CREW'S STORIES
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XC-142A TESTED OUT BY CARRIER BENNINGTON
May 18, 1966
A 19-ton airplane which can take off and land "on a dime", was demonstrated for the first time Wednesday on an aircraft carrier.
The four-engined XC-142A, the world's largest takeoff and landing aircraft was put through its paces aboard the Long Beach-based carrier 75 miles offshore. It is a joint Navy, Army, Air Force venture.
Designed for special military operations, the strange new plane demonstrated its precision capability by hovering over the deck, then easing down effortlessly, to the scream of its 16-foot propellers.
A moment later it rose majestically, straight up, made a right angle turn while still over the deck, then scudded away for more testing while Captain Wiley Howell operated it at varying speeds.
The plane performed a fantastic backward flight, plus, sustained hovering over the deck, a second vertical landing, 360-degree turn and takeoff. A series of varied angle landings, all within 70 feet, a series of touchdowns and takeoffs under varying wind conditions.
The plane is designed for swift transport of combat troops, equipment and supplies from amphibious assault ships or airfields into rugged terrain. The plane is a turbo-prop, high-wing transport that uses the variable tilt wing to achieve its vertical, short takeoff and hovering ability. The wing is adjusted in flight for conventional flight to 430 miles per hour. The wing allows versatility. It can tilt to an angle of 100 degrees (to fly backward), or forward for level flight.
NOTE:
This article was in a local newspaper on 19 May 1966.
Submitted by: Joseph L. Pires (former SK3 who was
Onboard and has standard & super 8 movie film of
This event)
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