Decades of service and more than two hundred million hours: Rolls-Royce celebrates T56, AE 2100 engine milestones Decades of service and more than two hundred...

The T56 engine and the AE 2100 engine provide power for military transport and long-range maritime patrols. Most notably, the engines each power variants of the iconic C-130 Hercules and Super Hercules for the U.S. Air Force, as well as other military and civil applications worldwide.

The T56 and AE 2100 engines are manufactured, assembled, and tested at Rolls-Royce facilities in Indianapolis, the company's largest production facility in the U.S.

The T56 Engine

The T56 engine was developed to meet the Air Force's need for a reliable, powerful turboprop engine able to operate in demanding environments. The T56 made its first flight in 1954 on a Lockheed YC-130 Hercules, a prototype that led to the C-130 Hercules, one of the most successful military transport aircraft ever produced.

The T56 has one of the longest service lives of any aircraft engine, with many engines still in use decades after they were first introduced. Part of the T56's success comes from performance, fuel efficiency, and durability upgrades over the years.

In addition to the Air Force's C-130H Hercules, the T56 powers the P-3 Orion and E-2 Hawkeye for the U.S. Navy. More than 18,000 T56 engines have been sold in 70 countries. The engine's commercial version, the T56 501-D, is the world's leading large turboprop engine based on the number of units sold.