Lockheed C-141 Starlifter: Difference between revisions

C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
Description
Role	Cargo and troop transport
Crew	5 to 6
First Flight	1963
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Dimensions
Length	145 ft 0 in (C-141A) 168 ft 4 in (C-141B)	44.2 m 51.3 m
Wingspan	160 ft 0 in	48.8 m
Height	39 ft 3 in	12 m
Wing area	3,228 ft²	300 m²
Weights
Empty	144,492 lb (C-141B)	65,542 kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	316,600 lb (C-141A) 323,100 lb (C-141B)	143,607 kg 147,000 kg
Powerplant
Engines	4 × Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-7 turbofans
Thrust	20,250 lb (each)	90 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	571 mph (C-141A) 567 mph (C-141B)	919 km/h 912 km/h
Combat range	4,080 miles (C-141A) 2,935 miles (C-141B)	6,566 km 4,723 km
Ferry range	6,140 miles (C-141B)	9,880 km
Service ceiling	41,000 ft (C-141B)	12,500 m
Rate of climb	2,600 ft/min (C-141B)	792 m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics

The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a military cargo aircraft in service with the US Air Force. Introduced to replace slower piston-engined cargo planes such as the C-124 Globemaster II, the C-141 was designed to a 1960 requirement and first flew in 1963; production deliveries of an eventual 248 began in 1965, and the aircraft is still in service almost 40 years later, although the USAF plans to withdraw the C-141 from service in 2006 when sufficient C-17 Globemaster III aircraft are available.

File:C-141 Starlifter exhaust.jpg

A C-141 Starlifter leaves an exhaust trail over Antarctica

The original Starlifter model, the C-141A, could carry 138 passengers, 80 litters for wounded, or ten standard 463L pallets with a total of 62,700 pounds (28,880 kg) of cargo. The C-141 could also carry a Minuteman missile. It was soon discovered that the aircraft's cubic capacity was relatively low in comparison to its ability to lift; it generally ran out of space way before it hit its weight limit.

To correct this and use the C-141 to the full, the whole fleet of aircraft were stretched, producing the C-141B. Additional 'plug' sections were added before and after the wings, lengthening the fuselage by 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m) and allowing the carriage of 3 more standard pallets or an equivalent increase in other loads. Also added at this time was a boom receptacle for inflight refueling. The conversion program took place between 1977 and 1982. It was estimated that this stretching program was the equivalent of buying 90 new aircraft, in terms of increased capacity.

More recently, 63 aircraft have been upgraded to C-141C status, with improved avionics and navigation systems, to keep them up-to-date until C-17s are available to replace them.

In 1994, thirteen C-141Bs were given SOLL II (Special Operations Low-Level II) modifications, which gave the aircraft a low-level night flying capability, enhanced navigation equipment, and improved defensive countermeasures. The USAF operates these aircraft for the US Special Operations Command.

	Modern USAF Series	Miscellaneous
C-5 Galaxy	Attack--OA/A-10,AC-130H/U	RC-135V/W
C-17 Globemaster III	Bomber--B-52,-2,-1B,F-117A	OC-135B
C-20 Gulfstream III	Fighter--F-15/E ,F-16	KC-10,-135
C-21 Learjet	Electronic--E-3,-4B,-8C EC-130E/J,H	HC-130P/N
C-32 C-22B	Transport--C-5,-17,-141B, -20,-21	MC-130E/H/P
C-130 Hercules	C-22B, -32, -130, -37A, -40B/C	MH-53J/M
C-141B Starlifter	Trainers--T-1, -37, -38, -43, -6	HH-60G
C-37A Gulfstream V	Weather--WC-130, -135	UH-1N
C-40B/C Clipper	UAV--RQ-1/MQ-1 UAV, Global Hawk	U-2S/TU-2S
		VC-25

Related content
Related Aircraft	C-5 Galaxy
Similar Aircraft	Antonov An-124 - C-124 Globemaster II - C-130 Hercules - C-133 Cargomaster - C-17 Globemaster III
Designation Series	C-135 - C-137 - C-140 - C-141 - XC-142 - C-1 - C2
Related Lists	List of military aircraft of the United States