Circules

by "Jcarr" (jcarr)
Published 06/16/2017 at 12:36

Tags: Planelopnik
STARS: 2

The first flight of the first Lockheed L-100, the commercial version of the C-130 Hercules airlifter, was memorable, and also very l-o-n-g. On 20 April 1964, company Chief Production Pilot Joe Garrett took off from the Lockheed facility in Marietta, Georgia, and landed the aircraft (named One World Hercules, civil registered N1130E) on the same runway an incredible 25 hours and 1 minute later. The crew flew all but 36 minutes of the flight with the two outboard engines shut down, as shown here. The milestone flight, which consisted of a racetrack patter over Georgia and Alabama, was made at what the company called a “loitering speed” 130 mph. The L-100 was developed from the C-130E and certified by the FAA as a commercial freighter on 16 February 1965. The L-100 demonstrator was later taken on a world tour and was delivered to Alaska Airlines.

From Lockheed Martin’s Flickr.

Replies (12)

"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
06/16/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 1

Still trucking along today, 50+ years later.

"Spoon!" (mechaphile)
06/16/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 2

Yep, listening to one going through engine run testing up by our maintenance hangars right now. Though we are finally converting to C17s here at Pittsburgh over the next two years.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/16/2017 at 15:22, STARS: 1

Any word on how far it flew? Also, Lockheed is making a new civilian version of the C-130J, the LM-100J.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/LM-100J.html

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Overly dramatic promo video of L-100J maiden flight.

"Jcarr" (jcarr)
06/16/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 1

I can only guess based on the claim that the flight was spent at 130 mph x 25 hours = 3250 miles.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/16/2017 at 15:33, STARS: 0

It never occurred to me to do the math..... :/

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/16/2017 at 15:34, STARS: 0

Wiki gives the range of the C-130H as 2,360 miles, which makes that a pretty impressive number.

"Jcarr" (jcarr)
06/16/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 1

Yeah, I’m sure running only 2 engines for most of the flight helped quite a bit.

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/16/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 3

I’m assuming it was completely empty of cargo, too. There’s range, and then there’s useful range.

"user314" (user314)
06/16/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 0

Hopefully this will finally mean the end of the biennial ‘will they/won’t they’ on closing the 911th.

"Spoon!" (mechaphile)
06/16/2017 at 17:38, STARS: 1

Pretty much a given now, though Youngstown may need to start worrying.

"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
06/16/2017 at 21:40, STARS: 0

is this going to be strictly a cargo varient?

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
06/16/2017 at 22:11, STARS: 0

That I don’t know. I posted a link from Lockheed to Jcarr somewhere in this thread. It might explain there.