Lockheed Martin LM-100J commercial freighter takes first flight

Lockheed Martin’s LM-100J commercial freighter had a successful first flight, May 25, 2017. (Photo:Todd R. McQueen)

The first Lockheed Martin LM-100J commercial freighter aircraft achieved a milestone with the completion of its first flight at Marietta, Georgia, May 25, 2017.

"I was proud to fly the first flight of our LM-100J. It performed flawlessly, as is typical of our military C 130J new production aircraft," said Wayne Roberts, chief test pilot for the LM-100J program. "This new model will perform many commercial roles in the decades to come, like humanitarian service following natural disasters and others like nuclear accident response, oil spill containment, and firefighting. This aircraft will also enable remote area development such as mining and oil and gas exploration."

This first flight followed the same test flight route over North Georgia and Alabama that is used for all C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The LM-100J will complete initial production flight tests and then begin Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificate update flight test requirements.

"This first flight is a source of pride for Lockheed Martin and serves as a proof-point to the ongoing versatility of the Super Hercules aircraft," said George Shultz, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, and Marietta site general manager.

The LM-100J is the 17th different mission capability developed for the C-130J Super Hercules and it is an updated version of the L-100 cargo aircraft, which Lockheed Martin produced from 1964 to 1992. Lockheed Martin officials submitted a Program Notification Letter to the FAA on Jan. 21, 2014, for a type design update to this aircraft, a civil-certified variant of the C-130J Super Hercules to be marketed as the LM-100J.

The LM-100J will perform as a commercial multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid cargo transport for delivering bulk and oversize cargo, particularly to austere locations. Like its military counterpart, the LM-100J will be able to support multiple missions, ranging from firefighting to medevac to VIP transport.

The LM-100J incorporates technological developments and improvements over the existing L 100s that result from years of C-130J operational experience, including more than 1.5 million fleetwide flight hours.