The Design and History of Lockheed C-130 Hercules Aircraft - Essay Example

Running head: C-130 Aircraft C-130 Aircraft s C-130 Aircraft The flexible and multipurpose C-130 aircraft can accommodate a number of different sized cargo including military equipment, six wheeled vehicles, air force helicopters. The design is made such that it should be able to serve a number of purposes. To make it dual purpose the fitting of equipment is such that they are easily detachable. It also serves its purpose to be used as a gunship, also for airborne assault, scientific search and other humanitarian aid purposes as well. The C-130 aircraft has been serving for years as one of the most flexible and versatile aircraft all around globe for not only military but for a range of other purposes. MISSION: The C-130 Aircraft also known as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine aircraft build by Lockheed during the 1950s. It is been serving since many years as a transport aircraft for military. This aircraft was originally developed as an assault transport. This was later used for a variety of missions such as: Close air support and air interdiction. Scientific research support. Search and Rescue Mission. Electronic surveillance. Fire fighting. Aerial Spraying. Refueling of helicopters. Weather mapping. Ice re supply. Natural disaster relief missions. (Boyne, 2008, p. 1) The C-130 aircraft is capable of traveling through rough, dirt strips. It is the basic mean of transport where paratroop and dropping of equipment is concerned for hostile regions all around the globe. It is the only aircraft that is in a process of continuous production for more than 50 years and have been participating in a huge number of missions of aid for humanity, military and civilian. With its original primary customer it has became the fifth most continuously used aircraft in the history, the first being the English Electric Canberra. (Posner, 2000, p. 1) HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF C-130: The transports that were earlier used at the time of Korean World War II in June 1950 were C-119 Flying Boxcars, C-47 Sky trains and C-46 Commandos. However these were proved to be inadequate and insufficient to perform to the fullest and for a variety of purposes. After this realization, on February 02, 1951, the air force of the United States of America put forward a General Operating Requirement for a new transport. This requirement was introduced to a number of companies including: 1. Lockheed. 2. Martin. 3. Chase Aircraft. 4. Fairchild. 5. Douglas. 6. Northrop. 7. North American. 8. Boeing. 9. Airlifts Inc. (Stokes, 2000, p. 2) This new transport was required to have a capacity 92 passengers, also of 72 combat troops or 64 paratroopers. The range was required to be of 1300 miles and 2000 kilometers. Also it should be able to work well while having one of its engines turned off. Out of these companies only placed the tender of an accumulated number of ten designs for the required specifications including: 1. Boeing proposed one, 2. Lockheed proposed two, 3. Douglas proposed three, 4. Airlifts proposed one, and 5. Chase Aircraft proposed to design three under the specification The Lockheed design was developed and headed by Willis Hawkins. This was a proposal of 130 pages. There was close competition between the design proposals of Lockheed and that of Douglas. (Stokes, 2000, p. 3) The company won the contract on July 02, 1951 and was signed by the Company's Vice President and Chief Engineer Hall Hibbard. The first flight of the newly built YC-130 was carried out on August 23, 1954 from Burbank, California. This aircraft was piloted by Stanley Beltz and Roy Wimmer. Then later on the production of C-130 begins. It was started to being produced in Marietta Georgia. More than 2300 of C-130 were built at that time. Deliveries of the said started in December 1956. (Neely, 2000, p. 4) SPECIFICATIONS AND COST OF C-130 AIRCRAFT: The aircraft power plant includes Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops, 4300 horsepower, each engine. The weight of the empty aircraft is 69,300 lb (31434 kg) and the maximum that it could carry is 155,000 pounds (69,750 kg). The speed of the aircraft is 374 mph (Mach 0.57) at 20,000 feet (6,060 meters). (Posner, 2000, p. 3) Following is the specification of the dimensions of C-130: Length of the aircraft: 97 feet, 9 inches (29.3 meters). Height of the aircraft: 38 feet, 3 inches (11.4 meters). Wingspan of the aircraft: 132 feet, 7 inches (39.7 meters). The ceiling of the aircraft is 33,000 feet (10,000 meters) with 100,000 pounds (45,000 kilograms) payload The main function of C-130 is an intra theater, tactical and situational airlift. The crew of the aircraft needs to be comprised of five people in total. Two pilots are required to run the aircraft and should include a navigator, a flight engineer and a person that could perform the task of loading and unloading known as the load master. (Neely, 2002, p. 4) FEATURES OF C-130 DESIGN: The C-130 aircraft designs are equipped with the following significant components including: 1. Cargo floor or compartment at a height above the ground. 