AEC-9 Hermes

ÆC-9 Hermes
A Lindian Air Force A400M in flight
Role	Strategic/tactical airlift
Manufacturer	Aerobus
First flight	11 December 2009
Introduction	2013
Status	In service
Primary users	Royal Lindian Air Force Commiss Air Force
Produced	2009–present
Number built	80
Unit cost	$152.4m

The ÆC-9 Hermes (also written as AEC-9 Hermes), often just referred to as Hermes, is a military transport aircraft powered by four Dekkers turboprop engines. The Hermes was developed and is being manufactured by the Aerobus consortium. The aircraft can carry up to 37 tonnes of cargo and can be configured for cargo transport, troops transport and medical evacuations through a modular system. The aircraft can perform short landings and takeoffs and can operate on rough and unpaved runways.

The Hermes has the capability to be refueled in flight and, when equipped with under wing refuelling pods, can refuel other aircraft with a drogue.

Operators

• Royal Lindian Air Force, 60 in service
  • 1 Tactical airlift squadron (12x)
  • 3 Strategic airlift squadron (24x)
  • 4 Strategic airlift squadron (24x)
• Commiss Air Force, 4 in service

Specifications

ÆC-9 Hermes' silhouettes

General characteristics

• Crew: 3 or 4 (2 pilots, 3rd optional, 1 loadmaster)
• Capacity: 37,000 kg (81,600 lb)
  • 116 fully equipped troops / paratroopers,
  • up to 66 stretchers accompanied by 25 medical personnel
  • cargo compartment: width 4.00-metre (13.12 ft) x height 3.85-metre (12.6 ft) x length 17.71-metre (58.1 ft) (without ramp 5.40-metre (17.7 ft))
• Length: 45.1 m (148 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 42.4 m (139 ft 1 in)
• Height: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 225.1 m² (2,423 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 76,500 kg (168,654 lb) ; operating weight
• Gross weight: 120,000 kg (264,555 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 141,000 kg (310,852 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 50,500 kg (111,300 lb) internal fuel
• Max landing weight: 123,000 kg (271,200 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × Dekkers D441G turboprop, 8,200 kW (11,000 hp) each
• Propellers: 8-bladed Dekkers FG112 and FG121 variable pitch tractor propellers with feathering and reversing capability (FG121 anticlockwise on engines 2 and 4, FG112 clockwise on engines 1 and 3), 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) diameter

Performance

• Cruise speed: 781 km/h (485 mph; 422 kn) at 9,450 m (31,000 ft)
• Initial cruise altitude: 9,000 m (29,000 ft) at MTOW
• Range: 3,300 km (2,051 mi; 1,782 nmi) at max payload (long range cruise speed; reserves as per MIL-C-5011A)
  • Range at 30-tonne payload: 4,500 km (2,450 nmi)
  • Range at 20-tonne payload: 6,400 km (3,450 nmi)
• Ferry range: 8,700 km (5,406 mi; 4,698 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 12,200 m (40,000 ft)
• Wing loading: 637 kg/m² (130.4 lb/sq ft)
• Tactical takeoff distance: 980 m (3,215 ft), aircraft weight 100 tonnes (98 long tons; 110 short tons), soft field, ISA, sea level
• Tactical landing distance: 770 m (2,530 ft) (as above)
• Turning radius (ground): 28.6 m