Lockheed L-100 Hercules

Lockheed · USA · first flew 1964 · transport aircraft

The L-100 is the civil-certified export version of the C-130 Hercules, stripped of military systems and certificated for commercial cargo operations.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	4 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	34.37 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Civilian registration and airline livery on what is otherwise an H-model Hercules airframe
No military defensive systems, chaff/flare dispensers, or dorsal antenna arrays
Often seen with cargo doors open on ramp; used by freight operators in remote/bush environments

Civilian colour scheme on Hercules airframe; absence of military antennae, gun mounts, or ESM pods; the L-100-30 is notably longer-fuselaged than the standard military H.

Specifications

The Lockheed L-100 Hercules has a length of 34.37 m (113 ft).
It has a wingspan of 40.4 m (133 ft).
Its maximum speed is 620 km/h (385 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Lockheed flew the Model 382 prototype in 1964 and certificated the L-100 in 1965; the stretched L-100-30 (equivalent to the C-130H-30) became the standard cargo variant used by operators such as Southern Air Transport and Safair.

Variants

The L-100-20 added a 2.54 m plug; the L-100-30 added a further 2.03 m stretch for maximum cargo volume.

Where you'll see it

Widely used in African and Middle Eastern logistics, oil-field support, and humanitarian operations where runway length and cargo ramp access are at a premium.

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