The Lockheed L-100 Hercules is the civilian variant of the prolific
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 ...
military
transport aircraft Transport aircraft is a broad category of aircraft that includes:
* Airliners, aircraft, usually large and most often operated by airlines, intended for carrying multiple passengers or cargo in commercial service
* Cargo aircraft or freighters, fix ...
made by the
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer. Lockheed was founded in 1926 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995. Its founder, Allan Lockheed, had earlier founded the similarly named but ot ...
. Its first flight occurred in 1964. Longer L-100-20 and L-100-30 versions were developed. L-100 production ended in 1992 with 114 aircraft delivered.
[ An updated variant of the model, LM-100J, has completed its first flight in ]Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Cobb County, Georgia, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 60,972. The 2019 estimate was 60,867, making it one of Atlanta's largest suburbs. Marietta is the fourth largest ...
on 25 May 2017, and was set to start production in 2018–19.
Development
In 1959, Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and commonly known as Pan Am, was an American airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States ...
ordered 12 of Lockheed's GL-207 Super Hercules to be delivered by 1962, to be powered by four 6,000 eshp Allison T56 turboprops. Slick Airways
Slick Airways was a cargo airline from the United States, that operated scheduled and chartered flights between 1946 and 1966. The airline was founded by Earl Slick, a Texas aviator and multimillionaire who along with his brother had inherited $ ...
was to receive 6 such aircraft later in 1962. The Super Hercules was to be longer than the C-130B; a variant powered by 6,445 eshp Rolls-Royce Tynes and a jet-powered variant with four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-11 turbofans were also under development. Both Pan American and Slick Airways (which had ordered six) cancelled their orders and the other variants did not evolve past design studies.
Lockheed decided to produce a commercial variant based on a de-militarised version of the C-130E Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally design ...
. The prototype L-100 (registered N1130E) first flew on 20 April 1964 when it carried out a 1-hour, 25-minute flight. The type certificate was awarded on 16 February 1965. Twenty-one production aircraft were then built with the first delivery to Continental Air Services on 30 September 1965.
Slow sales led to the development of two new, longer versions, the L-100-20 and L-100-30, both of which were larger and more economical than the original model. Deliveries totaled 114 aircraft, with production ending in 1992. Several L-100-20 aircraft were operated on scheduled freight flights by Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc., typically referred to as Delta, is one of the major airlines of the United States and a legacy carrier. One of the List of airlines by foundation date, world's oldest airlines in operation, Delta is headquartered in Atla ...
between 1968 and 1973.
An updated civilian version of the Lockheed Martin C-130J
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems.
The C-130J is the newest v ...
-30 Super Hercules was under development, but the program was placed on hold indefinitely in 2000 to focus on military development and production.[Lockheed L-100 Hercules]
airliners.net On 3 February 2014, Lockheed Martin formally relaunched the LM-100J program, saying it expects to sell 75 aircraft. Lockheed sees the new LM-100J as an ideal replacement for the existing civil L-100 fleets.
The launch operator for the LM-100J will be Pallas Aviation, from 2019 they will operate two aircraft from Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport is a public airport north of the central business district of Fort Worth, Texas, United States. The airport is owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by Alliance Air Services, a subsidiary of Hillw ...
in the United States. By early March 2022 the three LM-100J aircraft (tail numbers N96MG, N71KM and N67AU) then owned by Pallas had begun flying dozens of flights between Ramstein AB
Ramstein Air Base or Ramstein AB is a United States Air Force base in Rhineland-Palatinate, a state in southwestern Germany. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and also ...
and secondary military air facilities at Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą, Poland; Boboc, Romania; Sliač, Slovakia; Lielvārde, Latvia and Aalborg, Denmark.
Variants
Civilian variants are equivalent to the C-130E model without pylon tanks or military equipment.
;L-100 (Model 382)
:One prototype powered by four Allison 501-D22s and first flown in 1964
;L-100 (Model 382B)
:Production variant
;L-100-20 (Model 382E and Model 382F)
:Stretched variant certified in 1968 with a new section forward of the wing and section aft of the wing.
;L-100-30 (Model 382G)
:A further stretched variant with an additional fuselage section.
;LM-100J (Model 382J)
:An updated civilian version of the military C-130J-30 model.
