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60-669: Introduced to replace slower propeller driven cargo planes such as the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II and Douglas C-133 Cargomaster , the C-141 was designed to requirements set in 1960 and first flew in 1963. Production deliveries of an eventual 285 planes began in 1965: 284 for the USAF, and a company demonstrator later delivered to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for use as an airborne observatory. The aircraft remained in service for over 40 years until

120-454: A T-tail and a high-mounted swept wing , under which a total of four pod-mounted TF33 turbofan engines were fitted. The Model 300 possessed a lengthy, unobstructed cargo deck, which provided sufficient space and fittings to safely accommodate up to 154 troops or 42,869 kg (94,510 lb) of cargo. During March 1961, Lockheed's submission was selected as the winner. President John F. Kennedy 's first official act after his inauguration

180-404: A control wheel or a control column , is a device used for piloting some fixed-wing aircraft . The pilot uses the yoke to control the attitude of the plane, usually in both pitch and roll . Rotating the control wheel controls the ailerons and the roll axis. Fore and aft movement of the control column controls the elevator and the pitch axis. When the yoke is pulled back, the nose of

240-471: A steering wheel . In larger aircraft they are usually on a post protruding vertically from the floor, referred to as a control column. In most other planes, they are pivot point mounted on a horizontal tube that comes out of the instrument panel. In the case of the Cirrus SR20 and Cirrus SR22 , although the control looks like a side stick , it works like a yoke handle (referred to in the industry as

300-461: A "side yoke"). The Cessna 162 uses a similar device. Side-sticks and centre-sticks are better for making rapid control inputs and dealing with high g-forces , hence their use in military, sport, and aerobatic aircraft. However, yokes are less sensitive (i.e., more precise) due to a larger range of motion and provide more visual feedback to the pilot. Most yokes are connected and will both move together, thus providing instant indication to

360-497: A production C-141 occurred during April 1965. Over the course of three years, a total of 284 C-141s were manufactured, not including the five aircraft constructed solely for testing purposes. Production of new-build C-141s was terminated during February 1968. During the 1960s, Lockheed had made efforts to market the aircraft on the civilian market; this resulted in provisional orders having been placed by both Flying Tiger Line and Slick Airways for four aircraft each. These were to be

420-403: A radius of at least 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) with a 60,000 pounds (27,000 kg) load. The tactical role required it to be able to perform low-altitude air drops of supplies, as well as carry and drop combat paratroops. Several companies responded to SOR 182, including Boeing , Lockheed , and General Dynamics . Lockheed's design team produced their own unique design in response to

480-540: A stretched version, 37 feet (11 m) longer than the C-141A, which was marketed as the L-300 SuperstarLifter . Other changes were also incorporated to adapt the design to be more suited to the commercial sector, including the use of a different control yoke . The development was not sustained and only the one civilian demonstration aircraft was built. When no commercial sales were made, Lockheed donated

540-566: A total cargo capacity of 62,700 pounds (28,400 kg). It could also carry specialized cargoes, such as the Minuteman missile . NASA obtained Lockheed's C-141 demonstrator, designated L-300. The airplane was modified to house the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) telescope for use at very high altitudes. This aircraft, NC-141A is in storage at NASA Ames Research Center , Moffett Federal Airfield , California. The KAO

600-825: Is an American heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California . The C-124 was the primary heavy-lift transport for United States Air Force (USAF) Military Air Transport Service (MATS) during the 1950s and early 1960s, until the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter entered service. It served in MATS, later Military Airlift Command (MAC), units of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard until retired in 1974. Douglas Aircraft developed

660-412: Is not enough for larger and more powerful aircraft, so hydraulic systems are used, in which yoke movements control hydraulic valves and actuators. In more modern aircraft, inputs may first be sent to a fly-by-wire system, which then sends a corresponding signal to actuators attached to the aileron booster systems and control surfaces. Yokes may feature a stick shaker , which is designed to help indicate

