Lockheed Martin is hoping finally to complete type certification and begin deliveries of the first C-130J Hercules transport once it has completed critical ice shape testing on the aircraft. Certification will end the technical problems which have delayed deliveries to customers by nearly two years.
The US manufacturer claims successful testing of the C-130J's de-icing system is the "biggest hurdle" remaining to be overcome before it can receive US Federal Aviation Administration certification of the turboprop transport. Deliveries to the Royal Air Force, the launch customer, are now expected in September, even though the UK does not require FAA certification of the aircraft.
Re-engineing the C-130 with new Allison AE2100D turboprops and fitting a new bleed air system has meant that it "-needs to be demonstrated to the FAA to show that [the de-icing system] still meets requirements", says Lyle Schaeffer, Lockheed Martin chief experimental test pilot.
"It is very difficult to find natural ice this time of year. The FAA has very specific requirements in terms of ice size, particle density and moisture," adds Schaeffer.
Lockheed Martin also says that civil certification of the aircraft has entailed leaving certain operational military equipment off the aircraft until the airworthiness process is completed.
Operational testing and evaluation also needs to be further refined, although much of this will be left to individual users to complete. Lockheed Martin has finalised one test of the RAF C-130J's inflight refuelling system, but aircraft installation and acceptance trials will be conducted in the UK by Marshall Aerospace.
Earlier problems, including software integration, have put the first planned deliveries to the RAF and Royal Australian Air Force almost two years behind schedule. Lockheed Martin says it has completed 30 production aircraft and has up to 14 active sales proposals.
The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding to sell eight ex-RAF C-130Ks to Angola and expects to sign a second agreement with an Eastern European country in July.
Source: Flight International
