Need a answer on a C-130

DaPhantom · 08-16-2012, 12:58 AM

While on google I was checking out airports and stopped to look at Minneapolis & St Paul, then up to the US ANG field, but what caught my eye was when looking at the outside at the collection of planes they had a C-130 with 3 engine blades and not the 4.

What gives

Antonov225 · 08-16-2012, 02:42 AM

Early A model C-130s had only 3 bladed Allison T56s, although I've seen a photo of an AFRES C-130A active in the '80s in the European 1 camouflage, with four bladed props, minus the radar nose.

Adrian · 08-16-2012, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonov225

Early A model C-130s had only 3 bladed Allison T56s, although I've seen a photo of an AFRES C-130A active in the '80s in the European 1 camouflage, with four bladed props, minus the radar nose.

Nearly all C-130As remaining in service in the '80s were upgraded, and their 'Roman noses' replaced with the standard nose radome and were re-engined with four-bladed props.

wu6fiend · 08-16-2012, 10:55 PM

I was looking at the latest version, the C-130J Super Hercules, at the Abbotsford Air Show this weekend. Strange to see its 6 bladed propellers.

SgtMoody · 08-17-2012, 02:33 AM

Those C-130As look pretty cute with their 'roman' noses. For me the 6 blade design for the C-130J makes it look sexy!

Prestwick Pioneer · 08-18-2012, 07:46 AM

The early C-130's had the Curtiss Wright props and indeed were three bladed. Apparently the early and much lighter hercs were far more sporty. Am I right in thnking the later 4 blade props are by AeroProducts? Or was there a choice of 2 as per the A501 on the Electra?

RE: The early model with Romal Noses. There was one at a Greenham Common tattoo in the early 1980s and this indeed had 4 bladed props and roman nose. The last USAF 130A I saw was as Adrian says refitted with the now standard radome.

There are (allegedly) some vibration issues with the 130Js (nowhere near as bad as the famous C-133 though!!).

I think the C-130A looked mad with its roman nose.