Lockheed L-100 Hercules

The Lockheed L100 Hercules is the civilian variant of the prolific C130 military transport aircraft made by the Lockheed Corporation. Its first flight occurred in 1964. Longer L10020 and L10030 versions were developed. L100 production ended in 1992 with 114 aircraft delivered.

Development
In 1959, Pan American World Airways ordered 12 of Lockheed's GL207 Super Hercules to be delivered by 1962, to be powered by four 6,000 eshp Allison T61 turboprops. The Super Hercules was to be 23 ft longer than the C130B; a variant powered by 6,445 RollsRoyce Tynes and a jet-powered variant with four Pratt & Whitney JT3D11 turbofans were also under development. Both Pan American and Slick Airways (which had ordered six) cancelled their orders and the other variants did not evolve past design studies.

Lockheed decided to produce a commercial variant based on a de-militarised version of the C130E Hercules. The prototype L100 (registered N1130E) first flew on 20 April 1964 when it carried out a 1-hour, 25-minute flight. The type certificate was awarded on 16 February 1965. Twenty-one production aircraft were then built with the first delivery to Continental Air Services on 30 September 1965.

Slow sales led to the development of two new, longer versions, the L10020 and L10030, both of which were larger and more economical than the original model. Deliveries totaled 114 aircraft, with production ending in 1992. Several L-100-20 aircraft were operated on scheduled freight flights by Delta Airlines between 1968 and 1973.

An updated civilian version of the Lockheed Martin C-130J30 Super Hercules was under development, but the program was placed on hold indefinitely in 2000 to focus on military development and production.

Variants
Civilian variants are equivalent to the C130E model without pylon tanks or military equipment.
 * L100 (Model 382)
 * One prototype powered by four Allison 501D22s and first flown in 1964


 * L100 (Model 382B)
 * Production variant


 * L10020 (Model 382E and Model 382F)
 * Stretched variant certified in 1968 with a new 5 ft section forward of the wing and 3 ft section aft of the wing.


 * L10030 (Model 382G)
 * A further stretched variant with an addition 6 ft fuselage section.

Civilian operators
In July 2009 a total of 36 Lockheed L100 Hercules aircraft were in commercial service. Operators include Safair (9), Lynden Air Cargo (6), Transafrik (5), Libyan Arab Air Cargo (3), First Air (2), and other operators with fewer numbers of the type.

Military operators
In January 2009, 35 Lockheed L100s were in use with military operators, including:
 * Indonesian Air Force (10 ordered, 8 current with 6 in service)
 * Philippine Air Force (4)
 * Libyan Air Force (5)
 * Algerian Air Force (3)
 * Ecuadorian Air Force (1)
 * Kuwait Air Force (3 – L10030)
 * Peruvian Air Force (3)
 * Royal Saudi Air Force (3 L10030 for Royal Flight)

Other users with fewer aircraft.


 * Gabon Air Force (2 – 1 L10020 and 1 L10030)
 * United Arab Emirates Air Force (1 – L10030)
 * Argentine Air Force (1 – L10030 – LVAPW, later TC100)
 * Free Libyan Air Force (1 L-100 following Libyan civil war)

Accidents and incidents

 * On December 24, 1968, an Interior Airways L100, registration N760AL, crashed at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska after the pilot failed to go-around, killing two of four on board.
 * On October 10, 1970, a Saturn Airways L10020, registration N9248R, crashed short of the runway near Fort Dix due to crew disorientation, killing all three on board.
 * On May 23, 1974, a Saturn Airways L10030 operating as Flight 14, broke up in flight due to metal fatigue and crashed near Springfield, Illinois, killing all four on board.
 * On October 27, 1974, an Alaska International Air L100, registration N102AK, crashed near Old Man's Camp, Alaska, after a wing separated in flight, killing all four on board.
 * On November 21, 1976, a Pacific Western Airlines L10020, registration CFPWX, crashed near Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, after losing a wing while landing, killing five of six on board.
 * On May 16, 1981, a TAAG Angola Airlines L10020, registration D2EAS, was shot down by a missile and crashed near Menongue, Angola, killing all four on board.
 * On October 4, 1986, a Southern Air Transport L10030 operating as Flight 15, crashed at Kelly AFB after the elevator was raised using an incorrect device; the device lodged in the flight controls, causing a loss of control on takeoff; all three on board died.
 * On April 8, 1987, a Southern Air Transport L10030, registration N517SJ, crashed on landing at Travis AFB due to engine problems caused by improper maintenance as well as pilot error, killing all five on board. The aircraft was operating a test flight as Flight 517.
 * On March 16, 1991, a Transafrik L10030, registration CP1564, was shot down by a missile while at 17,000 feet, killing all nine on board.
 * On September 17, 1991, an Ethiopian Airlines L10030, registration ETAJL, crashed into a mountain in Djibouti due to crew error, killing all four on board.
 * On September 23, 1994, a Heavylift Cargo Service L10030, PKPLV leased from Pelita Air Service, crashed off Kai Tak International Airport after the number four propeller oversped, killing six of 12 on board.
 * On December 26, 1998, a UN L10030, leased from Transafrik and operating as Flight 806, crashed in dense jungle at Vila Nova, Angola, killing all 14 on board.
 * On January 2, 1999, a UN L10030, registration D2EHD and leased from Transafrik, was shot down and crashed 50 mi north of Huambo, Angola, killing all nine on board.
 * On August 13, 2006, an Air Algérie L10030 operating as Flight 2208, crashed near Piacenza, Italy due to autopilot failure, killing all three on board.
 * On October 12, 2010, a National Air Cargo L10020, leased from Transafrik and operating as Flight 662, crashed 19 mi east of Kabul Airport, killing all eight on board.