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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1829.PDF
2FLIGHT, 3 November 1949 593 GLIDER INTO TRANSPORT —and Back Again : Convertible, Powered Version of the Chase Avitruh (Above). The Chase YCG-I8A Avitruk glider as supplied to the U.S.A.F. and (left) the powered version—designated YC-122—now under development; the nacelles can quickly be removed to reconvert the machine to a glider. Below is an impression of a rather larger (and "cleaner ") develop- ment, the XC-123, due to begin flight tests shortly. ALITTLE-KNOWN American air-craft manufacturing concern,formed in 1943 to undertake the development and production of assault cargo aircraft to the designs of Michael Stroukoff, is the Chase Aircraft Company of West Trenton, New Jersey. Its ex- periments led to the appearance, at the end of 1947, of the YCG-18A, or Avi- truk, which incorporated many of the recommendations made by the U.S.A.F. in the light of operational experience of cargo- and troop-carrying gliders, and the design was laid down with a view to the eventual installation of two detach- able Pratt and Whitney R-2000 engines. Seven YCG-18A gliders were supplied to the U.S.A.F. and the powered version, designated YC-122, has been undergoing acceptance and development trials at Wright Field. The YC-122 is basically a short-range aircraft for the trans- portation of forward-based engineer groups, troops, bulky cargo and for the wide variety of other uses to which a medium-sized utility transport with short landing, take-off and simple loading characteristics can be put. A straightforward, powered con- version of the YCG-18A, the structure of the YC-122 is a com- bination of steel tube and duralumin skin. The loading of cargo, including vehicles, is facilitated by the provision of a hydraulically operated ramp-type door. The cargo floor is built close to the ground, and the ramp section, which extends the full width of the cargo compart- ment, can be used for loading at any intermediate position from the ground. The square-section fuselage provides an unobstructed cargo compartment and the floor is capable of supporting a uniformly distributed load of 500 lb/sq ft. Two treadways are provided which will withstand a wheel load of 4.100 1b at any point along their entire length. The cargo floor is strengthened by transverse beams and longitudinal reinforcing webs. The compartment measures 31ft S^in longx 7ft Sin wide x 6ft Gin high. As a troop carrier, the aircraft provides accommodation for thirty fully equipped troops in three rows of ten individual-jump seats. The engine nacelles can be detached quickly for reconverting the machine into a glider; only four bolts hold each nacelle O 0 assembly to the wing. The company hopes to sell the YC-122to commercial freight carriers, and a tentative price of ^75,000 has been mentioned. A somewhat larger and heavier assault transport which wasdue to commence flight-testing recently is the XC-123. Powered by two 2,100 h.p. Pratt and Whitney R-2800 engines,the XC-123 follows the same basic configuration as the YC-122 but lacks the austere lines of the earlier aircraft. All-metalconstruction is employed and a retractable nosewheel under- carriage is fitted. W. G. CHASE YC-122 • ' Dimensions wfngarea" '.'.'. '." " 7|jf£ *n :,: ::: .::: ::: Ift Jm Weight empty : • .. laoinih AII-«P weight ;;; ;;; - J'-Jggjg Performance Sea-level max. speed ... ... ... -,>» , Cruising speed .. ^ - : '"• 205mS'h' Stall (Lower off) fi7 ™'PK' S.L.rateofclimb(l,IOOh.p.eacher>gine) '." "' )\l0 ?,£?• Service ceiling ;;; — 25 000ft Ceiling on one engine SOOOfr Range with 8,0001b cargo (opt. S.L. txuisin-) I ncvima. Take-off over 50ft screen ... ]\\ "] 7 " lOOO, Landing do. (with re\erssd airscrews) .. I 000ft
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