Lockheed Martin has announced the first flight of its LM-100J commercial freighter aircraft, an upgraded version of the earlier LM-100.
The first Lockheed Martin LM-100J commercial freighter aircraft completed its first flight on 25th May.
The flight followed the same test flight route over North Georgia and Alabama that is used for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The LM-100J will complete initial production flight tests and then begin Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificate update flight test requirements.
According to Lockheed Martin, the LM-100J is the 17th different mission capability developed for the C-130J. The new airlifter is an updated version of the L-100 cargo aircraft, which Lockheed Martin produced from 1964-1992. Lockheed Martin officials submitted a Program Notification Letter to the FAA on 21st January 2014, for a type design update to this aircraft, a civil-certified variant of the C-130J Super Hercules to be marketed as the LM-100J.
The LM-100J is designed to perform as a commercial multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid and efficient cargo transport. It is being marketed as an ideal airlift solution for delivering bulk and oversize cargo, particularly to austere locations worldwide. Like its military counterpart, the LM-100J will be able to support multiple missions, ranging from firefighting to medevac to VIP transport.
The LM-100J incorporates technological developments and improvements over the existing L‑100s that result from C-130J operational experience.
The aircraft was officially presented in February.