What is C-130J Super Hercules?

About C-130 Super Hercules

• It is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft.
• It is the latest production version of the C-130 Hercules. It replaced, in production, the previous C-130H.
• The C-130J Super Hercules made its first flight in 1996.
• It is the US Air Force’s principal tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft.
• It was developed by Lockheed Martin, a US security and aerospace company.
• It primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission, and is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips, and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.
• The largest operators are the US Air Force, US Marine Corps, Australia, Canada, India, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
• Features:
  • It has reduced crew requirements. A minimal crew of three men is required to operate this aircraft, including two pilots and one loadmaster.
  • It has a payload capacity of 19 tons.
  • It is powered by four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines. 
  • It has digital avionics, including Head-Up Display (HUD) for each pilot. 
  • Range: 6,852 km (no payload)
  • Speed: 644 km/hr
  • Endurance: 20+ hours
  • It is capable of short takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways.
• C-130J-30:
  • It is a stretch version of the C-130J.
  • The C-130J-30 adds 15 feet to the fuselage, increasing usable space (two more pallets of equipment) in the cargo compartment. 

Q1) What is a turboprop aircraft?

A turboprop aircraft uses a turbo-prop engine rather than a piston-powered engine or a jet engine. They have one or more gas-turbine engines connected to a gearbox that turns the propeller(s) to move the aircraft on the ground and through the air. Turboprop aircraft have lower operating costs than jets because they burn less fuel, but they are also slower than jets.

Source: IAF Lands ‘Super Hercules’ Military Transport Aircraft on Unfeasible Strip for Tunnel Rescue Mission