Fairchild XC-120 Packplane
{{Short description|Prototype airlifter model by Fairchild}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = XC-120 Packplane
| image = XC-120 Packplane composite.jpg
| caption = Composite image of the sole XC-120 on the ground, and in flight.
| type = Military transport aircraft
| manufacturer = Fairchild
| designer =
| first_flight = 11 August 1950
| introduction =
| retired =
| status =
| primary_user =
| more_users =
| produced =
| number_built = 1
| unit cost =
| developed_from = C-119 Flying Boxcar
| variants =
}}
The Fairchild XC-120 Packplane was an American experimental modular aircraft first flown in 1950. It was developed from the company's C-119 Flying Boxcar, and was unique in the unconventional use of removable cargo pods that were attached below the fuselage, instead of possessing an internal cargo compartment.
Design and development
The XC-120 Packplane began as a C-119B fuselage (48-330, c/n 10312) with a point just below the flight deck cut off to create the space for the detachable cargo pod.{{fact|date=July 2022}} The fuselage was raised by several feet, and smaller diameter "twinned" wheels were installed forward of each of the main landing gear struts to serve as nosewheels, while the main struts were extended backwards.
All four landing gear units, in matching "nose" and "main" sets, could be raised and lowered to allow cargo to be preloaded into the pods; it was claimed that such an arrangement would speed up loading and unloading cargo.{{cite journal|journal=Air Progress|title=Those Fabulous Flops|author=Micheal O'Leary|date=November 1978}}
Production aircraft were to be designated C-128.
Operational history
Only one XC-120 was built. Though the aircraft was tested extensively and made numerous airshow appearances in the early 1950s the project went no further. It was tested by the Air Proving Ground Command at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in 1951,Staff, [http://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/19510611#!&pid=14 "XC-120 Goes to Eglin for Tests"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808074121/http://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/19510611#!&pid=14 |date=2017-08-08 }}, Aviation Week, 11 June 1951, Vol. 54, No. 24, p. 15. before the project was abandoned in 1952.{{cite web|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1946.html|title=1946-1948 USAAF-USAF Serial Numbers|work=joebaugher.com|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=August 7, 2017|archive-date=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723051155/http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1946.html|url-status=live}} The prototype was eventually scrapped.
Specifications (XC-120)
File:Fairchild XC-120 Packplane without container.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=Five (pilot, copilot, flight engineer, two loadmasters)
|capacity=20,000 lb (9,090 kg) (2,700 cu.ft)
|length m=
|length ft=82
|length in=10
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=106
|span in=6
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=25
|height in=1
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=1447
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=7,386
|empty weight lb=16,195
|empty weight note=(without container){{cn|date=December 2022}}
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=51,646
|gross weight note={{cn|date=December 2022}}
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=64,000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major
|eng1 type=radial engines
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=3250
|eng1 note=for takeoff
|power original=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=250
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=Johnson 2013, p. 191
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=175
|cruise speed kts=
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|never exceed speed kmh=
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|never exceed speed kts=
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|range km=
|range miles=2290
|range nmi=
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|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=23900
|g limits=
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See also
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References
{{reflist}}
- Evans, Stanley H. "[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1950/1950%20-%201769.html Cargo Carrier Concept:Design-logic for Airborne Logistics: The Fairchild XC-120 Pack-plane]". Flight, 21 September 1950. pp. 331–333.
- {{cite book |last=Johnson |first=E. R. |title=American Military Transport Aircraft Since 1925 |year=2013 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina, US |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc, Publishers |isbn=978-0-7864-6269-8}}
External links
{{commons category|Fairchild XC-120 Packplane}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160528021708/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjgxiXxu3nY Video about the XC-120]
- {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.archives.arc.2569442|name=Big Picture: Chinese Reds Enter the Korean War}} Contains segment about the plane.
{{Fairchild aircraft}}
{{USAF transports}}
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1950