Historical overview of the C-130J two-pilot flight station

The development of the flight station of the C-130J variant of the C-130 military airlift aircraft is discussed. The development effort began with research and development projects in the early 1980s. Following this was a series of related research and technology integration efforts under contract to the US Government in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Finally, detailed design of the C-130J in a formal development program began in 1992. The technologies that were integrated into the C-130J flight station that made it possible to reduce the flight station crew from four (pilot, copilot, navigator, and flight engineer) to two (pilot and copilot) are reviewed.