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C-27J Spartan Test Flight Program Gets Third Aircraft

MARIETTA, GA, September 13th, 2000 -- The C-27J Spartan flight test program received its third and final aircraft on Sept. 8 when the Lockheed Martin-Alenia team flew Spartan #4033 for the first time at Alenia's flight test facility in Turin, Italy. The flight lasted 1 ½ hours and met all objectives. The third aircraft is a full production model and will be the primary aircraft used for Military Certification testing.

"We were delighted to see the Alenia/LM Aero team working in close harmony to achieve this significant program milestone," said Stan Yackel, C-27J program director for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (LM Aero). "Of particular note were the avionics and software specialists who performed a feat rarely seen in today's development programs. They were able to move ahead of their plan, skip a preliminary software build, and load the certification build of software that will be flown during this phase leading to Civil Certification."

The flight test program began in September of 1999 with the flight of the first C?27J, which currently serves as the propulsion system test aircraft. The second Spartan, the first full pre-production configuration aircraft, joined the test program in May 2000 and is involved in Civil Certification activities.

The Spartan is expected to achieve Civil Certification by June 2001, and Military Certification is expected by October 2001.

The two aircraft have been flown for a combined total of 125 flights and have logged more than 230 hours in the air.

C-27J Third Test Aircraft
"As a direct result of our using mature C-130J common systems, the C-27J received clearance for flight in Instrument Meteorological Conditions from civil authorities within two months of first flight," explains Mike Reed, chief systems engineer. "This has been achieved in record time due greatly to the commonality between the C-27J Spartan and the C-130J Hercules."

The Italian government announced its intentions to buy 12 Spartans in November 1999 and delivery of the Italian C-27s will be within two years of contract signing, which is expected later this year. The C-27J is also in competitions in Greece and Switzerland and has garnered increasing interest from other countries including Jordan, Qatar, Portugal, Egypt, and Israel as well as the U.S. Army National Guard.

The C-27J Spartan is being developed by Lockheed Martin-Alenia Tactical Transport Systems headquartered in Marietta, Ga. LMATTS is equally owned by Lockheed Martin Corporation and Alenia Inc., a subsidiary of Finmeccanica S.p.A.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F-22, C-130, C-27J, F-117, U-2, X-33 and Joint Strike Fighter, among other renowned aircraft. LM Aero is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Jim Saye
770-494-2406
james.w.saye@lmco.com