| XC-120 Packplane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Composite image of the sole XC-120 on the ground, and in flight. | |
| Role | Military transport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Fairchild |
| First flight | 11 August 1950 |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | C-119 Flying Boxcar |
The Fairchild XC-120 Packplane was an American experimental transport 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) which was cut off at a point just below the flight deck. The wings were raised between the engines and the fuselage, raising the fuselage by several feet and giving the plane a gull wing appearance. Smaller wheels were installed forward of each of the main landing gear struts to serve as nose wheels, while the main struts were extended backwards. All four landing gear could be raised and lowered in a scissor like fashion to lower the aircraft and facilitate the removal of a planned variety of wheeled pods which would be attached below the fuselage for the transport of cargo. The goal was to allow cargo to be pre-loaded into the pods; it was claimed such an arrangement would speed up loading and unloading cargo.[1]
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. The sole prototype was eventually scrapped.
Specifications (XC-120)[]
XC-120 without its cargo container
The XC-120 on the ground
General characteristics
- Crew: Five (pilot, copilot, flight engineer, two loadmasters)
- Length: 77 ft 1 in (23.50 m)
- Wingspan: 106 ft 6 in (32.46 m)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, 3,250 hp (2,420 kW) each
See also[]
- C-82 Packet
- C-119 Flying Boxcar
- Fieseler Fi 333
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of military transport aircraft
References[]
- ↑ Micheal O'Leary (November 1978). "Those Fabulous Flops".
- Evans, Stanley H. "Cargo Carrier Concept:Design-logic for Airborne Logistics: The Fairchild XC-120 Pack-plane". Flight, 21 September 1950. pp. 331–333.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to XC-120 Packplane. |
- Video about the XC-120
- The short film Big Picture: Chinese Reds Enter the Korean War is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more] Contains segment about the plane.
The original article can be found at Fairchild XC-120 Packplane and the edit history here.