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C-123 Provider

A United States Coast Guard HC-123B Provider.

Type Military transport aircraft
Manufacturer Chase Aircraft
Fairchild Aircraft
Maiden flight 14 October 1949
Primary users United States Air Force
United States Coast Guard
Variants Stroukoff YC-134

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. Military Transport Aircraft or MTA is a division of EADS which designs manufactures and commercialises light and medium transport aircraft An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts Chase Aircraft Company was started in 1943 in New York City to build Gliders for the US Army Air Force. Fairchild was an aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company based at various times in Farmingdale New York, Hagerstown Maryland and San Antonio Texas The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Stroukoff YC-134, designed in 1956 was based heavily on the C-123 Provider. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Military Transport Aircraft or MTA is a division of EADS which designs manufactures and commercialises light and medium transport aircraft Chase Aircraft Company was started in 1943 in New York City to build Gliders for the US Army Air Force. Fairchild was an aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company based at various times in Farmingdale New York, Hagerstown Maryland and San Antonio Texas 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. The Air Force Reserve Command ( AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM of the U The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and

Contents

Design and development

An early USAF C-123
An early USAF C-123

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)[1]. Chase Aircraft Company was started in 1943 in New York City to build Gliders for the US Army Air Force. 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. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout 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. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Henry John Kaiser ( May 9, 1882 — August 24, 1967) was an American Industrialist who became known as the father of modern American WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout 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 Willow Run manufacturing plant located between Ypsilanti and Belleville Michigan, was constructed during World War II by Ford Motor Company Ypsilanti (ˌɪpsɨˈlænti Ǐp'-sǐ-lǎn-tē but often /ˌjɪpsɨˈlænti/ by outsiders is a city in Washtenaw County in the U 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. Fairchild was an aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company based at various times in Farmingdale New York, Hagerstown Maryland and San Antonio Texas [2]

Operational history

The first recipients of C-123 aircraft would be USAF transport units, soon followed by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) who used the aircraft for search and rescue missions, and even the US Air Force Demonstration Team, the "Thunderbirds," would use C-123s for a time. The Thunderbirds are the Air Demonstration Squadron of the US The type would also be widely exported under various US military assistance programs, directly from USAF stocks.

The aircraft was nearly ignored by the USAF for service in Vietnam, but a political rivalry with the US Army and the Army's use of the CV-2 Caribou and later pre-production order for the C-8 Buffalo, led to a decision to deploy C-123s there. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing ( STOL) utility transport a Turboprop version developed from the earlier piston-powered To compete with the well-performing CV-2, the USAF and Fairchild furthered development on the C-123 to allow it to do similar work on short runways. This additional development increased the utility of the aircraft and its variants to allow it to perform a number of unique tasks, including the HC-123B which operated with the USCG fitted with additional radar equipment for search and rescue missions, and the C-123J which were fitted with retractable skis for operations in Greenland and Alaska on compacted snow runways. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent

C-123K of the VNAF
C-123K of the VNAF
Front view of a C-123K on display at Dover AFB in July 2007.
Front view of a C-123K on display at Dover AFB in July 2007. Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a base of the United States Air Force in the state of Delaware.

By 1962, the C-123K variant aircraft was evaluated for operations in Southeast Asia and their stellar performance led the Air Force to upgrade 180 of the C-123B aircraft to the new C-123K standard, which featured auxiliary jet pods underneath the wings, and anti-skid brakes. In 1968, the aircraft helped resupply troops in Khe Sanh, Vietnam during a three-month siege by North Vietnam[1]. Khe Sanh is the district capital of Hướng Hoá District Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam, located 63 km west of Đông Hà Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN or less commonly Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa was a Country on the northern half of Vietnam

A number of C-123s were configured as VIP transports, including General William Westmoreland's White Whale. William C Westmoreland ( March 26, 1914 &ndash July 18, 2005) was an American General who commanded American military The C-123 also gained notoriety for its use in "Operation Ranch Hand" defoliation operations in Vietnam. Operation Ranch Hand was a US Military operation during part of the Vietnam War, lasting from 1962 until 1971. Oddly enough, the USAF had officially chosen not to procure the VC-123C VIP transport, opting instead for the Convair VC-131D. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

