If one looks at the Lockheed Martin web site, one finds that it refers to the USAF fact sheet for the performance of the C-130 & its variants. Looking at the fact sheet, there are a few typos (e.g. the use of the metric equivalent of 123 inches as the metric equivalent of 119 inches), & some puzzling numbers.
The C-130J-30 appears to fly significantly further (30%) than the lighter basic C-130J, with the same payload. I can’t find any mention anywhere on the fact sheet, or elsewhere, about extra fuel in the -30, & I can’t think of an aerodynamic reason for this phenomenon. Can anyone explain it?
The C-130J-30 also appears to be able to take off over 4 tons heavier than the basic C-130J, with the same wing & engines.
Despite the -30 & basic model range differences already mentioned, rather small differences in all up weight caused by fairly small differences in payload cause large differences in range, according to the fact sheet. Reducing payload by less than 3% (& all up weight by a bit over 1%) is said to improve range by 25% (1700 to 2100 nautical miles) for the -30, but the same 1000 lb payload reduction increases range by half as much for the basic C-130J (1600 to 1800 nautical miles).
Can anyone shed light on these numbers?
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March 2, 2015 at 8:29 am