Why does the C-130 military transport plane use propellers instead of jet engines?

Question

Why does the C-130 military transport plane use propellers instead of jet engines?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

The primary reason is ruggedness. Turboprops, while still using a “jet” engine, have lower intake air demands than traditional turbojet engines, and the intake ca be much more easily protected from foreign object damage than a turbofan or turbojet. So a turboprop is much better suited to landing on dirty low prep runways with a lot of blowing debris, which is the C130s primary duty.