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720-438: Is powered by an arrangement of four TF33 turbofan engines, each capable of generating up to 21,000 pounds-force (93 kN) of thrust; these were installed in pods beneath the high-mounted swept wing . The underside accommodates the retractable tricycle landing gear , consisting of a twin-wheel nose unit and four-wheel main units, the latter of which retract forward into fairings set onto each side of fuselage. The flight deck

780-548: Is typically operated by a crew of four. The use of a high-mounted wing enabled internal clearance in the cargo compartment of 10 feet (3.0 m) wide, 9 ft (2.7 m) high and 70 ft (21 m) long. Accordingly, the C-141 was capable of carrying, for example, a complete LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its container; it was capable of carrying a maximum of 70,847 pounds (32,136 kg) over short distances, and carry up to 92,000 pounds (42,000 kg) when appropriately configured to carry

840-635: The 165th Airlift Wing ) of the Georgia Air National Guard , was the last Air Force unit to retire their aircraft (AF Serial No. 52-1066 and 53-0044 ) in September 1974. Data from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I, McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920 General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Yoke (aeronautics) A yoke , alternatively known as

900-462: The radio microphone, disengage the autopilot , and trim the aircraft. In addition, there may be a clipboard, checklist, or chronometer located in the yoke's center. Yokes are not used on all aircraft. Airships use a ship's wheel , helicopters use a cyclic , and the majority of military fighter aircraft use a center or side-stick . Some light aircraft use a stick due to pilot preference. The latest Airbus family of passenger jets use

960-603: The "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, where they were scrapped. The original Starlifter model, designated C-141A , could carry 154 passengers, 123 paratroopers or 80 litters for wounded with seating for 16. A total of 284 A-models were built. The C-141A entered service in April 1965. It was soon discovered that the aircraft's volume capacity was relatively low in comparison to its lifting capacity; it generally ran out of physical space before it hit its weight limit. The C-141A could carry ten standard 463L master pallets and had

1020-459: The 1707th Air Transport Wing, Heavy (Training), Tinker Air Force Base , Oklahoma. Following the satisfactory completion of civil testing, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificate was awarded to the C-141 on 29 January 1965. The first delivery to an operational unit (63-8088) was conducted on 23 April 1965 to the 44th Air Transport Squadron, 1501st Air Transport Wing, Travis Air Force Base , California. Although operational testing

1080-428: The 1973 Yom Kippur War as part of Operation Nickel Grass . Over the course of the operation, C-141s flew 422 missions and carried a total of 10,754 tons of cargo. By 1975, the C-141 fleet had reportedly accumulated an average of 20,000 flight hours each, two-thirds of their original rated life span. Despite an early belief that the advantages of the turbojet over preceding propeller-driven cargo aircraft would render

1140-523: The C-124 from 1947 to 1949, from a prototype they created from a World War II –design Douglas C-74 Globemaster , and based on lessons learned during the Berlin Airlift . The aircraft was powered by four large Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major piston engines producing 3,800  hp (2,800  kW ) each. The C-124's design featured two large clamshell doors and a hydraulically actuated ramp in

1200-521: The C-141 fleet was troubled by seemingly random cracking through the wing area, which was, according to a report compiled by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), sometimes attributable to stresses imposed under certain types of missions undertaken. A planned remedial programme during the 1980s to repair C-141 wing boxes uncovered significant corrosion and cracking, necessitating the replacement of all wing boxes across

1260-487: The C-141 formed the backbone of the USAF's strategic airlift capability during the late 1960s; it continued to hold this status through to the late 1990s. On 8 January 1966, following the disestablishment of MATS, all C-141s were transferred to the newly established Military Airlift Command (MAC). During October 1973, both the C-141 and the larger C-5 Galaxy airlifted supplies from the United States to Israel during

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1320-595: The C-141 left service with all active USAF units, being confined to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units for the final two years of its operational service life. Between 2004 and 2006, multiple C-141s assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 445th Airlift Wing (445 AW) at Wright-Patterson AFB were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan , where they were typically engaged in the medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) mission to repatriate wounded service members. In 2005, Hanoi Taxi and other aircraft were marshalled by