2. Aerial delivery of cargo. 3. Wings and fuel tanks. 4. Landing gear. 5. Electrical systems. 6. Hydraulic systems. 1. Cargo Compartment: The aircraft's cargo could hold a weight of more than 42000 pounds (19051 kg). It is always quick and easy to use and is removable so that can be detached if a flat surface is needed. Baggage could be loaded through main loading door which is hydraulically operated and is located in the rear of the aircraft. For loading and unloading of vehicles the ramp can be lowered down to the ground. The cargo aircraft could make space for 92 combat troops or 64 fully equipped ones. For the usage in aero medical evacuation two medical attendants and 74 patients could be carried away. (Raphel, 2001, p. 1) 2. Aerial Delivery of Cargo: Three are the standard ways of transporting equipments or other supplies including: The first method could take weight up to 42000 pounds and the procedure is that the parachute pulls the load from the aircraft. When the load is clear, cargo parachute lowers down the load to the ground. The second one is called Container Delivery System, can carry weight up to 2200 pounds, and uses gravity force to pull the weight. When the weight is out of aircraft, parachute lowers them down. The third one is Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES), can carry up to 38000 pounds is pulled from the aircraft through the use of large cargo parachutes. The load then slides down to a stop. (Raphel, 2001, p. 2) 3. Wings and Fuel Tanks: The four main fuel tanks and two auxiliary tanks are employed on full cantilever wing. Two other external ones are given under the wings which make the accumulated capacity of C-130 fuel tank of about 9530 gallons. (Raphel, 2001, p. 3) 4. Landing Gear: The gear permits the aircraft to operate on rough and unimproved runways. The modified version of the tri-cycle type landing gear encompasses of dual nose gear wheels and tandem. (Raphel, 2001, p. 3) 5. Electrical System: The electrical system differs in different models of C-130A. Some uses Engine driven generator system while other using the Air Turbine Motor system. 6. Hydraulic System: The Hydraulic system is used to maintain a constant pressure while being in the zero or negative gravity. There exists four pumps that are engine driven and they supply pressure of 3000 psi to the utility and booster system of the aircraft. For the process an electric AC motor driven pump with a hand pump is used. (Raphel, 2001, p. 3) MODEL TYPES: C-130A MODEL: The C-130A were started being delivered in the year 1956 and were named as A-Models of the aircraft. The first of them were delivered to the 463d Troop Carrier Wing at Ardmore AFB, Oklahoma and the 314th Troop Carrier Wing at Sewart AFB, Tennessee. Other was being assigned to the 322d Air Division in Europe and the 315th Air Division in the Far East. Then there were introduced modified forms of aircraft with improves intelligence and were delivered to Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany. Also the modified versions of RC-130As were being given to MATS (Military Air Transport Service). (James, 2000, p. 2) The A-model continued to be served as the finest aircraft through the Vietnam War and became operational with TAC (Tactical Air Command). The military of Japan performed a high number of operations in multiple missions such as BLIND BAT and FACT SHEET mission. The Honduran are still flying one of the five A model. (James, 2000, p. 2) C-130B MODEL: The C-130A was modified with some additional features and characteristics were being added to it and were named as C-130B aircraft model. It was incorporated with increase fuel capacity in auxiliary tanks and an AC electrical system. This system's distinguished feature from that of C-130A were four bladed Hartzell propellers. (James, 2000, p. 3) C-130B models of aircraft began to replace the C-130A starting with the 314th Troop Carrier Wing and 463rd Troop Carrier Wing. A-models and B-models were assigned to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guards units. Under the Sun Valley program there were thirteen aircraft models assigned and operated. United Nations Navy also incorporated their system with skis equipment attached with the model and these were having some different features and were named as C-130B-II. (James, 2000, p. 3) C-130E MODEL: The aircraft model C-130E began to start in the year of 1962 and remained in service for Military Air Transport Service for a long time period. The basic distinct features in this model as compared to the C-130B model include the installation of external fuel tanks and more powerful Allison. Also it had some structural improvements and up gradations such as a higher gross weight. Then there were introduced C-130F and were consumed by the United Nations Marine Corps (USMC). They were developed with a removable stainless fuel tank which was carried inside the cargo. Then comes the C-130G model which was designed to be of higher structural strength having a little more higher gross weight operation. (James, 2000, p. 3) C-130H MODEL: With some minor improvements and changes in the structure and