https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_C-119_Flying_Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Navy and Marine Corps designation R4Q) was an
American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era
Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and
mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute. The first C-119
made its initial flight in November 1947, and by the time production ceased in
1955, more than 1,100 C-119s had been built. Its cargo-hauling ability and
unusual twin-boom design earned it the nickname "Flying Boxcar".
The Air Force C-119 and Navy R4Q was initially a redesign of the earlier C-82
Packet, built between 1945 and 1948. The Packet provided service to the Air
Force's Tactical Air Command and Military Air Transport Service for nearly nine
years during which time its design was found to have several serious problems.
All of these were addressed in the C-119.
In contrast to the C-82, the cockpit was moved forward to fit flush with the
nose rather than its previous location over the cargo compartment. This resulted
in more usable cargo space and larger loads than the C-82 could accommodate. The
C-119 also featured more powerful engines, and a wider and stronger airframe.
The first C-119 prototype (called the XC-82B) first flew in November 1947, with
deliveries of C-119Bs from Fairchild's Hagerstown, Maryland factory beginning in
December 1949.
Role
Military transport aircraft
Manufacturer
Fairchild Aircraft
First flight
17 November 1947
Introduction
December 1949
Retired
1995 Republic of China Air Force[1]
Primary users
United States Air Force
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Produced
Number built
1,183
Developed from
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Variants
Fairchild XC-120 Packplane
Fairchild AC-119
The aircraft saw extensive action during the Korean War as a troop and equipment
transport. In July 1950, four C-119s were sent to FEAF for service tests. Two
months later, the C-119 deployed with the 314th Troop Carrier Group and served
in Korea throughout the war. In December 1950, after Chinese PLA troops blew up
a bridge [N 1]at a narrow point on the evacuation route between Koto-ri and
Hungnam, blocking the withdrawal of U.N. forces, eight U.S. Air Force C-119
Flying Boxcars flown by the 314th Troop Carrier Group were used to drop portable
bridge sections by parachute.
During the Vietnam War, the incredible success of the Douglas AC-47 Spooky but
limitations of the size and carrying capacity of the plane led the US Air Force
to develop a larger plane to carry more surveillance gear, weaponry, and
ammunition, the AC-130 Spectre. However, due to the strong demands of C-130s for
cargo use there were not enough Hercules frames to provide Spectres for
operations against the enemy. The Air Force filled the gap by converting C-119s
into AC-119s each equipped with four 7.62 minigun pods, a Xenon searchlight,
night observation sight, flare launcher, fire control computer and TRW fire
control safety display to prevent incidents of friendly fire. The new AC-119
squadron was given the call-sign "Creep" that launched a wave of indignation
that led the Air Force to change the name to "Shadow" on 1 December 1968.
C-119G's were modified as AC-119G Shadows and AC-119K Stingers. They were used
successfully in both close air support missions in South Vietnam and
interdiction missions against trucks and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
All the AC-119G Gunships were transferred to the South Vietnamese in 1973 when
the American forces were withdrawn.
After retirement from active duty, substantial numbers of C-119s and R4Qs
soldiered on in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, the Air Force Reserve and the
Air National Guard until the mid-1970s, the R4Qs also being redesignated as
C-119s in 1962. The last military use of the C-119 by the United States ended in
1974 when a single squadron of Navy Reserve C-119s based at Naval Air Facility
Detroit/Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit, Michigan, and two
squadrons based at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California replaced their
C-119s with newer aircraft.
Specifications (C-119C)
General characteristics
Crew: 5 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio operator and crew chief)
Capacity: 67 troops or 35 stretchers or 27,500 lb (12,500 kg) cargo
Length: 86 ft 6 in (26.37 m)
Wingspan: 109 ft 3 in (33.30 m)
Height: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Wing area: 1,447 sq ft (134.4 m2)
Empty weight: 39,800 lb (18,053 kg)
Gross weight: 64,000 lb (29,030 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 74,000 lb (33,566 kg)
Fuel capacity: 28,000 US gal (23,000 imp gal; 110,000 L)
engines, 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) each
Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic, 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed: 281 mph (452 km/h; 244 kn) at 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
Cruise speed: 200 mph (174 kn; 322 km/h) (70% normal rated power)
Stall speed: 102 mph (89 kn; 164 km/h)
Range: 1,770 mi (1,538 nmi; 2,849 km) with 5,500 lb (2,500 kg) cargo
Service ceiling: 23,900 ft (7,285 m)
Rate of climb: 1,010 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 2,300 ft (700 m)
Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 1,890 ft (580 m)
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