The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] successfully completed the first test flight of the U.S. Air Force's third C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) aircraft on Jan. 17, three weeks ahead of schedule. The flight marked another milestone for the most comprehensive C-130 avionics modification ever conducted.

The H3 aircraft accomplished both functional check flight and acceptance check flight tests. Boeing test pilot Mike Leone conducted the two-hour flight from the Boeing facility in San Antonio.

"The joint effort between Boeing and our Air Force customer continues to enable the C-130 program to reach critical milestones ahead of schedule and under cost," said Mark Angelo, Boeing C-130 AMP program manager. "We are proud to continue to provide the Air Force with a modern tactical airlift platform."

Boeing completed the major modification and upgrade package on H3 about 13 percent faster than the upgrade to H2.5. H3 will soon join aircraft H2 and H2.5 in the flight test program, which is 81 percent complete.

The Air Force and Boeing signed a contract on Sept. 30 for the first two Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) AMP kits. Boeing plans to provide a total of 26 kits, engineering services, training and logistics support during LRIP. The company will also install production kits on 11 of the C-130 aircraft.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of Military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.