The C-119 developed from the C-82 Packet, the first purpose-designed cargo transport to enter service with the United States military. Originally designated XC-82B, the C-119 used the same basic configuration as the earlier aircraft, but featured a repositioned cockpit and wider cabin and more powerful engines. This allowed the C-119 to carry bigger, heavier loads than its predecessor.
The United States Air Force ordered a large number of C-119s, and in 1950, against the backdrop of the start of the Korean War, placed a second-source production contract for 200 aircraft with the Kaiser-Frazer Automotive company. This was in part politically-motivated, designed to ensure Kaiser-Frazer’s Detroit factory, originally built by Ford to produce B-24 Liberators, continued to be available for aircraft production. A year later, funding issues led the Air Force to change plans, switching manufacture of the first 41 of the second-source production contract to Fairchild, although final assembly of the aircraft was still carried out by Kaiser-Frazer. The C-119 saw extensive service in both the Korean and Vietnam wars and remained in United States military service well into the 1970s. It became a staple of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, with examples being supplied to Belgium, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Italy, South Vietnam and Taiwan. The C-119 also notched up one commercial sale, to Canada.
The final military operator of the Flying Boxcar was Taiwan, which retired its last C-119s in December 1998. The type saw limited civilian use, mainly on Forestry Service and Bureau of Land Management contracts in the United States. The last active C-119 was N15501, a former Royal Canadian Air Force C-119G, but this is now up for sale with the rest of Hans Lauridsen’s collection.
First flight: Nov 47 (c/n 10139, 45-57769)
Production: 1,189 comprising 1,030 at Hagerstown, MD, and 159 by Kaiser-Frazer at Ypsilanti-Willow Run, MI. (Kaiser-Frazer-built aircraft have three-digit construction numbers.)
First delivery: Dec 49, to the US Air Force
Last delivery: Nov 55, to the US Air Force
Variants: XC-82B/XC-119A - prototype, converted on the production line from a C-82A and powered by 2 Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 Wasp Major radials (1 built, subsequently modified as an electronics test-bed under the deisgnation EC-119A);
C-119B - initial production version with strengthened airframe and wider fuselage, powered by R-4360-20s (55 built);
C-119C - C-119B with detail changes to tail-fins (303 built);
C-119F - C-119C, powered by Wright R-3350-85 Cyclones (248 built, including 71 by Kaiser-Frazer);
C-119G - C-119F with detail changes (484 built);
YC-119H Skyvan - C-119C with redesigned wing, underwing fuel tanks and revised tail (1 built)
R4Q-1 - C-119C optimised for US Marine Corps (39 built);
R4Q-2 - C-119F optimised for US Marine Corps (58 built).
Conversions included: AC-119G Shadow - gunship development of C-119G featuring 4 7.62mm guns and armour protection (26 converted);
C-119J - development of C-119F/G with modified rear fuselage and flight-openable door for paratroop delivery (62 converted);
C-119K - C-119G with uprated Cyclones and addition of 2 General Electric J85 turbojets (6 converted);
AC-119K Stinger - gunship development of C-119K (26 converted from C-119G);
C-119L - C-119G re-engined with R-3350-89 engines (22 converted);
XC-120 Packplane - C-119B modified with detachable cargo pod (1 converted).
In addition, many earlier versions were brought up to C-119G standard.
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