design, C-130H was introduced. They had updated Allison T56-A-15 turboprops, updated avionics and restructured wiring of the external structure. This new designed model was extensively used by the USAF (United States Air Force). It also worked well and long for a number of other air forces. The first delivery of the design was made to RNZAF. Initial deliveries began in 1964 and continued to be in the phase of production till 1996. An improved version of the aircraft was introduced in 1974 known as HC-130H. It was in use for the United States Coast Guards and served the following purposes: Drug interdiction. Illegal migrant entrance. Long range search and rescue. Homeland security and logistics. (James, 2000, p. 4) Further improvements in C-130H was described as C-130H3 from 1992-1996. The improvements include the addition of the following: Partial glass cockpit. Night vision device. Improved electrical system. More capable color radar APN-241. The electrical system was improved using the Bus Switching Units to provide a way towards clear power to the upgraded parts of the system. (James, 2000, p. 4) C-130K MODEL: Also known as the Hercules C.1, the model C-130K was a model used for export to UK. It was known by the Royal Air Force (RAF). It is new and improved version of original Hercules and had an added advantage of heavily modified system. A singly C-130K model aircraft was bought by the Met Office for its use of Meteorological Research Flight. This was then improved by adding the long red and white striped atmospheric probe with weather radar in it. This was its main distinction from the original one. (James, 2000, p. 4) This model was named to be Snoopy and was withdrawn in 2001. It was then modified by Marshall of Cambridge. The C-130K model aircraft if most commonly used for parachute drops by the Royal Air Force Falcons. It was then again modified and was being given to the Austrian Air Force in the year 2002. (James, 2000, p. 4) HC-130 N & P: The Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard were the main consumers and buyers of HC-130 N & P. It was mainly used for the following purposes: Aerial refueling of rescue helicopters. Survival equipments. They were used for combat SAR missions specifically. (James, 2000, p. 5) The C-130R and the C-130T model are the ones modified with the external fuel tanks and were used by the United Nations Navy and the United Nations Marine Corps. The C-130T has a number of improvements over the model of C-130R. Above all it is a complete night vision system. The versions sued by United Nations Marine Corps (USMC) are KC-130R or KC-130T which are fully equipped with refueling pods and pylons. (James, 2000, p. 5) LOCKHEED L-100 (L-382): This model of Lockheed L-100 is a civilian alternative. It would not be equipped with the military tanks and pylon tanks as in the other designs of aircraft. The L-100 aircraft also extends into two different designs L-100-20 L-100-30 L-100-20 is stretched by 8.3feet (2.5m) while the other one L-100-30 is stretched at 15 feet (4.6 m). However the model L-100 was not seen and even not today viewed in market. It was not widely used in the civilian market. (James, 2000, p. 5) NEXT GENERATION OF C-130J: Replacing the previous models and with all the improvements and advancement the latest version or the design model of C-130 aircraft was introduced to be named as C-130J. This is the most latest and recent version of the models. The main distinct advantages associated with this model include the following: It has lowered down the manpower requirements. It has also cut down the operating and support costs. It also provides the complete total life cycle cost savings in comparison with the prior models of aircraft. The C-130J model climbs higher and faster than the other models. It has increased usable space in the cargo compartment. It flies at a higher cruise speed ever. (Posner, 2000, p. 5) The internal up gradation of the newly designed system include the following: Include liquid crystal display and head-up displays. Also have a display of digital moving map. Encompasses of the dual inertial navigation system. New turboprop engines. Fully integrated defensive systems. Digital auto pilot facility introduced. Low power color radar. Improved fuel usage and capacity. Environmental security system. Ice protection system. Enhanced cargo compartment. (Posner, 2000, p. 5) This is the latest version that has been introduced in the market till today. References Boyne, Walter J. (2008) http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.aspfsID=92 Accessed April 28, 2009 James, William, (2000). http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/C-130_Hercules Accessed April 28, 2009 Neely, Mike, (2002). http://www.theaviationzone.com/factsheets/c130.asp Accessed April 28, 2009 Posner, Paul, (2000). http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/air/cargo/c130.html Accessed April 28, 2009 Raphel, (2001). http://www.thaitechnics.com/aircraft/c130.html Accessed April 28, 2009 Stokes, James, (2000). http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/c-130_hercules.pl Accessed April 28, 2009 Read More