Boeing YC-14 (Model 953)

History

The United States Air Force (USAF) attempted to replace the long-serving propeller-driven Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft in the mid-1970s. The high-wing, four-engine C-130, which began production in 1954, had been in service for decades by then, culminating in various variants when the USAF launched the Advanced Medium Takeoff and Landing Short-haul (AMST) competition in 1968 Establish a unified search for successors.

The 1972 RFP (request for proposals) became Boeing's entry into the competition "YC-14", which competed with McDonnell Douglas' "YC-15" prototype.

The C-130, with its high wing and raised tail, set the standard for a successful medium transport aircraft. Mounting the engines along these wing components forced the use of "T-shaped" tails to eliminate propeller washes. The cockpit is set above a short nose assembly for impressive visibility, and a raised rear wing allows access to the cargo compartment from the rear.

In terms of performance, the C-130 can operate from ill-prepared airfields, adding a formidable quality to the family that is still appreciated today.

With this in mind, Boeing engineers used a similar design arrangement in the Type 953except for the propeller drive. Instead, two large turbofan engines appear on the leading edge of the wing in the form of 2 GE CF6-50D engines, each delivering 51,000 pounds of thrust - with exhaust blown over the trailing edge flaps. Combat crews consist of three people, with internal capacities ranging from 150 combat-ready troops to 69,000 pounds of cargo. Overall length is 131.7 feet, with a wingspan of 129 feet and a height of 48.3 feet.

Empty weight is 117,500 pounds and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 251,000 pounds.

Boeing and McDonnell Douglas selected their designs from five entries each and received prototype contracts for two examples each. The Boeing 72-1873 prototype first flew on August 9, 1976, followed by a second prototype, the 72-1874. The U.S.

Air Force's official combat competition began at Edwards Air Force Base in November 1976 and lasted until mid-1977.

Finally, since the USAF has already started to move from a tactically oriented transport aircraft to a strategically oriented one, the design was neither used for further development nor for mass production. Modifying both designs required extensive changes, so AMST was scheduled to be discontinued by early 1980.

From there, the USAF embarked on a new program, the "C-X" program, which resulted in the C-17 Globemaster III, which is still in service today.

McDonnell Douglas finally merged with the Boeing brand label in August 1997 - so the C-17 design derived from McDonnell Douglas exists today as a Boeing product.

Specification

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Performance

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