| XC-35 | |
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| Lockheed XC-35 | |
| Role | Experimental |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| First flight | 9 May 1937 |
| Introduced | 1937 |
| Status | In storage at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Lockheed L-10 Electra |
The Lockheed XC-35 was a twin-engine, experimental pressurized airplane. It was the first American aircraft to feature cabin pressurization. The distinction of the world's first pressurized aircraft goes to the Junkers Ju 49. The XC-35 was a development of the Lockheed L-10 Electra that was designed per a 1935 request by the United States Army Air Corps for an aircraft with a pressurized cabin.[1]
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Design and development
The United States Air Corps wanted the aircraft to perform high altitude research and to test the feasibility of a pressurized cabin. The Corps contracted with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation to produce the aircraft at a total cost of $112,197. The requirements called for an aircraft capable of flying at no less than 25,000 ft (7,620 m) and having an endurance of 10 hours with at least 2 hours above 25,000 ft (7,620 m).[1] Major Carl Greene and John Younger, both structures experts who worked for the Air Corps Engineering Division at Wright Field in Ohio were responsible for the design of the pressurized cabin structure. Greene and Younger worked with Lockheed to modify a L-10 Electra with a new fuselage consisting a circular cross section that was able to withstand up to a 10 psi differential. New, smaller windows were used to prevent a possible blowout while operating at high pressure differentials. The cabin pressurization was provided by bleeding air from the engines' turbo supercharger, the compressor outlet fed into the cabin and was controlled by the flight engineer.[2] This system was able to maintain a cabin altitude of 12,000 ft (3,658 m) while flying at 30,000 ft (9,144 m).[3] The fuselage was divided into two compartments, a forward pressurized compartment, and an aft unpressurized compartment. The forward compartment housed two pilots, a flight engineer, and up to two passengers. The aft compartment provided accommodations for one passenger and could only be used at low altitudes since it lacked pressurization.[4]
The XC-35 was fitted with two Pratt & Whitney XR-1340-43 engines of 550 hp (410 kW) each compared to the two Pratt & Whitney R-985-13 of 450 hp (336 kW) fitted to the base L-10 Electra. The engines featured a turbo supercharger to permit the engines to operate in the thin air at high altitudes.
Operational History
The XC-35 was delivered to Wright Field, Ohio in May 1937 and was involved in an extensive flight testing program for which the Army Air Corp was awarded the Collier Trophy. The lessons learned from the XC-35 played a key role in the development of the Boeing 307 and the B-29 Superfortress which was to be the first mass produced pressurized aircraft.[3]
The Air Corps brass were so confident in the new technology that they allowed the XC-35 to be used as an executive transport for Louis Johnson, the assistant secretary of war and future Secretary of Defense.[2]
In 1943, NACA pilot Herbert H. Hoover flew the XC-35 into thunderstorms to gather data on the effects of severe weather on aircraft in flight.[5]
Status
The XC-35 was donated to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in 1948 and remains there in long term storage.[1]
Specifications (Lockheed XC-35)
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Capacity: 6
- Length: 38 ft 7 in (11.8 m)
- Wingspan: 55 ft 0 in (16.8 m)
- Height: 10 ft 1 in (3.1 m)
- Wing area: 458 ft (42.6 m)
- Loaded weight: 10,500 lb (4,760 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-1340-43, 550 hp (410 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 236 mph (380 km/h)
- Range: 800 mi (1,285 km)
- Service ceiling: 31,500 ft (9600 m)
- Wing loading: 22.9 lb/ft² (111.7 kg/m²)
See also
Related development
References
- ^ a b c Lockheed XC-35 Electra, Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum.
- ^ a b Airplanes that Transformed Aviation, Air & Space Magazine.
- ^ a b Van Patten, Robert E. Air Force Magazine Online, Vol.86, No.1 January 2003
- ^ Lockheed XC-35, National Museum of the Air Force.
- ^ Herbert H. Hoover & Lockheed XC-35, NASA Image eXchange Collection
External links
- XC-35 in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum
- XC-35 from National Museum of the United States Air Force
- Lockheed XC-35 (10E) Electra
- Lockheed 10-E XC-35 (36-353 c/n 3501)
- XC-35 Photo Gallery from National Museum of the United States Air Force
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