| Convair XC-99 | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Experimental heavy transport | |
| Crew | 5 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 185 ft | 56.4 m |
| Wingspan | 230 ft | 70.10 m |
| Height | 57 ft 5" | 17.50 m |
| Wing area | 4772 sq ft | 443.3 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | ||
| Loaded | ||
| Maximum take-off | 320,000 lbs | 145,000 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 6 Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major | |
| Power | 3,500 hp (21,000 hp total) | 2600 kW (15600 kW) |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | ||
| Combat range | 8,000 miles | 13,000 km |
| Ferry range | ||
| Service ceiling | ||
| Rate of climb | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | none | |
| Bombs | N/A | N/A |
The Convair XC-99 was a prototype heavy cargo aircraft built by Convair for the United States Air Force. It was the largest piston-engined land-based transport aircraft ever built, and was developed from the B-36 bomber, sharing the wings and some other structures with it. The first flight was on 23 November, 1947 in San Diego, California, and after testing it was delivered to the Air Force on November 23, 1949.
Design capacity of the XC-99 was 100,000 pounds of cargo or 400 fully equipped troops on its double cargo decks; a cargo lift was installed for easier loading.
The USAF determined that it had no need for such a large, long-range transport at that time, and no more were ordered. The sole XC-99 served until 1957, including much use during the Korean War.
The aircraft was put on display at Kelly Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas. During the 1960s it was considered for restoration, but the deterioration of the airframe due to the high magnesium content led to the abandonment of that plan. The airplane was later on moved to a grassy field near the base. In 1993 the USAF re-acquired the plane and moved it back to the Kelly AFB tarmac. It is planned to move it via road to the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, restore and reassemble it, and put it on display in the USAF Museum's collection of experimental aircraft.