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Lockheed L-100 Hercules

Civilian Cargo Transport Aircraft (1965)

The Lockheed L-100 became the civilian-minded cargo transport version of the globally-popular C-130 Hercules line.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/02/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

The excellent hauling capabilities and military market success that was the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport eventually yielded a civilian market form as the L-100 Hercules. Its prototype first flew on April 20th, 1964 to which the aircraft was introduced for civilian airspace operations on September 30th, 1965. The L-100 retains the same form and function of the original C-130 including its excellent handling capabilities and short-field hauling qualities. Production netted 114 aircraft in all with the last built in 1992. The L-100 was recognized by Lockheed as company "Model 382", the production form based on this as the "Model 382B".

Following the original L-100s was the L-100-20 of 1968 which included a fuselage stretch for additional internal volume. The L-100-30 saw a further lengthening of the fuselage that added nearly seven feet. The entire line was then modernized in the LM-100J.

In the L-100-30, the crew numbers three minimum and includes two pilots and a flight engineer. Patload capacity is 51,000lbs with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 155,000lbs. Power is served through 4 x Allison 501-D22A series turboprop engines developing 4,500 horsepower each. Maximum speed is 355 miles per hour with a cruise speed of 335 miles per hour. Round-trip range is 1,535 miles with a ferry range of 5,555 miles out. The aircraft features a service ceiling of 23,000 feet and a rate-of-climb of 1,830 feet per minute.

Dimensions include a length of 112 feet, 9 inches, a wingspan of 132 feet, 7 inches and a height of 38 feet, 3 inches.

Despite its civilian-minded design, the L-100 was still adopted by the militaries of Algeria, Kuwait, Indonesia, Philippines and Saudi Arabia among others. Despite the military shift towards the much improved C-130J "Super Hercules", the L-100 has not followed suit to date - though a February 2014 report suggests Lockheed will reactivate the initiative soon. This would then produce the L-100J designation.

Specifications

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