Chase YC-122 Avitruc
The Chase XCG-18 and YC-122 Avitruc (known internally by Chase as the MS-7) was a military transport aircraft produced in limited numbers in the United States in the late 1940s, initially as a glider, but definitively in powered form. The design was based on the CG-14 cargo glider but was substantially larger and featured all-metal construction. it was a high-wing cantilever monoplane of twin boom configuration. The fuselage was of rectangular cross-section and featured a loading ramp at its rear. The main undercarriage units were carried at the sides of the fuselage and were fixed, while the nosewheel was retractable. In its powered form, two radial engines were fitted in nacelles in the wings.
Design and development
The USAAF's experiences with cargo gliders during World War II indicated a role for a similar aircraft in the post-war inventory, but one capable of carrying a substantially heavier load and with greater recoverability than the essentially expendable wartime wooden assault gliders. Chase's CG-14 was selected as a starting point, and in January 1947, the USAAF placed an order for an enlarged, metal version of this aircraft, initially designated XCG-14B but redesignated to XCG-18A to reflect the basically all-new nature of the aircraft. When the prototype flew that December, it was the world's first all-metal transport glider [1].
Operational history
In March 1948, the service (now the USAF) ordered four more aircraft under the new designation XG-18A and a fifth to be fitted with engines as the YC-122. The air force eventually lost interest in purchasing assault gliders, but continued with the development of the powered variant, purchasing two more examples for evaluation as the YC-122A and redesignating the second of these as the YC-122B when the original Pratt & Whitney engines were swapped for Wright units. This aircraft would form the basis for the definitive service trials version, the YC-122C. Nine of these aircraft were ordered and although they performed well in evaluation, the USAF no longer saw a need for a small transport aircraft and cancelled the project. The remaining machines served on in utility roles until 1957.
Following their retirement, the fuselage of one of the YC-122s was used in the construction of the Hiller X-18.
Variants
- XCG-14B/XCG-18A - initial prototype glider (two built)
- XG-18A - revised glider version (4 built)
- YC-122 - prototype powered version, an XG-18A with Pratt & Whitney R-2000-11 engines (one built)
- YC-122A - refined version of YC-122 (two built)
- YC-122B - YC-122A re-engined with Wright R-1820-101 engines (one converted)
- YC-122C - definitive service trials version (nine built)
Units using this aircraft
Specifications (YC-122C)
Data from Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two pilots
- Capacity: 30 troops or 24 stretchers or cargo
- Length: 61 ft 8 in (18.80 m)
- Wingspan: 95 ft 8 in (29.16 m)
- Gross weight: 32,000 lb (14,515 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-101, 1,425 hp (1,063 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 mph (354 km/h)
- Range: 2,900 miles (4,667 km)
References
- Notes
- ^ World Aircraft Information Files, File 891 Sheet 26. London: Bright Star Publishing.
- ^ Taylor 1989, p. 254.
- Bibliography
- Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989. ISBN 0-517-69186-8.
- World Aircraft Information Files, File 891 Sheet 26–27. London: Bright Star Publishing.
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