Photo: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin has confirmed a major advancement in the structural longevity of its C-130J Super Hercules, following a wing durability testing programme that significantly exceeded expectations. The results validated the strength of the aircraft’s centre wing box and confirmed an...
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Lockheed Martin has confirmed a major advancement in the structural longevity of its C-130J Super Hercules, following a wing durability testing programme that significantly exceeded expectations. The results validated the strength of the aircraft’s centre wing box and confirmed an extended wing life far beyond earlier estimates.
The recent testing, conducted with support from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force, demonstrated a substantial increase in service life—from an estimated 90,000 Equivalent Flight Hours (EFH) to 122,500 EFH. This nearly doubles the original design specification and represents a 36% increase over previous projections.
Since 2009, all new-production C-130J aircraft have been equipped with an Enhanced Service Life (ESL) centre wing box, designed to extend the operational life well beyond the 45,000 EFH of the original design. The centre wing box forms the mounting surface for the wings and is critical to the aircraft’s structural integrity.
The durability testing involved a C-130 centre fuselage, ESL centre wing, and two outer wings, with simulated loading to replicate decades of flight in operational environments. After several years of testing, the results confirmed the ESL wing’s ability to withstand extreme stress conditions while maintaining structural performance.
“With this groundbreaking test result, we're redefining the boundaries of what's possible for the C-130J Super Hercules,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “Already proven in challenging operational environments, the structural durability test validated the C-130J as the standard for exceptional reliability, safety and excellence in any environment. It is built to deliver performance and built to last.”
The C-130J Super Hercules is currently operated by 28 customers across 23 countries. More than 560 units have been delivered to date, with the global fleet surpassing three million flight hours and receiving certification from over 20 airworthiness authorities.
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