C-130 L-400 - The Twin Engine "Half Hercules?"

TinWing

TinWing

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The L-400 was apparently an active project at the same time the twin engine L-1011 "Bi-Star" variant was being marketed, roughtly in about 1978. An entry appears in the 1978-79 Jane's All the World's Aircraft for both projects.

It is not immediately obvious if the project was soliticed by the USAF, or any other potential customer, but there were many failed tactical airlifter proposals in this era, such as the CASA C-401. Program failures were typically blamed on economic and political factors, although it would appear that the market for sub-C-130 tactical airlifters was very limited.
 

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Another view and a 3-view here from Aviation Week 1977 1-9 :
 

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Of interest the Lockheed Martin Company has wanted to have the L-400 or more modern version included in the ongoing Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) effort for the USAF and US Army. The Army has not allowed it into the competion saying only the CASA (do not recall the nomeclature for the aircraft) and the Alenia C-27 meet the requirements.
 
yasotay said:
Of interest the Lockheed Martin Company has wanted to have the L-400 or more modern version included in the ongoing Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) effort for the USAF and US Army.
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Lockheed Martin's proposal for JCA was the standard-fuselage C-130J, essentially the same aircraft as the KC-130J produced for the US Marine Corps and therefore shorter than the US Air Force's C-130J-30. The US Army (which leads the source selection) rejected the proposal because Lockheed did not have an FAA-approved roadmap to achieve GATM (global air traffic management) capability.
 
Seller's description:
Vintage Lockheed Employee Issue Only Early Version two engine C130, Rare! It is 11 1/2" in length with a 14 1/4" wingspan.A friend of mine's dad was a long time employee of Lockheed and this was given to him. I'm sure it's from the early sixties or so. It is in very good condition except two prongs are broken off each propeller, but since it is wood, it would be easy to fix. It does not take away from this old and rare display piece. Please check out our other items, we gladly combine shipping. Thanks for looking!
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Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lockheed-Employee-Only-Wooden-Early-Version-Two-Engine-C130-Rare-/190733739445?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c689de5b5

Is this legitimate or the work of Asian craftspeople?
 

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DonaldM said:
Is this legitimate or the work of Asian craftspeople?
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This is a "real", vintage model. Pacific Miniatures (Alhambra, CA) made a number of these L-400s for Lockheed, when GALAC was trying to market the design. I've seen these models mostly in house colors. I also have one is U.S. Navy finish, but this is the first time I see an export version (Spain). The stand is probably not original.
 

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DonaldM said:
Were the L-400 models made of wood?
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No, these were resin castings. I estimate Pacific Miniatures stopped using wood around 1960.
Also, sorry about the thumbnail -- attached is the photo I meant to post.
 

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Mini-Me
The Lockheed L-400 was designed to serve the needs of a large number of Hercules operators for an economical airlifter for shorter range, lower payload missions. Studies began in the late 1970s. Several options—including a new aircraft—were considered, but a twin-engine derivative of the Hercules was seen as the most logical. The L-400, which would have been built on the C-130 assembly line in Marietta, Georgia, was expected to offer more than ninety percent spares, facilities, mission equipment, and support services commonality with the C-130/L-100. The program was officially launched in January 1980 with first flight expected by 1982 and, after FAA certification, delivery to the first customer by 1983. However, the market never developed and the program was shelved by the mid 1980s.

Posted: 26 October 2015
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Source: http://www.codeonemagazine.com/gallery_slideshow.html?item_id=4614
 

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Another sample of L-400 model now on eBay:

http://r.ebay.com/ZcBzlP
 

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Lockheed L-400 (twin engine C-130 concept) in Spanish Markings

http://r.ebay.com/ZcBzlP

Background: The Lockheed L-400 was designed to serve the needs of a large number of Hercules operators for an economical airlifter for shorter range, lower payload missions. Studies began in the late 1970s. Several options—including a new aircraft—were considered, but a twin-engine derivative of the Hercules was seen as the most logical. The L-400, which would have been built on the C-130 assembly line in Marietta, Georgia, was expected to offer more than ninety percent spares, facilities, mission equipment, and support services commonality with the C-130. The program was officially launched in January 1980 with first flight expected by 1982 and, after FAA certification, delivery to the first customer by 1983. However, the market never developed and the program was shelved by the mid-1980s.

Model photos on http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1750.msg275933.html#msg275933
 
From; Lockheed C-130 Hercules The World's Favourite Military Transport
 

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Hello evevrybody. That is an old subject, but I hope that people will still be around, especially nowadays, that we have plenty of time to watch this forum! Well, I do an extensive job for a book ( in French, a first) about the good old C130, and I study the side projects that Lockheed started. The L400 twin Herk is on the line, and I look for the supposed caracteristics , performances and equipments of the machine, especially what engines, and what weights? Anyone with the tips?
HG.
 
Lockheed L-400: wing span 36.5 m; tail span 16.1 m; length 10.5 m, height ~11.6 m

The wings were to be L-100 outer panels with 1.37 m (4.5 foot) tip extensions.

Empty weight 23,971 kg (52,847 lbs); max T/O weight 38101 kg (84,000 lbs); payload 10,205 kg (22,500 lbs) over 926 km (500 nm) or 6,804 kg (15,000 lbs) over 2,500 km (1,350 nm)

Powerplant: 2 x 3,422 kW (4,590 shp) Allison 501-D22D turboprops ... although one source lists 4,910 shp (3,660 kW)
 
LowObservable said:
If they launched the project today it would inevitably be nicknamed "Twerk".
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And don't forget, inside Hercules is the word CUL. Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your booty, shake your booty... hopefully that Twerkules won't shake his tail too much, it might die of flutter...

 
Just a few words about the Transall, it was a " Wannabee Hercules but I've just got two engines! no power, no range, no stunt!" the LM 400 would have been rather a " When I grow up, I shall do like Papa... "
 

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