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Robert Podboy
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Lockheed to produce the twin-engine Hercules.

The L-400 to share Hercules production line.

Soon nations and airlines around the world will be able to replace their older and smaller cargo aircraft with a new cargo plane that is ideal for short and medium range routes. It’s the twin-engine Hercules, the L-400. It cuts costs with two engines, but it has a big cargo compartment proven by over 50 Hercules operators around the world, the cargo compartment with the perfect shape and perfect size, the cargo compartment carries fully assembled bulldozers and trucks.

The L-400 will carry 10.200 kg for 925 km. or 6.800 kg for 2.500 km. It will be certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

It has more than 90% parts commonality with the four engine models of Hercules. That also cuts costs. Moreover, it means that worldwide logistics system for the L-400 Twin Hercules is already in operation. That cuts more costs.

The twin engine L-400 needs a crew of only two. That’s another way it cuts costs.Its thrifty turboprop engines use less fuel than the best fanjet engines, and that saves money year after year.

The L-400 twin-engine Hercules. It’s the new cargo plane without the high cost of a new plane. And it will be rolling down the Lockheed-Georgia production line late in 1982.

Lockheed L-400 Hercules 

The perfect shape

Background: The Lockheed L-400 was designed to serve the needs of a large number of Hercules operators for an economical airlifter for shorter range, lower payload missions. Studies began in the late 1970s. Several options—including a new aircraft—were considered, but a twin-engine derivative of the Hercules was seen as the most   logical. The L-400, which would have been built on the C-130 assembly line in Marietta, Georgia, was expected to offer more than ninety percent spares, facilities, mission equipment, and support services commonality with the C-130. The program was officially launched in January 1980 with first flight expected by 1982 and, after FAA certification, delivery to the first customer by 1983. However, the market never developed and the program was shelved by the mid-1980s.

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/gallery_slideshow.html?item_id=4614

 

 


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