Airod has completed its first fuselage stretch of a Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules for the Malaysian air force, with technical assistance from the US manufacturer.
Following delivery of the aircraft on 23 April, the Malaysian maintenance and modification specialist has been certificated by Lockheed Martin as an authorised C-130 stretch-modification centre. The Malaysian government has signed a contract for a second aircraft to be lengthened, and holds options for two more.
The stretch involves adding a 2.5m (100in) fuselage plug forward of the wing plus a 2m aft extension, raising the cargo hold volume by around 33%. Maximum gross weight is increased by 1,700kg (3,770lb).
Kuala Lumpur-based company Airod is already an authorisedC-130 service, tanker modification and landing-gear repair and overhaul centre.
Source: Flight International
