C-130J altitude capability

[KC-10 Driver]

About halfway between JFK and FLL today, Washington center called out traffic to me -- a C-130 at FL330. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised.

I can only assume that it was a J-model.

Just curious, what is the altitude capability of the C-130J? And, what is the cruise speed (or mach)?

Anyone?

 

[SMOE]

About halfway between JFK and FLL today, Washington center called out traffic to me -- a C-130 at FL330. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised.

I can only assume that it was a J-model.

Just curious, what is the altitude capability of the C-130J? And, what is the cruise speed (or mach)?

Anyone?

I don't know about the J (don't want to know about the J) But, getting the older 130s up to altitude wasn't that difficult if you have the time. Back around '85 I talked my pilots into taking a '63 "E" model with -7 engines up to FL330 while we were enroute from Miramar to McCord. It was cold outside and we only weighed around 100,000lbs.
The E would cruise at 280KTAS and it didn't take long for ATC to make us descend as we were starting to hold up commercial traffic.
I have friends who have taken "H" models up to FL420.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

The new H models that my guard unit flew, would cruise at 310-320 TAS at FL250 with 970 TIT set, if we were under 120-115K we could go to FL330-340 no problem. The max certified continous power setting was 1010 TIT but that would only give about 10 extra knots on the cruise. The Air Force was trying to get people to further reduce the power and fly 932 TIT to further extend engine life. This took the cruise speed on an H model down to about 290 TAS.

We only ever went that high for fuel and tailwinds not a routine practice since center did not like us slow pokes without real mach numbers higher than FL280.

I have heard the J is supposed to be able to take off at 130K weight and go straight to FL290 and cruise at .72 Mach, but that is just hear say, perhaps somebody from Keesler or Baltimore will chime in.

 

[baq]

Tweetdrvr's numbers are correct. The ATC Cruise ceiling is F290 at 130K with a +10 Temp Dev. The cruise speed would be 320 TAS. The ~ time to climb is 21 mins with normal bleeds. Hope this helps.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

Thanks guys-

Never heard a -130 at those FL's before. Was just curious.

 

[slacker]

C-130J

I've been up to FL370 and heard of guys going over 40. When you're up that high, going that slow, you just screw up the flow for everyone. Generally we stay FL290 and below with cruise speeds 320 to 350TAS.