;L-400 Twin Hercules
:A twin-engine variant of the C-130. It was advertised in at least one publication that it would have "more than 90% parts commonality" with the standard C-130. The aircraft was shelved in the mid-1980s without any being built.
Operators
Civilian operators
In March 2011, a total of 36 Lockheed L-100 Hercules aircraft were in commercial service. Operators include Safair
Safair is an airline based at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, South Africa. It operates one of the world's largest fleets of civil Lockheed L-100 Hercules cargo aircraft. (4), Lynden Air Cargo
Lynden Air Cargo is an American cargo airline based in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. It operates scheduled services and on demand charter, international and domestic flights, including services for the US military. Its main base is Ted Stevens Anchorag ...
(8), Transafrik
Transafrik International is a cargo airline based in Angola with its offices in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.[Libyan Arab Air Cargo
Libyan Air Cargo is an inactive cargo airline based in Tripoli, Libya. It is the cargo division of Libyan Airlines, operating all-cargo services. Its main base is Tripoli International Airport. It serves destinations throughout Africa, Europe, and ...](_blank)
(3), and other operators with fewer aircraft.["World Airliner Census". ''Flight International'', 18–24 August 2009.]
Military operators
In May 2011, 35 Lockheed L-100s were in use with military operators, including:
* Indonesian Air Force
The Indonesian Air Force ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU), literally "''Indonesian National Military-Air Force''") sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF, is the aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The ...
(10 ordered, 8 current with 6 in service)
* Libyan Air Force
The Libyan Air Force ( ar, القوات الجوية الليبية) is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the Libyan Civil War, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000 ...
(5)
* Algerian Air Force
The Algerian Air Force (AAF) ( ar, القُوَّاتُ الجَوِّيَّةُ الجَزَائِرِيَّةُ, links=, lit=, translit=al-Quwwāt al-Ǧawwiyyah al-Ǧazāʾiriyyah, french: Forces aériennes algériennes, links=, lit=, translit ...
(3)
* Ecuadorian Air Force
The Ecuadorian Air Force ( es, Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana, FAE) is the Air arm of the Military of Ecuador and responsible for the protection of the Ecuadorian airspace.
Mission
To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional o ...
(1)
* Kuwait Air Force
The Kuwait Air Force ( ar, القوات الجوية الكويتية , al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya) is the air arm of the Armed Forces of Kuwait. The Air Force headquarters is located at Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, with the remaining f ...
(3 – L-100-30)
* Mexican Air Force
The Mexican Air Force (FAM; es, Fuerza Aérea Mexicana) is the primary aerial warfare service branch of the Mexican Armed Forces. It is a component of the Mexican Army and depends on the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA). The objective of t ...
(1)
* Peruvian Air Force
The Peruvian Air Force ( es, link=no, Fuerza Aérea del Perú, FAP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power. Additional missions include assistance in safeguardin ...
(3)
* Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...
(4)
* Saudi Arabian Airlines
Saudia ( ar, السعودية '), formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines (), is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah. The airline's main operational base is at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. King Khalid Internati ...
(3 L-100-30 for Royal Flight)
Other users with fewer aircraft.["World Military Aircraft Inventory". ''2009 Aerospace Source Book''. Aviation Week and Space Technology, January 2009.]
* Gabon Air Force (2 – 1 L-100-20 and 1 L-100-30)
* United Arab Emirates Air Force
The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) ( ar, القوات الجوية والدفاع الجوي الاماراتي, al-Quwwāt al-Jawiyah wa al-Defa' al-Jawiy al-ʾImārāty) is the air force of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), part of the U ...
(1 – L-100-30)
* Argentine Air Force
"Argentine Wings"
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 10 August (anniversary) 1 May (Baptism of fire during the Falklands War)
, equipment = 139 aircraft
, equipment_label =
, battles =
* Operation Independence
* Operation Soberanía
* Falklan ...
(1 – L-100-30 – LV-APW, later TC-100)
* Free Libyan Air Force
The Free Libyan Air Force ( ar, القوات الجوية الليبية الحرة) was the air force of the National Transitional Council, a collection of defected Loyalist Military personnel and captured aircraft that aligned themselves with ...
