C-40A Clipper
The US Navy operates a eet
of 15 Boeing 737s under the
designation C-40A. Known as
the Clipper, this is based on the
airframe of the 737-700C airliner.
The service’s rst Clipper was
delivered to eet logistic support
squadron VR-59 in April 2001 and
has replaced the C-9B/DC-9 eet
in the navy unique eet essential
airlift (NUFEA) mission.
The C-40A is powered by two
General Electric CFM56-7B24
turbofan engines and features
a cargo door on the main deck.
The aircraft are certi ed to
carry up to 121 passengers,40,000lb (12,192kg) of cargo
on eight pallets, or up to 70
passengers and three cargo
pallets on the main deck in ‘combi’
con guration.
Clippers are in service with ve
squadrons that are assigned to
the Navy Reserve’s Fleet Logistics
Support Wing, while a sixth is
preparing to transition from
the C-20G Gulfstream IV to the
C-40. The delivery of two aircraft,
ordered in September 2017, will
complete the navy’s program
of record. VR-51 is expected
to accept the aircraft before
September 2019.Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
VR-56 ‘Globemasters’ NAS Oceana, Virginia C-40A CFLSW JU
VR-57 ‘Conquistadors’ NAS North Island, California C-40A CFLSW RX
VR-58 ‘Sunseekers’ NAS Jacksonville, Florida C-40A CFLSW JV
VR-59
‘Lone Star Express’
NAS JRB Fort Worth,
Texas C-40A CFLSW RY
VR-61 ‘Islanders’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington C-40A CFLSW RSA C-40A Clipper assigned to Fleet
Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 57.
US Navy/MCS2C Daniel M. YoungKC-130R/T, KC-130J, C-130T Hercules
The US Navy operates several
variants of the Hercules in
numerous roles. Its inventory
includes 18 C-130Ts that are
operated by four naval reserve
eet logistics support squadrons
in traditional airlift roles, providing
an airlift capability. The C-130T
can transport up to 40,000lb
(18,144kg) of cargo or up to 75
passengers, is powered by four
T56-A-16 turboprop engines, and
is own by a crew of four. It rst
entered naval service in 1991.
A single C-130T is also assigned
to testing support duties with
VX-20 and the Blue Angels Navy
Flight Demonstration Squadron
has another that is operated as a
support aircraft by a Marine Corps
ight crew. Naval Air SystemsCommand (NAVAIR) recently
unveiled plans to purchase one of
10 C-130Js acquired by the UK’s
Royal Air Force as a replacement
for the latter aircraft.
The replacement of the Marine
Corps’ KC-130T models by new
KC-130Js allowed the Naval
Reserve to acquire six KC-130Ts as
support aircraft, operated by two
VR squadrons. They include two
stretched KC-130T-30 models.
The avionics/obsolescence
upgrades (AOU) operational,
safety and improvement
program is upgrading the
C-130T to ensure they meet
international communication,
navigation, and surveillance/
air tra c management (CNS/
ATM) requirements. The project isreplacing the aircraft’s tactical air
navigation system, incorporating
a terrain avoidance warning
and tra c collision avoidance
system (TAWS/TCAS), installing
upgraded radios and adding
integrated displays. Testing of
the modi cations is under way
and production installations will
begin in 2019. The modi cations
are also being considered for thenavy’s KC-130Ts. Installation of an
electronic propeller control system
and engine instrument display
system (EPCS/EIDS) was completed
on the navy C-130Ts and KC-130Ts
in April 2017.
The C-130T eet was grounded
in July 2017 shortly after a US
Marine Corps KC-130T crashed.
In April 2018, just 10 of the
combined US Navy/Marine
Corps eet of 43 C/KC-130Ts
were yable. In an e ort to get
the C-130Ts back in the air the
navy is accelerating a program
to replace the propellers on the
aircraft. Although the C-130T
eet was grounded, the KC-130Ts
were permitted to return to ight
in October. The service received
$121 million that allows it to
begin installing new eight-blade
UTC Aerospace Systems NP2000
model propellers on the aircraft.
The service hopes to have the
NP2000-equipped aircraft
returned to service in the fall with
the entire eet being upgraded
by spring 2019.Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
NFDS ‘Blue Angels’ NAS Pensacola, FloridaC-130T CNATRA
VR-53 ‘Capital Express’ JB Andrews-NAF Washington, MarylandC-130T CFLSW AX
VR-54 ‘Revelers’ NAS JRB New Orleans, Louisiana C-130T, KC-130T CFLSW CW
VR-55 ‘Minutemen’ NB Ventura County - Point Mugu, California KC-130T, KC-130T-30 CFLSW RU
VR-62 ‘Nomads’ NAS Jacksonville, Florida C-130T CFLSW JW
VR-64 ‘Condors’ JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey C-130T CFLSW BD
VX-20 ‘Force’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland C-130T, KC-130T/J NAWCAD
VX-30 ‘Bloodhounds’ NB Ventura County - Point Mugu, California KC-130T NAWCWD BHA C-130T of VR-62 ‘Nomads’.
USMC/LCpl Brianna TurnerUS NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
(^70) AIR POWER REVIEW
66-85 US Navy Review C.indd 70 01/06/2018 10:10