Lockheed Martin set to deliver India's first C-130J

Flight Global ^ | 12/6/2010 | Craig Hoyle

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Indian air force's first of six Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports will be handed over to the US Air Force on 16 December, ahead of its delivery to the nation in late January.

To be based as Hindon air base, New Delhi's first US-built military aircraft will make its public debut at the Aero India air show in Bangalore in early February, says Abhay Paranjape, Lockheed's director, C-130J India.

India's first three stretched-fuselage Hercules are involved in pre-delivery testing at Lockheed's Marietta site in Georgia, with the second to also be signed over to the USAF during December and flown to Hindon in late February. The nation's other three aircraft are on the final assembly line in Marietta

[MarineBrat]

New Delhi's first US-built military aircraft will make its public debut at the Aero India air show in Bangalore in early February

Hope they give them a nice JATO take off!

[stefanbatory]

they’re smart to develop a stable of transport workhorses...without them, the pointy end of the spear gets dull very very quickly...

[GonzoGOP]

What is the worlds record for an aircraft to be in production. The C-130 first flew in 1954 and they are still building them 56 years later. Humans have only been flying for 107 years. And they have been building C-130s for more than half that time.

[spetznaz]

Great choice for India.