The first C-123s to reach South Vietnam were part of the USAF's Special Aerial Spray Flight, as part of Operation Ranch Hand tasked with defoliating the jungle in order to deny rebels their traditional hiding places[3]. These aircraft began their operations at the end of 1961. Aircraft fitted with spraying equipment were given the U prefix as a role modifier, with the most common types being the UC-123B and the UC-123K. Aircraft configured for this use were the last to see military service, in the control of outbreaks of insect-borne disease. The C-123 was also used as "jump aircraft" for U. S. Army Airborne students located at Lawson Army Airfield, Fort Benning, Georgia in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Lawson Army Airfield is a military Airport located at Fort Benning in Chattahoochee County, Georgia, south of the city of Columbus Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southwest This aircraft was used in conjunction with the C-130 Hercules and C-141 Starlifter. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Experimental projects

In 1954, the YC-123D, formerly the XC-123A prototype, flew in its modified state after being converted by Stroukoff Aircraft. While the most obvious change from the original XC-123A was the switch of engines, the YC-123D also had a Boundary layer control (BLC) system fitted. In Aeronautical engineering, boundary layer control (BLC refers to a number of methods of controlling the Boundary layer of air on the main Wing of This system directs air from the engines at high speed over the top of the wing, making the wing act as if the aircraft is flying at a much higher airspeed. As a result, the YC-123D had a greatly reduced take-off and landing distance. Compared to the C-123B, the YC-123D could land in 755 feet instead of 1,200, and take-off with only 850 feet of runway instead of 1,950, with a 50,000 pound total weight.

In 1955 Stroukoff, under contract from the USAF, produced a single YC-123E, designed to be able to take off from any surface, and also equipped with BLC. The new aircraft also featured Stroukoff's Pantobase system, combining a ski system with a sealed fuselage and wing mounted floats, while retaining its normal landing gear. The skis worked both on snow and water, and the system effectively allowed the aircraft to land on water, land, snow or ice.

See Also YC-134

In 1956 the USAF awarded a contract to Fairchild to design an improved version of the C-123 under the designation C-136, but the contract was cancelled before the aircraft was built[4]. The Stroukoff YC-134, designed in 1956 was based heavily on the C-123 Provider.

At much the same time the YC-123H was under development, the product of a Fairchild modification program started in 1956 and completed in 1957. A "Jet Augmentation Program" for existing C-123Bs had been initiated in 1955 at the behest of the USAF, and in the YC-123H contract the USAF expanded it to allow the mounting of two pod-mounted General Electric CJ-610 (later developed as the military J85) turbojets. J85 redirects here for the British Halcyon class minesweeper see HMS Seagull (J85, for the Abscess of lung and mediastinum ICD-10 code see ICD-10 Chapter X Diseases of the Perhaps more impressive was the new wide-track main landing gear, noticeable since the larger gear and tires required the removal of the landing gear doors. The new gear reduced the aircraft's turning radius and improved the Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) of the aircraft, along with being rugged enough to stand up to unimproved runways, all important factors for the C-123's mission profile. Testing both in the United States and in South Vietnam continued until the YC-123H crashed in an accident in 1963. However, many of the design improvements were carried over to the C-123K.

In 1979, the Royal Thai government, seeking to extend the life of their C-123 fleet, placed a contract with the Mancro Aircraft Company, supported by the USAF, to convert a single C-123B to turboprop powerplants. A turboprop engine is a type of aircraft powerplant that uses a Gas turbine engine to drive a Propeller. Allison T56-A-7 turboprops were used and by the time the aircraft, dubbed C-123T, was complete it had new "wet" wings, an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to assist with power movement of the control surfaces, and a heating system for the cargo compartments that also fed a new deicing system. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A fuel tank is safe container for flammable liquids and typically part of an Engine system in which the Fuel is stored and propelled (fuel pump or released (pressurized Budgetary restrictions forced the Thai government to abandon the program in 1981, and with a lack of interested parties development of the C-123T stopped. However, it concluded the life of the C-123 by making it the only aircraft (at least this is claimed) to operate under jet, internal combustion and turboprop engine power, and as a glider,[5] during its history.

Black Spot and other special military C-123s

During the conflict in Vietnam, a number of C-123s were modified for specialized roles. Most of these modifications were on a one- or two-aircraft level. Only the usage of C-123s as "flare ships" to illuminate targets for fixed wing gunships such as the AC-47 and AC-119G were more numerous. For the game see Gunship (video game The term " gunship " is used in several contexts all sharing the general idea of a light craft armed WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout These aircraft, operating under the call-sign Candle were flown by the USAF's 14th Special Operations Wing.

