The second LM-100J has joined Lockheed Martin’s flight test programme for the commercial freighter derivative of the C-130J military transport.
The newly-built aircraft completed a first flight on 11 October from Lockheed’s final assembly plant in Marrietta, Georgia, the company announced eight days later.
The first LM-100J started flying on 25 May to begin Lockheed’s campaign to receive a civil certification of the type from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Lockheed Martin
The addition of the second aircraft “will accelerate our progress to deliver this unique aircraft’s capabilities to civilian operators around the world”, says Wayne Roberts, Lockheed’s chief test pilot for the LM-100J.
Lockheed has announced receiving 25 orders with a total value of $1.6 billion for converted civil freighter.
The LM-100J will follow the C-130’s long heritage in the civil market. Lockheed introduced the civil-certified L-100 cargo aircraft in 1964, as a derivative of the C-130E. Lockheed delivered more than 100 L-100s to commercial operators working in some of the world’s most remote and rugged areas, including Arctic iceshelves, African deserts and South American jungles.
Although the military C-130J was introduced more than 20 years ago, Lockheed waited until 2014 before launching development of the LM-100J derivative.
Externally, the most visible difference between the C-130J and LM-100J is the absence of windows at the feet of the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit of the commercial derivative. The LM-100J also lacks certain features of the military version, such as the capability to lower the cargo ramp door in flight.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