(1 L-100 following Libyan civil war
Demographics of Libya is the demography of Libya, specifically covering population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, and religious affiliations, as well as other aspects of the Libyan population. The ...
)
Specifications (L-100-30)
Accidents and incidents
* On 8 April 1987: a Southern Air Transport
Southern Air Transport (SAT) (1947–1998), based in Miami, Florida, was a cargo airline best known as a front company for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1960–1973) and for its crucial role in the Iran-Contra scandal in the m ...
L-100-30 (registration N-517SJ) crashed due to loss of power in two engines, during an attempted go-around at Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC), located three miles (5 km) east of the central business district of the city of Fairfield, in Solano County, Californi ...
, California. All 5 people on board died.
* On 2 September 1991: a Southern Air Transport
Southern Air Transport (SAT) (1947–1998), based in Miami, Florida, was a cargo airline best known as a front company for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1960–1973) and for its crucial role in the Iran-Contra scandal in the m ...
L-100-20 (registration N521SJ) was written off after hitting a mine while on takeoff from Wau Airport
Wau Airport is a civilian airport that serves the city of Wau and surrounding communities. Feeder Airlines has three return flights a week between Khartoum- Wau-Juba. Southern Star Airlines used to provide service on Wednesdays and Sundays to J ...
. The 5 occupants survived with injuries.
* On 23 September 1994: a Heavylift Cargo Service L-100-30 (registration PK-PLV), leased from Indonesia-based Pelita Air Service, crashed off Kai Tak International Airport
Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. Officially known as Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, it is often referred to as Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak, or simply Ka ...
in Hong Kong after the number four propeller oversped, killing six of the 12 on board.
* On 25 August 2008: a Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...
L-100-20 (serial number 4593) of 220th Airlift Wing based in Mactan
Mactan is a densely populated island located a few kilometers (~1 mile) east of Cebu Island in the Philippines. The island is part of Cebu province and it is divided into the city of Lapu-Lapu and the municipality of Cordova. The island is sep ...
, Cebu
Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 ...
, crashed into the sea shortly after take-off in Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dabaw; ), is a first class highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the largest city in the Philippines in terms of lan ...
. The aircraft lost contact after taking off from Francisco Bangoy International Airport
Francisco Bangoy International Airport ( ceb, Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Francisco Bangoy; fil, Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Francisco Bangoy; ), also commonly known as Davao International Airport, is the main airport serving Davao City and th ...
shortly before midnight. Two pilots and seven crewmen; an Instructor Flight Engineer, student flight engineer, Crew Chief, two Load Masters, a student Load Master, a flight mechanic and two Scout Rangers were on board when the aircraft crashed.
* On 20 May 2009: an Indonesian Air Force
The Indonesian Air Force ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU), literally "''Indonesian National Military-Air Force''") sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF, is the aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The ...
L-100-30 (serial number A-1325) of 31st Squadron crashed
"Crashed" is the third U.S. rock Single (music), single, (the fifth overall), from the band Daughtry (band), Daughtry's debut album. It was released only to U.S. rock stations on September 5, 2007. Upon its release the song got adds at those stat ...
into homes and erupted in flames, killing at least 98 people. The wreckage of the Hercules was scattered in a rice paddy near Magetan, East Java
East Java ( id, Jawa Timur) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost hemisphere of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean bord ...
, about 160 kilometres east of Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta (; jv, ꦔꦪꦺꦴꦒꦾꦏꦂꦠ ; pey, Jogjakarta) is the capital city of Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, ...
. The plane was carrying more than 100 passengers and crew on route from Jakarta
Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...
to the eastern province of Papua via Magetan.Olausson, Lars
Lars Oskar Olausson (20 May 1927 – 18 June 2016) was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Swedish Air Force, who published an annual volume on the history of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules airlifter currently titled the ''Lockheed Hercules Production List ...
, "Lockheed Hercules Production List – 1954–2005, 22nd ed.", self-published, page 104.
See also
References
;Notes
;Bibliography
External links
Lockheed L-100 Hercules
airliners.net
Lockheed L-100 Hercules specifications in comparison to other air cargo aircraft
*
{{Lockheed
L-0100
1960s United States airliners
Four-engined tractor aircraft
High-wing aircraft
Four-engined turboprop aircraft
L-100
Aircraft first flown in 1964