NC-123K "permanent test" model used over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It was outfitted with FLIR, LLTV, laser rangefinder, and cluster bomb dispensers.
NC-123K "permanent test" model used over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The Ho Chi Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam through It was outfitted with FLIR, LLTV, laser rangefinder, and cluster bomb dispensers.

A single C-123B was tested as a possible replacement for the Candle aircraft, with its rear loading ramp removed and replaced with a large box with 28 large lights. The airplane could continuously light a 2 mile circle from an altitude of 12,000 feet. This aircraft, under the provisional designation NC-123B was dropped because the lights, fixed to the aircraft, made it far easier for enemy gunners to track compared to the earlier flare ships.

The "Candle" aircraft had an extended life when several UC-123K's were transferred to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. For the civilian use of the facility see Nakhon Phanom Airport Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base (NKP is a Royal Thai Navy facility The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj During that period, it was used as a flare ship as well as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. A forward air controller (FAC is a qualified individual who from a forward position on the ground or in the air directs the action of Military aircraft engaged The flare duties were generally used for troops in contact (TIC) while the FAC mission directed air strikes in Laos over the Ho Chi Minh trail. An airstrike is a Military strike by Air forces on either a suspected or a confirmed enemy ground position Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma The Ho Chi Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam through

Another NC-123B was used as a radio relay aircraft over the Ho Chi Minh trail, with equipment to read the signals from various sensors on the ground designed to pick up enemy truck activity.

Two C-123K aircraft modified in September 1965 under Project Black Spot. [6] The Black Spot aircraft were to fit under the "self-contained night attack capability" that was Operation Shed Light's primary focus and E-Systems of Greenville, Texas was contracted to complete the modifications. Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems (RIIS IIS is a business of Raytheon Company. Greenville is the County seat of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. These aircraft featured a variety of new sensors including Low Light Level TV (LLLTV), Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), and a laser rangefinder. [7] The aircraft looked radically different visibly from its transport brethren, as the new equipment required lengthening the nose by over 50 inches. [8] The aircraft also featured an armament system designed to carry BLU-3/B (using the ADU-253/B adapter) or BLU-26/B (using the ADU-272/B adapter) bomblets, or CBU-68/Bs cluster bombs. Cluster munitions or cluster bombs are air-dropped or ground-launched munitions that eject a number of smaller submunitions a cluster of bomblets Cluster munitions or cluster bombs are air-dropped or ground-launched munitions that eject a number of smaller submunitions a cluster of bomblets [9][10]

The two aircraft, AF Serial Numbers 54-691 and 54-698, were first designated NC-123K in 1968 and then redesignated AC-123K in 1969. [11] These NC/AC-123Ks were first deployed operationally at Osan AB, South Korea between August and October 1968, and flying in support of operations against North Korean infiltrators approaching by boat. Osan Air Base (K-55, is a United States Air Force facility located 7 South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, The operations in Korea met with a certain level of success and as a result the NC/AC-123Ks were transferred to South Vietnam in November 1968. The aircraft operated there until January 1969, when they were redeployed to Ubon RTAB, Thailand. For the civil use of the facility after July 1974 see Ubon Ratchathani Airport Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj The two aircraft were then returned to the United States to Hurlburt Field, Florida in May 1969, where a second round of training occurred. Hurlburt Field is a US Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther and is part of the Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Four crews attended a ground school in Greenville, Texas and returned to Hurlburt where they flew the aircraft for the first time.

The fate of the aircraft is still unclear. Sources have missions terminating in early July, 1970 and the aircraft flying to the "Bone Yard" at Davis-Monthan AFB where they were returned to C-123K standard, then returned to South Vietnam still wearing their camouflage and black undersides for transport duty. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base adjacent to Tucson, Arizona. [12] However, the official history states that combat operations ceased 11 May 1969, with no mention of the second deployment. [13] While the second deployment is mentioned in associated documentation, the only dates are of the arrival in Thailand and there is no information as to when they departed or where their destination was. [14]

