Convair XC-99

The Convair XC -99 was a 1947 system developed by Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation factories heavy transport aircraft for military use. It was built just a prototype.

History

The mission of the USAAF for the XC -99 was already granted in December 1942, but the first flight took place only on 23 November 1947. Almost two years later, the prototype with the serial number 43-52436 was delivered to the U.S. Air Force on 26 May 1949. At the time this machine was one of the largest aircraft in the world.

Construction

The concept of the XC -99 was, in essence, that the wings including the engines, virtually unchanged from the B- 36B and were associated with a very spacious newly constructed hull. The loading volume was so oversized, that in compliance with the payload restriction only half the space capacity could be used for cargo loading. The fuselage cross section was compared with that of B-36 practically doubled. The lower deck, which was divided by the thick wing, should be used only as cargo space. These bomb flaps similar to large flaps were provided on the lower fuselage. With four electric winches the cargo to be loaded. On the upper deck should default 400 soldiers can be transported. The problem was the pressure ventilation such a large cabin; In the test flights, it came here often to failures of the system.

The planned production version of the C -99 should be equipped with turboprop engines ( Pratt & Whitney T34 or T56 Allison ), but was ultimately not built.

Convair also designed a civilian version of the XC- 99, which was to carry on its two decks 204 passengers, and offered it (also with a turboprop engine ) as a "model 37" ( as the final name was " CV373 " provided ) of the airline Pan Am to which, however, opted for the much smaller pattern Douglas DC -7 and Boeing B -377 Stratocruiser. A flying boat variant for the Clipper lines existed only on paper.

The only copy of the XC -99 was put into service on May 26, 1949 and assigned to the Kelly Air Force Base. For the manufacturing plant, the Air Force and the Material Base San Antonio (Kelly AFB ) were performed both test and cargo flights in the subsequent period. Because of emerging material fatigue, the aircraft was shut down after one last flight on 19 March 1957 to a repair was omitted for cost reasons and because of alternatives.

The aircraft was used in the subsequent period as an exhibit before it was acquired in 1993 by a development association and the USAF Museum gift. In January 2004, the separation began in items and the transportation to the museum. After the restoration of the machine is to be exhibited there.

Specifications

  • Length: 55.5 m
  • Wingspan: 69 m
  • Wing area: 429.3 m2
  • Max. Take off weight: 160 t
  • Payload: 50.5 t
  • Range: ~ 7600 km
  • Service ceiling: 9,000 m ~
  • Engines: 6 × piston engines Pratt & Whitney R -4360, each with 2570 kW (3500 hp) with thrust propellers
  • Maximum speed: 494 km / h (307 mph)
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