1380-488: The C-141 to the fullest of its capabilities, 270 in-service C-141As (vast majority of the fleet) were stretched, adding needed payload volume. The conversion program took place between 1977 and 1982, with first delivery taking place in December 1979. These modified aircraft were designated C-141B . It was estimated that this stretching program was equivalent to buying 90 new aircraft, in terms of increased capacity. Also added

1440-422: The C-141 was the floor height of the cabin being only 50 inches (130 cm) above the ground, enabling easy access to the cabin via the large rear doors incorporated into the upwards-sweeping rear fuselage. This section is furnished with a large single-piece hydraulically -actuated loading ramp for simplified loading/unloading of both vehicles and general cargo. The two side-facing rear doors were designed to allow

1500-459: The Minuteman, which lacked other equipment. In terms of personnel, the aircraft could carry a maximum of 154 fully-equipped troops, 123 paratroops or 80 litter patients at a time. In practice, it was discovered that, under typical conditions, the cargo deck of the C-141A would run out of volume before the maximum weight value could be reached. In terms of ground logistics, an important aspect of

1560-662: The U.S. military worldwide, including flights to Southeast Asia, Africa and elsewhere. From 1959 to 1961 they transported Thor missiles across the Atlantic to England. The C-124 was also used extensively during the Vietnam War transporting materiel from the U.S. to Vietnam. Until the C-5A became operational, the C-124, and its sister C-133 Cargomaster were the only aircraft available that could transport very large loads. The United States Air Force 's Strategic Air Command (SAC)

1620-571: The USAF to provide evacuation for those seeking refuge from Hurricane Katrina . This aircraft and others evacuated thousands of people, including the MEDIVAC of hundreds of ill and injured. With the 5 May 2005 announcement of the retirement of the last eight C-141s, the Hanoi Taxi embarked on a series of flights, giving veterans, some of whom flew out of POW captivity in Vietnam in this aircraft,

1680-624: The USAF withdrew the last C-141s from service in 2006, after replacing the airlifter with the C-17 Globemaster III . Throughout the early 1960s, the United States Air Force's Military Air Transport Service (MATS) relied on a substantial number of propeller-driven aircraft for strategic airlift. As these aircraft were mostly obsolescent designs and the USAF needed the benefits of jet power, the USAF ordered 48 Boeing C-135 Stratolifters as an interim step. The C-135

1740-455: The adoption of turbojet engines; speculated engines to power the envisioned airlifter included the Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3 (18,000 lb) or JT3D-8 (21,000 lb), Rolls-Royce Conway 550 (21,825 lb) or Bristol Siddeley BS.100 (27,000 lb approximately). A broadly similar but improved proposal, designated as SC.5/45 , was heavily promoted by Shorts for Operational Requirement ASR.364 , partly on

1800-583: The aircraft a low-level night flying capability, enhanced navigation equipment, and improved defensive countermeasures. These aircraft were operated by AMC in conjunction with Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). A total of 63 C-141s were upgraded throughout the 1990s to C-141C configuration, with improved avionics and navigation systems, to keep them up to date. New capabilities, including traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), were added to aircraft that received this upgrade package. This variant introduced some of

1860-578: The aircraft based at Wright-Patterson AFB was identified by its crew chief as the Hanoi Taxi (AF Serial Number 66-0177), the first aircraft to land in North Vietnam in 1973 for Operation Homecoming in the final days of the Vietnam War , to repatriate American POWs from North Vietnam . Between 1996 and 1998, a C-141A was used as a towing aircraft in the Eclipse project to demonstrate

Lockheed C-141 Starlifter - Misplaced Pages Continue

1920-406: The aircraft rises. When the yoke is pushed forward, the nose is lowered. When the yoke is turned left, the plane rolls to the left, and when it is turned to the right, the plane rolls to the right. Small to medium-size aircraft, usually limited to propeller-driven, feature a mechanical system whereby the yoke is connected directly to the control surfaces with cables and rods. Human muscle power alone

