C-130J “Super” Hercules Transport Airplane RAF

RAF Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules. Song: Nath – Industrial Open dagen 2006 KLU Leeuwarden. Footage from dvd Open House 2006 Royal Netherlands AirForce.airbase Leeuwarden. The C-130J “Super” Hercules is the newest version of the Hercules and the only model still in production. Externally similar to the classic Hercules in general appearance, the J model is a very different aircraft. These differences include new Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprops with six-bladed composite scimitar propellers, digital avionics (including Head-Up Displays (HUDs) for each pilot) and reduced crew requirements (two pilots, one load master—no navigator or flight engineer). These changes have improved performance over its C-130E/H siblings, such as 40% greater range, 21% higher maximum speed, and 41% shorter take-off distance. The C-130J is available in a standard-length or stretched -30 variant. Lockheed Martin received the launch order for the J from the RAF, which ordered 25 aircraft, with first deliveries beginning in 1999 as Hercules C. Mk 4 (C-130J-30) and Hercules C. Mk 5 (C-130J). The United States Air Force awarded a 0 million contract to Lockheed Martin for six modified KC-130J aircraft for use by the Air Force and Special Operations Command in mid-June 2008. The contract is expected to lead to C-130J variants that will replace aging HC-130s and MC-130s