1772. The Lockheed HTTB-STOL Performance Features

Paper

Abstract

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is truly a remarkable airplane. In continuous production for more than 30 years, over 1800 have been delivered to 55 different nations throughout the world, including over 1000 to various branches of the US government. Basically just a flying truck, they can be used for almost anything, form routine delivery of people or supplies to more exotic missions such as fire fighting and satellite retrieval. Sometime, eventually, a replacement will be needed. So to help prepare for that day, one of these aircraft, an L100-20 (a commercial version with a 100 inch fuselage stretch) was repurchased by Lockheed-Georgia to serve as a testbed for new technology for future airlifters – a High Technology Test Bed (HTTB). One important aspect of this new technology will be Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) performance. A 1500-foot runway length will be a requirement for the next generation of tactical cargo aircraft. This is significantly better than the standard C-130, and substantial changes are required to generate additional lift. Still more changes are required to improve low speed stability and control. This paper defines these changes and gives the performance improvements and associated weight penalties. The HTTB program is extensive, testing a number of other advanced systems unrelated to STOL. A program overview is contained in SAWE Paper No. 1786, by C. M. Campbell.