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XC-120 Packplane
XC-120 Packplane composite
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)[]

Fairchild XC-120 Packplane without container

XC-120 without its cargo container

XC-120 front view

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[]

References[]

  1. Micheal O'Leary (November 1978). "Those Fabulous Flops". 

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Fairchild XC-120 Packplane and the edit history here.
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