Fairchild XC-120 Packplane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairch...-120_Packplane

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.

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 angled upwards
between the engines and the fuselage, raising the fuselage by several feet and
giving the plane an inverted gull wing appearance. 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 in a scissorlike 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 preloaded
into the pods; it was claimed that such an arrangement would speed up loading
and unloading cargo.

Production aircraft were to be designated C-128.


Role
Military transport aircraft

Manufacturer
Fairchild

First flight
11 August 1950

Number built
1

Developed from
C-119 Flying Boxcar

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, before the project was abandoned in 1952. The sole prototype was
eventually scrapped.

Specifications (XC-120)

General characteristics
Crew: Five (pilot, copilot, flight engineer, two loadmasters)
Capacity: 20,000 lb (2,700 cu.ft)
Length: 82 ft 10 in (25.25 m)
Wingspan: 106 ft 6 in (32.46 m)
Height: 25 ft 1 in (7.65 m)
Wing area: 1,447 sq ft (134.4 m2)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, 3,250 hp
(2,420 kW) each for takeoff





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