With a large number of Lockheed Martin C-130s in service around the world facing fatigue problems, US technical services firm MacAulay-Brown has formed a team to refurbish centre wing boxes for foreign military operators of the Hercules.
Offering a solution originally developed to rewing US Air Force C-130As, Dayton, Ohio-based MacB has teamed with TIMCO Aviation Services and Kellstrom Defense Aerospace and begun work on its first wing box ahead of securing a customer.
Greensboro, North Carolina-based TIMCO will provide the modification facilities and touch labour. Kellstrom will supply the new material used in the refurbishment, during which 90% of the wing is removed and replaced, says MacB's Ted Norman.
Talks are under way with several countries, Norman says, with the first wing expected to be available for installation by January. The refurbishment will extend service life by 35,000h and eliminate recurring fatigue inspections or flight restrictions.
Canada's L-3 Spar, which is also offering a centre wing box relife programme, sees a market to upgrade 700 C-130s, with the bulk of the work emerging in 2010-11 as Vietnam-era Hercules encounter problems (Flight International, 3-9 April).
Source: Flight International
