Hamilton Sundstrand in Windsor Locks is selling $24.6 million worth of propeller kits to the U.S. military to boost performance of some of its workhorse C-130 Hercules cargo fleet.
The Naval Air Systems Command is buying as many as 25 electronic propeller control kits from Hamilton for the Navy Reserve’s C-130T aircraft and the Air National Guard’s version, the LC-130H.Â
The Air National Guard has been flying with the kits for four years in an operational evaluation. The control systems are expected to achieve commercial certification later this year.
According to Hamilton, the digital prop kits give the Hercules a shorter take-off roll, improved climb, quieter operations, and lower operating and support costs. The C-130 entered service in the 1950s.
Hamilton Sundstrand is a division of United Technologies Corp. in Windsor Locks.