Main article: Operation Shed Light

Variants

XCG-20
Two prototype all-metal troop transport gliders built by Chase Aircraft, later designated the XG-20, one became the XC-123, the other the XC-123B. During the 1960s the United States military worked hard to interdict the movement of men and Materiel along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Chase Aircraft Company was started in 1943 in New York City to build Gliders for the US Army Air Force.
XC-123
Former XG-20 fitted with two 2200hp R-2800-23 engines.
XC-123A
Former XG-20 fited with four J47-GE-11 turbojets in pairs under wing.
C-123B
Production model based on the XC-123 with two 2300hp R-2800-99W engines with accommodation for 61 troops or fifty stretchers, five built by Chase and 302 build by Fairchild Aircraft.
UC-123B
C-123Bs modified for defoliation and crop destruction duties.
VC-123C
Executive transport version of the jet-powered XC-123A, not built.
YC-123D
One aircraft built by Stroukoff with boundary layer control system for improved VTOL performace.
YC-123E
One aircraft built by Stroukoff with modified fin and rudder, modified fuselage bottom (called Pantobase) and pontoon floats to allow operation from water, sand, snow or ice.
YC-123H
Prototype with wide track undercarriage and two underwing J85 booster engines.
C-123J
C-132B with two underwing J44-R-3 booster engines, ten converted.
C-123K
C-123Bs with two underwing J85 booster engines and larger wheels, 183 converted.
AC-123K/NC-123K
Two C-132Bs converted for armed night-time surveillance with special sensors.
HC-123B
USCG search and rescue variant
UC-123K
C-123Ks converted for Ranch Hand defoliation missions, 34 converted.
VC-123K
One C-123K converted as personal transport for General Westmoreland's use in Vietnam.
YC-134
One aircraft built by Stroukoff, as C-123B but fitted with boundary layer control system, tailplane endplates, redesigned landing gear with tandem mainwheels. The Stroukoff YC-134, designed in 1956 was based heavily on the C-123 Provider. Later designated YC-134A when fitted with Pantobase landing gear.

Operators

Flag of Cambodia Cambodia
Flag of the Republic of China Republic of China (Taiwan)
Flag of El Salvador El Salvador
Flag of Laos Laos
Flag of the Philippines Philippines
Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
Flag of South Korea South Korea
Flag of South Vietnam South Vietnam
Flag of Thailand Thailand
Flag of the United States United States
Flag of Venezuela Venezuela

Specifications (C-123K Provider)

General characteristics

Performance


Popular culture

C-123s are sometimes used in movies where scenes call for large cargo aircraft, e. g. Air America and xXx. Air America is a 1990 Film starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr XXX may refer to XXX an identifier for Pornography, especially X-rated movies 30 (number, XXX in Roman numerals A C-123 was the main setting for the action film Con Air, as well as Operation Dumbo Drop, and was featured in a 2007 television commercial for Ford pick-up trucks which supposedly showed their braking power. Con Air is a 1997 American action / thriller Film by Touchstone Pictures that stars Nicolas Cage, Operation Dumbo Drop is a 1995 Live-action movie. It is loosely based on true events as related by MAJ Jim Morris (USA Ret The Provider even had a small scene in Tomorrow Never Dies, as James Bond prepares to jump into the South China Sea. Tomorrow Never Dies, released in 1997, is the eighteenth Spy film in the James Bond series, and the second to star Pierce Brosnan James Bond 007 is a Fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve Novels and two Short story The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the

See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

References

  1. ^ a b Gunston 1980, p. The Stroukoff YC-134, designed in 1956 was based heavily on the C-123 Provider. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype pre-production and operational types Military Transport Aircraft or MTA is a division of EADS which designs manufactures and commercialises light and medium transport aircraft 170.
  2. ^ Gunston 1977, p. 164.
  3. ^ Gunston 1980, p. 171.
  4. ^ "Missing" USAF designations retrieved 2007-11-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria.
  5. ^ The versatile DC-3/C-47 family has operated as a glider and under turboprop power, but not under jet power.
  6. ^ Smith, undated. p. VI
  7. ^ Smith, undated. p. 6
  8. ^ Davis, 1982. p. 50
  9. ^ Smith, undated. p. 7, 32
  10. ^ Parsch, Andreas. Designation-Systems. net. 31 August 2007. AAU/AAK to AVU/AVK - Equipment Listing. Access Date: 17 September 2007
  11. ^ From Individual Aircraft Records Cards Set, provided as part of information received 24 May 2007 pursuant to Freedom of Information Act request 49112, from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, United States Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
  12. ^ Davis, 1982. p. 50
  13. ^ Smith, undated. p. VI
  14. ^ Boerschig Jr, Black Spot Special Activities Report, 1969. pg. 5

External links

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