Originally Posted by
Hydro Junkie
Nope, not the JU-88 but, then again, maybe this will help:
I'm looking for an aircraft:
1) This aircraft was based on an earlier unaccepted design that had a crew of three
2) In it's first configuration, it was also deemed "unacceptable" by it's country's military
3) After two substantial design changes, it was accepted by the military
4) The redesign increased the plane's payload and crew without hurting performance
5) This aircraft had multiple configurations leading to several different ways it could be and was used. One way was, shall we say, highly innovative
6) This aircraft had twin engines(you got that part right Ernie)
7) This aircraft normally carried a crew of 5 though, at times, it did operate with more people on board
8) A famous officer used one of these planes as his personal transport aircraft(just a little trivia thrown in for good measure)
Good Luck
Well, having missed that one, and with my obsession showing, how about The White Whale? The C-123? Converting a glider into a transport aircraft must count as being pretty innovative. Thanks; Ernie P.
The Fairchild C-123 Provider is an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and subsequently built by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Air Force. In addition to its USAF service, which included later service with the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, it also went on to serve most notably with the United States Coast Guard and various air forces in South East Asia. During the Vietnam War, the aircraft was used to spray Agent Orange. Design and development
The XC-123 prototype.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 type of engines used. The XC-123 used two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-23 air-cooled radial piston engines, while the XC-123A was fitted with four General Electric J47-GE-11 turbojets, in two pods. The XC-123A also has the distinction, while only experimental, of being the USAF first jet-powered military transport. While the piston-powered XC-123 was initially well regarded for tactical transport for its ruggedness and reliability and ability to operate from short and unimproved airstrips, the turbojet-powered XC-123A – designed for high-speed transport between USAF bases for critical parts and personnel – was found unable to operate from short and rough airstrips. There was also no practical speed advantage due to the wing and fuselage design, and a drastic reduction in range. Only the one turbojet-powered test and evaluation version was built.
A number of C-123s were configured as VIP transports, including General William Westmoreland's White Whale. The C-123 also gained notoriety for its use in "Operation Ranch Hand" defoliation operations in Vietnam. Oddly enough, the USAF had officially chosen not to procure the VC-123C VIP transport, opting instead for the Convair VC-131D.