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Fairchild C-123 Provider

The C-123 Provider was an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and subsequently built by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Air Force. It went on to serve most notably with various armed forces in South East Asia.
Design and development

The C-123 Provider was designed originally as an assault glider aircraft for the United States Air Force (USAF) by Chase Aircraft as the XCG-20 (Chase designation MS-8 Avitruc). Two powered variants of the XCG-20 were developed during the early 1950s, as the XC-123 and XC-123A. The only difference between the two was the engine. The XC-123 used two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB-15 air-cooled radial piston engines, while the XC-123A used two General Electric J47-GE-11 turbojets, the same as those on the Boeing B-47 Stratojet. It was initially well regarded for tactical troop transport for its ruggedness and reliability and ability to operate from short and unimproved airstrips, which meant the low slung turbojets, prone to ingesting foreign objects, were dropped in favor of the more conventional option. The XC-123A had its engines replaced with R-2800s and was redesignated YC-123D.

By 1953, Henry J. Kaiser purchased a majority share in Chase Aircraft, feeling that after having completed C-119s for Fairchild under contract, he could take control of the impending C-123 contract. Two airframes were completed at Kaiser's Willow Run factory in Ypsilanti, Michigan, before personal politics led to Kaiser's being told that no further contracts would be honored with him. The C-123 contract was put up for bid, and the two completed airframes scrapped. The contract was finally awarded to Fairchild Engine and Airplane, who assumed production of the former Chase C-123B, a refined version of the XC-123.

Type: Cargo aircraft
Crew: 3
Manufacturer:
– Chase Aircraft
–Fairchild Aircraft
   Models: see variants
Maiden flight: Oct. 14, 1949
Service Delivery: N/A
Retired (from U.S. Service): N.A
Number built: N.A
Specifications: C-123K Provider
Powerplant:
 Model: General Electric J85-GE-17
 Type: Turbojet
 Number: Two
 Thrust: 2,850 lb. each

 Model: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-99W
 Type: 18-cylinder radial "Double Wasp"
 Number: Two
 Horsepower: 2,300 lb. each

Dimensions:
 Length: 76.25 ft (23.92 m)
 Wingspan: 110 ft (33.53 m)
 Height: 34 ft (10.36 m)
 Wing area: 1,223 ft² (113.6 m²)
   Weights:
 Empty: 35,366 lb (16,042 kg)
 Loaded: 60,000 lb (27,000 kg)
 Max takeoff: N/A

Performance:
 Maximum speed: 228 mph (367 kph)
 Combat Radius: N/A
 Range: 1,035 mi (1,666 km)
 Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,800 m)
 Rate of climb:
– 1,150 ft/min (5.8 m/s) without jets
 Wing loading: 49 lb/ft² (240 kg/m²)
 Power/mass (prop):
– 0.077 hp/lb (130 W/kg)
 Thrust/weight (jet): 0.10
 Capacity: 62 passengers
– Survivors
Sources:
Wikipedia: C-123 Provider
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