News

Robins gets peek at unique C-130H3

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  C-130 maintainers at Robins got a look last week at a unique version of the venerated cargo plane.

The Wyoming Air National Guard flew in the C-130H3, which is one of only two that has a new 8-blade propeller on each of its four engines. Most C-130s are powered by 4-blade propeller units.

The propeller was developed to help C-130s on skids get off the ice while resupplying scientists working in the Arctic and Antarctica, said retired colonel Manny Macias, a consultant for Hamilton Sundstrand, the company that makes the propellers.

The 8-blade propellers give the plane more thrust, which helps the plane compensate for the resistance that the ice puts on the skids.

However, the Air Force is now looking at the propellers for other uses, including Special Operations. The crew made the stop at Robins after visiting Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field in Florida. Special Ops finds the 8-blade configuration especially attractive because the plane is much quieter, said Mr. Macias.

The plane's crew gave the propellers rave reviews.

Col. Dennis Grunstad, commander of the 153rd Airlift Wing, flew the plane into Robins.

"If we could afford it for the whole fleet, I think it would be a significant upgrade," he said.

In a time of serious belt-tightening in the Air Force, the cost might be the biggest impediment to the propellers getting put to widespread use. Mr. Macias said equipping a C-130 with the propellers costs about $2 million.

But the propellers come with several advantages.

The additional thrust makes the planes more fuel efficient, Col. Grunstad said, and the planes have significantly less vibration.

The blades are made of Kevlar, compared to the aluminum on standard C-130 blades. Mr. Macias said that means the blades will last longer. Also, he said, with the current C-130 propellers the entire propeller unit must be removed if a blade must be repaired or replaced, but with the 8-blade propeller a blade can be removed individually.

Those who work on the C-130 at Robins came out to examine the plane while it was refueling.

"It looks different, that's for sure," said C-130 Chief Engineer Randy Ivey.

In addition to its military duties, the Wyoming ANG also uses C-130s in wildfire work. The one brought in last week has been used in firefighting, but not since it has had the new propellers installed.

However, crew members said additional thrust will aid in firefighting because the planes fly at maximum load, and fly as low as 150 feet when dropping fire retardant.

Capt. K.C. Young, a C-130 pilot in the Wyoming ANG, has about five hours in the plane with the 8-blade propellers.

"It's incredible," he said. "It's like flying a whole new aircraft."

With over 50 years in production, the C-130 has been in continuous production longer than any other military aircraft.