| XC-31 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Single-engine transport |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Fairchild Aircraft |
| First flight | September 22, 1934 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 1 |
The Kreider-Reisner XC-31 or Fairchild XC-31 was an American single-engined monoplane transport aircraft of the 1930s designed and built by Kreider-Reisner. It was the largest single-engine aircraft built to that time,[1] as well as one of the last fabric-covered aircraft tested by the U.S. Army Air Corps.[2] Designed as an alternative to the emerging twin-engined transports of the time such as the Douglas DC-2, it was evaluated by the Air Corps at Wright Field, Ohio, under the test designation XC-941,[2] but rejected in favor of all-metal twin-engined designs.
The XC-31 was built with an aluminum alloy framework covered by fabric, and featured strut-braced wing and a fully retractable landing gear, the main gear units mounted on small wing-like stubs and retracting inwards. An additional novel feature was the provision of main cargo doors that were parallel with the ground to facilitate loading.
XC-31 at Langley
Following evaluation by the USAAC, the XC-31 was transferred to NACA, which used it for icing studies at its Langley Research Center.[3]
Specifications[]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Capacity: 15 passengers or 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg) of cargo
- Length: 55 ft 5 in (16.89 m)
- Wingspan: 75 ft in (22.86 m)
- Height: 15 ft 10 in (4.83 m)
- Wing area: 802 ft2 (74.5 m2)
- Empty weight: 7322 lb (3321 kg)
- Gross weight: 12750 lb (5783 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820--25 radial, 750 hp (559 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 143 mph (230 km/h)
- Range: 775 miles (1247 km)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4570 m)
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Pattillo, Donald M. (1998). Pushing the Envelope: The American Aircraft Industry. University of Michigan: University of Michigan Press. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-0472086719. http://books.google.com/books?id=shwtKbTbEuEC&pg=PA79&lpg=PA79&dq=Kreider-Reisner+XC-31&source=bl&ots=CM1rH2rP5C&sig=ZYP3iweiK0ex6RGWMnkvMHBU2Gs&hl=en&ei=mrS2S97kIISy9gTar-D7BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAcQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Kreider-Reisner%20XC-31&f=false. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Kreider-Reisner XC-31 Fact Sheet". Online Aircraft Features. National Museum of the US Air Force. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3290. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Fairchild Model XC-31 Cargo Transport". History of Airplanes. acepilots.com. http://acepilots.com/airplanes/country/american/fairchild-model-xc-31-cargo-transport/. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
The original article can be found at Kreider-Reisner XC-31 and the edit history here.