Earlier this year an enlarged version of the C 130 was announced to, pressumably , counter the A400M and the AN70, does anyone in the Flight International organisation know the current status of this version of the ubiquious C 130?
A4K
Hello A4K,I did some research on the C-130XL and there is no mention of this concept on the Lockheed Martin website at all. The XL was first announced in 2008 as a concept and that seem to be what it still is.
Here is the FG Dewline Meet the C-130XL post from 2008
Best regards
Flyvertosset
Gravity always wins!
Gidday Flyvertosset,
Thanks for the answer it confirms my thoughts.
But, as Boeing Lockheed have got a captive worldwide market for its currents versions of the C-130, I would doubt if Boeing would be standing still with regard to a larger version i.e. bigger diameter fuselage, bigger engines etc so as it can cope with the ever increasing size and weight of military equipment which the A400M can carry.
I cannot imagine, when taking into account the animosity that exists between AirBus and, Boeing that Boeing would allow the A400M to capture a potentually captive market..
If Boeing don't compete the only competitor to the A400M would be AN70.
Hello A4K,
I agree with your point about the AN-70. Here is another take from "Think Defence":
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2012/09/the-airbus-a400m-atlas-part-5-say-hello-to-my-little-brother/
Hi flyvertosset,
When you also take into account the Embraer G-390, the joint Indian and Russian MPA and possibly the Kawasaki XC-2 there is in fact plenty of competition in all sizes of military transport albeit the 3 I refer to which are turbofan powered against the AN 70, the A400m plus all the "little brothers" which are powered by turboprops which makes them more suitable for rough field operations .
I note that there is a DH Caribou operating in Afghanistan doing low level supply drops to isolated Allied forward bases. so there is still a place for simple and relatively cheap to operate piston engined powered transport aircraft
Regards
Hey A4K,
The Caribou and the Buffalo are now owned by Viking Air in my home base of Victoria BC. They have proposed to modernize the Buffalo which is still being used by the RCAF as a SAR aircraft. Would be nice to see the Caribou resurrected again, there is no mud in the world that can stop that from landing :-)).
I know we are going off the subject matter a bit, so this is about competition in military transports.
Take a look here at a 2009 Viking statement:
http://www.vikingair.com/uploadedFiles/News/News_Item/DHC-5NG%20versus%20C27J%20January%202009.pdf
http://www.vikingair.com/
Gidday Flyvertosset
I note the size of transport has changed but there is a good and healthy amount of competition in the class and size of aircraft Viking (and Canada) specializes in.
Canada has, over of over the years, produced some very good and competitive aircraft, especially designed to handle the rugged outback including muddy airfields which, has made their aircraft leaders in their class with the opposition playing catch-up.
The ex-DHC Twin Otter and the Beaver have been the most successful closely followed by the Caribou and Buffalo.
It is good to see the Twin Otter are having a second life with the new manufacture of these two aircraft. I presume Viking has a zero lifeing program of which will see the in-service and retired aircraft go on for ever like the Basler which have developed a steady market with their extensively modified DC3 which shows that well designed oldies can compete very successfully against the new such as Casa 212, C-23 Sherpa (out of production) and the Cessna Caravan.
The Caribou and Buffalo are irreplaceable and I don’t understand why the upgrading program hasn’t been, to date, as successful as the Twin Otter and Beaver.
Don’t forget I think I have seen some other Canadian aircraft manufacturing companies i.e. Murphy!!! Offering competitive designs to compete against the Beaver.
So there is plenty of competition in this class transport.
Hi Flyvertosset
Even New Zealand has a competitor, the PACL 750 XL, in the small transport aircraft sector with which they recently tendered against the likes of the Cessna Caravan for a USAF contract. The tender was won by the Caravan but it shows there is plenty of competition in this sector.
Below are some videos of the PACL 750XL
http://youtu.be/JEiuMBtMtrE
http://youtu.be/driI5sqc9eU
http://youtu.be/yaqajspWrxc
A$K
Very impressive performance of the 750 XL, as you say the market for this segment is competitive and there are lots of choices for the customers. May they all get orders.
I saw the GAF "Nomad" perform in Johannesburg in the 1970's and now it is being re-introduced in an improved version by Gipsland.
The niche aircraft have a hard time breaking through the news cycles and are competing against the more established companies such as Beechcraft. Personally I would choose a Bassler DC-3T. One problem though is my wallet is not deep enough. :-)).
It has been nice discussing this very important part of aviation and I wish you a cozy Christmas and a great 2013.
I thank you for your knowledgable discussion and I leave you with a DHC4 Caribou doing what it was designed to do.
Have a merry xmas and properous 2013
http://youtu.be/zbbLrIfA_sU