Regional · ICAO C27J

Alenia HC-27J Spartan

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a tactical military transport that combines an older Italian airframe design with the engines, propellers, and cockpit systems of the much larger Lockheed C-130J Hercules. That shared equipment lets air forces operating both types simplify training, spare parts, and maintenance across their transport fleets. Its smaller size than the C-130 lets it use shorter, rougher airstrips closer to the front line. It's used by numerous air forces for troop transport, cargo, and humanitarian relief missions.

Alenia HC-27J Spartan, example photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford and Largs, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know?

The C-27J's rear ramp opens in flight, letting crews air-drop cargo pallets and paratroops without landing, at speeds up to about 140 knots.

Specifications

Length22.7 m (74 ft)
Wingspan28.7 m (94 ft)
Height9.8 m (32 ft)
Maximum passengers60
Persons on board64
Maximum take-off weight31.8 t
Range2,680 NM (4,963 km)
Maximum speed325 kt (602 km/h)
Service ceiling30,000 ft (9,144 m)
Optimum ceiling27,000 ft (8,230 m)
Rate of climb1,960 ft/min (10 m/s)
Take-off distance640 m (2,100 ft)
Landing distance690 m (2,264 ft)
Fuel capacity6,800 l
Engines2x Rolls-Royce AE2100-D2A

Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.

In CatchFlights

In CatchFlights the Alenia HC-27J Spartan starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.

A catch counts for the manufacturer Alenia, the HC-27J Spartan family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.

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