C-130 News: ANG/AFRC Test Center demonstrates upgraded C-130 engines

[casey]

The Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center conducted a demonstration flight showcasing engine upgrades to the C-130H aircraft here, October 20.

This upgrade, to the Rolls-Royce T56 Series 3.5 engine, has already been approved for the LC-130s used by the New York Air National Guard in support of the National Science Foundation, and now the ANG is evaluating rolling out the upgrade to the rest of its legacy C-130H fleet.

ANG Director Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice lauded the new engine's improvements in performance and reliability.

"The Series 3.5 engine upgrade certainly increased the performance on time and fuel flow and altitude," said Rice. "So it's a great improvement as well for the capability and reliability of the engine from a maintenance standpoint. It was really impressive."

The demonstration aircraft, assigned to the Wyoming ANG, will be used in an operational utility evaluation in order to inform the decision to push the Series 3.5 engines to the rest of the ANG's C-130H fleet.

"We're confident right now that we'll see in excess of 12 percent fuel savings and upwards of 25 percent increased time on wing, which will reduce maintenance time," said Col. Kevin Campbell, ANG director of Plans and Requirements. "Those are substantial, and would provide a fairly rapid return on investment. This upgrade would pay for itself; the real question is 'how fast?' We're pretty excited about it and think we're going to hit it at about the 5 year mark.

Source: http://www.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123476251

 

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[casey]

The first US Air Force C-130H aircraft to be fully equipped with the Rolls-Royce T56 Series 3.5 engine upgrade has completed its first flight on the 1st of December 2016.

Rolls-Royce stated that the preliminary flight data showed fuel efficiency improved by approximately 12% and turbine temperatures were more than 100 degrees Celsius lower. The company said that reduced turbine temperatures increase parts life and lower operating costs significantly.

The C-130H aircraft flown by the Wyoming Air National Guard (ANG) completed its first flight with four T56 Series 3.5 engines at the 153rd Airlift Wing at Cheyenne, Wyoming (USA), Regional Airport.

The demonstration aircraft, assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard, will be used in an operational utility evaluation in order to inform the decision to push the Series 3.5 engines to the rest of the ANG’s C-130H fleet.

The National Science Foundation/New York State Air National Guard LC-130H “ski bird” fleet will be among the first USAF C-130 aircraft to receive the T56 Series 3.5 engine upgrades in support of Operation Deep Freeze polar operations.

Source: https://www.aerotime.aero/en/military/15709-usaf-c-130-upgraded-with-rolls-royce-t56-series-3-5