C-130 Hercules

By
ABC News
January 7, 2006, 10:26 AM ET
3 min read

— -- This workhorse provides vital logistical support. It costs $22.9 million, and can take off and fly at 33,000 feet with a 100,000-lb. payload of supplies or 92 troops, 64 paratroops, or 74 patients on stretchers. It has a top speed of 374 mph.

Primary Function: Tactical and intratheater airlift

Contractor: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

Power Plant: C-130E: Four Allison T56-A-7 turboprops; 4,200 prop shaft horsepowerC-130H: Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops; 4,591prop shaft horsepowerC-130J: Four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprops; 4,591 horsepower

Length: C-130E/H/J: 97 feet, 9 inches (29.3 meters)

C-130J-30: 112 feet, 9 inches (34.69 meters)

Height: 38 feet, 3 inches (11.4 meters)

Wingspan: 132 feet, 7 inches (39.7 meters)

Cargo Compartment: C-130E/H/J: length, 40 feet (12.31 meters); width, 119 inches (3.12 meters); height, 9 feet (2.74 meters). Rear ramp: length, 123 inches (3.12 meters); width, 119 inches (3.02 meters)

C-130J-30: length, 55 feet (16.9 meters); width, 119 inches (3.12 meters); height, 9 feet (2.74 meters). Rear ramp: length, 123 inches (3.12 meters); width, 119 inches (3.02 meters)

Speed: C-130E: 345 mph/300 ktas (Mach 0.49) at 20,000 feet (6,060 meters)

C-130H: 366 mph/318 ktas (Mach 0.52) at 20,000 feet (6,060 meters)

C-130J: 417 mph/362 ktas (Mach 0.59) at 22,000 feet (6,706 meters)

C-130J-30: 410 mph/356 ktas (Mach 0.58) at 22,000 feet (6,706 meters)

Ceiling: 33,000 feet (10,000 meters) with 45,000 pounds (17,716 kilograms) payload

Maximum Takeoff Weight: C-130E/H/J: 155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms)C-130J-30: 164,000 pounds (74,393 kilograms)

Maximum Allowable Payload: C-130E, 45,050 pounds (20,434 kilograms); C-130H, 43,550 pounds (19,754 kilograms); C-130J, 46,631 pounds (21,151 kilograms); C-130J-30, 46,812 pounds (21,234 kilograms)

Maximum Normal Payload: C-130E, 36,720 pounds (16,656 kilograms); C-130H, 35,220 pounds (15,976 kilograms); C-130J, 38,301 pounds (17,373 kilograms); C-130J-30, 38,812 pounds (17,605 kilograms)

Range at Maximum Normal Payload: C-130E, 1,838 miles (1,597 nautical miles); C-130H, 2,006 miles (1,743 nautical miles); C-130J, 2,729 miles (2,371 nautical miles); C-130J-30, 2,897 miles (2,517 nautical miles)

Range with 35,000 pounds of Payload: C-130E, 1,968 miles (1,710 nautical miles); C-130H, 2,023 miles (1,758 nautical miles); C-130J, 3,062 miles (2,660 nautical miles); C-130J-30, 3,269 miles (2,830 nautical miles)

Maximum Load: C-130E/H/J: 6 pallets or 74 litters or 16 CDS bundles or 92 combat troops or 64 paratroopers, or a combination of any of these up to the cargo compartment capacity or maximum allowable weight. C-130J-30: 8 pallets or 97 litters or 24 CDS bundles or 128 combat troops or 92 paratroopers, or a combination of any of these up to the cargo compartment capacity or maximum allowable weight.

Crew: C-130E/H: Five (two pilots, navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster)

C-130J/J-30: Three (two pilots and loadmaster)

Aeromedical Evacuation Role: Minimum medical crew of three is added (one flight nurse and two medical technicians). Medical crew may be increased to two flight nurses and four medical technicians as required by the needs of the patients.

Unit Cost: $22.9 million depending on setup and model

Date Deployed: C-130A, Dec 1956; C-130B, May 1959; C-130E, Aug 1962; C-130H, Jun 1974; C-130J, Feb 1999

Inventory: Active force, 186; Air National Guard, 217; Air Force Reserve, 107

Data courtesy of www.defenselink.org.