U.S. Air Force C-130 flies with Rolls-Royce T56 engine upgrade

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The first U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft equipped with a Rolls-Royce T56 series 3.5 engine upgrade completed its first flight.

After the flight concluded, Rolls-Royce says the plane demonstrated improved fuel efficiency in addition to lower operating temperatures and high-altitude performance. The company noted a fuel efficiency increase of approximately 12 percent. Turbine temperatures were over 100 degrees Celsius lower.

"The Series 3.5 engine upgrade certainly increased the performance on time and fuel flow and altitude," Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice said in a press release. "So it's a great improvement as well for the capability and reliability of the engine from a maintenance standpoint. It was really impressive."

Air National Guard Plans and Requirements director Col. Kevin Campbell says the numbers are likely to climb higher in the future.

"We're confident right now that we'll see in excess of 12 percent fuel savings and upwards of 25 percent increased time on wing, which will reduce maintenance time," he said. "Those are substantial, and would provide a fairly rapid return on investment."

The Lockheed Martin-made C-130 Hercules is a tactical airlifter used to transport troops, cargo, and other supporting equipment to hostile mission areas. The aircraft is capable of dropping up to 42,000 pounds of airdrop payloads.