width, 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m); height, 9 ft (2.74 m). Rear ramp: length, 123 inches (3.12 m); width, 119 in (3.02 m)
  • 92 passengers or
  • 64 airborne troops or
  • 74 litter patients with 5 medical crew or
  • 6 pallets or
  • 2–3 Humvees or
  • 2 M113 armored personnel carriers
  • 1 CAESAR self-propelled howitzer
• Length: 97 ft 9 in (29.79 m)
• Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.41 m)
• Height: 38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)
• Wing area: 1,745 sq ft (162.1 m²)
• Airfoil: root: NACA 64A318; tip: NACA 64A412^[8]
• Empty weight: 75,800 lb (34,382 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 155,000 lb (70,307 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines, 4,590 shp (3,420 kW) each
• Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard 54H60 constant-speed fully feathering reversible propellers, 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) diameter ^[9]

Performance

• Maximum speed: 320 kn (368 mph; 593 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
• Cruise speed: 292 kn (336 mph; 541 km/h)
• Range: 2,050 nmi (2,359 mi; 3,797 km)
• Ferry range: 3,995 nmi (4,597 mi; 7,399 km)
• Service ceiling: 33,000 ft (10,000 m) empty^[10]

23,000 ft (7,000 m) with 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) payload

• Rate of climb: 1,830 ft/min (9.3 m/s)
• Takeoff distance: 3,586 ft (1,093 m) at 155,000 lb (70,307 kg) max gross weight;^[7]

1,400 ft (427 m) at 80,000 lb (36,287 kg) gross weight^[11]

Avionics

• Westinghouse Electronic Systems AN/APN-241 weather and navigational radar^[12]