With the recent first flight of the LM-100J commercial version of the C-130J Hercules, manufacturer Lockheed Martin has embarked on a year-long flight-test program that will involve two aircraft. The company expects to complete the type design updat process with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration by next year.
The inaugural freighter made its first flight on May 25 from Dobbins Air Reserve base in Marietta, Georgia, wher Lockheed Martin shares a runway and conducts first flights of all production C-130s. Commanded by LM-100J chief test pilot Wayne Roberts, the aircraft flew for three hours over north Georgia and Alabama and returned to Dobbins.

“This first flight is a source of pride for Lockheed Martin and serves as a proof-point to the ongoing versatility of the Super Hercules aircraft,” stated George Shultz, the company’s Marietta site general manager. “Like its military counterpart, the LM‑100J is exceeding all expectations in terms of performance and capabilities.”

The number of flight hours Lockheed Martin will devote to FAA flight-test requirements is still being finalized, but the company said it expects to complete flight testing by the end of the year.

Lockheed Martin reported havin five orders and 20 letters of intent from customers to purchase the freighter. It declined to identify the launch customer.

At the Farnborough Airshow in July 2016, Lockheed Martin announced that Arlington, Virginia-based Bravo Industries, a logistics group with an air cargo division in Brazil, plans to acquire 10 LM-100Js. Two years earlier at Farnborough, it announced a letter of intent from ASL Aviation Group of Ireland to acquire up to 10 of the freighters. The latter group includes Air Contractors of Ireland, Europe Airpost of France and Safair of South Africa, one of the largest operators of the earlier L-100 (L-382) variant.