Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce are working to improve the reliability of the AE2100D3 turboprops on the UK Royal Air Force's C-130J Hercules transports following a spate of turbine failures that has required the RAF to swap engines from airframe to airframe to maintain required operations.
The two companies have implemented a solution to correct excessive blade wear in the AE2100 turbine, which is being incorporated as the engines are rotated through the engine maintenance depot at RAF Lynham.
The RAF operates 25 C-130Js - 10 stretched Hercules C4s and 15 Hercules C5s - alongside 26 older Hercules C1/C3s.
Lockheed Martin says: "The high operational tempo sustained by RAF C-130Js during Operation Iraqi Freedom highlighted a turbine blade wear issue."
Source: Flight International
