Two Modified Civilian C-130s (L-100) Flew With Airline Seats, Overhead Bins, and Even Airline-Style Windows
Lockheed Martin’s C-130 is as American as apple pie. As a military airlifter, the C-130 has plied the skies since 1954. Over 2,600 C-130s have been built. The highly modified C-130J is still in production today. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a military workhorse. The Hercules has been a steadfast contributor transporting cargo and personnel to nearly every military conflict, humanitarian effort, and numerous other tasks like firefighting for almost 70 years.
The C-130 is operated by the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Navy along with a host of allied operators. The US Navy utilizes a C-130J to transport the Blue Angels. A C-130 even once landed on an aircraft carrier as part of a test with the United States Navy.
As an avgeek, you might think that you know everything there is to know about the versitile Hercules transport aircraft. But you might be surprised to know that the C-130’s civilian counterpart, the L-100, has also operated as a full-on passenger airliner, complete with airliner seats and real airliner windows.
Rare Air: The Civilian C-130 Airliner Explored
A few years after the launch of the C-130, Lockheed began to explore other potential markets for their Hercules. Lockheed came up with a modified C-130 and called it the L-100. The L-100 wasn’t that much different than the C-130. It maintained the same exterior profile. There were some notable differences though.
The L-100 was slightly modified for the civilian market. It featured none of the military avionics (lacking a TACAN, UHF radios) and any defensive systems. The L-100 and the C-130 both featured Allison T56 engines. The L-100’s engines feature slight differences to conform with commercial noise and emission standards. The L-100 was designed to carry outsized cargo and personnel to austere airfields.
Big Hopes For The C-130 Airliner That Never Materialized
Lockheed had big hopes for the L-100. Lockheed assumed that the robustness of the Hercules would be attractive to airlines looking to tap into new markets. The thinking at the time was that smaller cities and municipalities with short airfields required an aircraft that could takeoff and move high volumes of cargo.
The L-100 would be able to fly up to 100 passengers with cargo to their destination. With the cargo and fuel capacity of the L-100, the Lockheed ‘airliner’ would be able to connect distant cities.
Jets and Better-Suited Aircraft Made L-100 Less Attractive To Airlines
Unfortunately, for Lockheed this strategy never really paid off. By the mid-1960s, passengers were beginning to become more accustom to the speed and comfort of jet travel. Many smaller airports expanded to accommodate larger jets.
For shorter flights, the DC-6, Convair 580, and other commuter aircraft could accomplish the mission with adequate comfort. Jets like the DC-9 and 737-200 were also hitting the market that could connect regional routes in even greater comfort.
Airlines began to institute a hub and spoke system where smaller airports were connected to a large international or regional airport for follow on travel. This made the capabilities of the L-100 less of a requirement and too much for the typical needs of an airline.
L-100 Did Sell Though In a Limited Capacity
The L-100 did have some limited success though. Pan American World Airways placed an initial order for 12 L-100s in 1962. The airline never took delivery. Delta also operated 3 L-100 aircraft in a cargo configuration.
A total of 36 L-100s operated in a civilian capacity at one time or another. Other L-100s were purchased by foreign militaries. China even operated two L-100s for a season. Lockheed Martin restarted the L-100 program in 2014 with a modified C-130J Super Hercules.
That Makes This Modified C-130 Airliner Even More Rare
Back in 1990, Lockheed put together a supplemental type certificate for a L-100 to operate in a full passenger configuration. The interior would feature a fully carpeted cabin with overhead bins, full size airline windows added to the fuselage, and 3 by 3 airline seats throughout the cabin.
Indonesian Airline Merpati Nusantara would become the first and only customer of the L-100-30(P). Our friends at LaJeteepress detailed these two aircraft stating “the two aircraft were purchased from Indonesia cargo operator Pelita in 1986- PK-MLS and PK-MLT. Pelita had operated the aircraft in the national transmigration program where settlers were moved to less crowded islands from Java and Bali.
Despite flying for Merpati, they flew in Pelita’s colors until modification to passenger configuration at the Lockheed Aeromod Center in Greenville, SC.
PK-MLT was the first modified in 1990, with pallet mounted seats, structural strengthening, and systems modification for passenger services. Twenty-two 727 passenger windows were also fitted along with emergency exits, galleys and lavatories. The cabin was all-coach with a 3-3 and 3-2 abreast seating for 97 passengers. Baggage containers were fitted to the rear loading ramp.
PK-MLS was next to be modified in 1992 with plans for further aircraft being done by IPTN in Indonesia, but Merpati only needed two aircraft modified.”
Airline Service In an L-100-30(P) Only Lasted Five Years
Merpati flew the L-100-30(P) for a short period. This YouTube video of the L-100 by Julian Nowill shows what the experience looked like.
By 1995, the airline began receiving the Fokker F100. The story of the C-130 as an airliner may be a lesser-known chapter in its history, but it’s a testament to the aircraft’s versatility.
Hope they put massive soundproofing around the fuselage because riding inside a C-130 was uncomfortably LOUD