1980-603: The aircraft to NASA . Another, more ambitious proposal, commonly designated as SC.5/40 , sought to combine elements of the Starlifter with another strategic airlifter, the turboprop -powered Short Belfast , was to be performed in partnership with the British aircraft manufacturer Shorts . For this variant, the fuselage of the Belfast would have been paired with the wing of the Starlifter, which would have readily enabled

2040-612: The basis that it would also enable a near-identical civil-orientated model to be produced for home and export use, designated as SC.5/41 . Detailed presentations on the SC.5/41 and SC.5/45 proposals were reportedly made to both British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and to the Royal Air Force (RAF) respectively, but no orders were placed. The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a long range strategic airlifter, designed for transporting large quantities of either cargo or passengers. It

2100-583: The first glass cockpit technology to the aircraft, as well as improving reliability by replacing some mechanical and electromechanical components with more modern electronic equivalents. The final C-141C were delivered during late 2001. 19 C-141s were destroyed in accidents through 2005. Data from Forecast International General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Douglas C-124 Globemaster II The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II , nicknamed "Old Shaky",

2160-407: The fleet instead of making repairs. During the late 1970s, the USAF opted to commence a series of major upgrades to the C-141 fleet; not only was work started on a life extension programme but, in 1977, the service also accepted a proposal from Lockheed to stretch several aircraft. The first of these stretched airlifters, re-designated C-141B to differentiate it from unmodified members of the fleet,

2220-402: The inclusion of retractable tray-tables and making it easier to enter/leave small cockpits. A yoke, unlike a side-stick, may be used comfortably with either hand. This can be useful if one needs to write or manipulate other controls in the cockpit. This advantage is shared with the center-stick. The yoke often incorporates other key functions such as housing thumb or finger buttons to enable

2280-500: The latter obsolete, service experiences with the C-141 found that there was still a useful role for turboprop -driven utility transports such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules . Capabilities such as short-field takeoff performance and suitability for austere airstrips meant that such aircraft proved useful, while the C-141 proved to be anything but robust, suffering numerous instances of structural failures. Specifically,

2340-580: The newly established Air Mobility Command (AMC). Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) C-141s and units were also transferred to AMC. By 1992, shortly following the end of Desert Storm, according to a GAO report, the C-141 fleet had, on average, nearly reached its 30,000 rated service life. While the USAF was in the process of putting the fleet through a life extension programme, numerous aircraft had reached well into their extended service life already, necessitating large numbers of C-141s to be withdrawn accompanied by tight limitations on

2400-489: The nose as well as a cargo elevator under the aft fuselage. The C-124 was capable of carrying 68,500 lb (31,100 kg) of cargo, and the 77 ft (23 m) cargo bay featured two overhead hoists, each capable of lifting 8,000 lb (3,600 kg). As a cargo hauler, it could carry tanks, guns, trucks and other heavy equipment, while in its passenger-carrying role it could carry 200 fully equipped troops on its double decks or 127 litter patients and their nurses. It

2460-460: The onset of stall , or even a stick pusher , which physically pushes the yoke to prevent a stall. Yokes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the most common being of a "U" or "W" design. Some aircraft use a "ram's horn" style yoke, shaped like an "M", such as Embraer aircraft and the Concorde . There are some rarer exotic or archaic styles, such as circular or semi-circular designs, much like

Lockheed C-141 Starlifter - Misplaced Pages Continue

2520-512: The opportunity to experience one more flight before retirement. On 6 May 2006, the Hanoi Taxi landed for the last time and was received in a formal retirement ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio . There are 15 C-141s, including the "Hanoi Taxi", now on static display at various air museums around the United States, all other airframes were retired to

2580-399: The other pilot when one makes a control input. This is in contrast to some fly-by-wire control sticks that allow each pilot to send different, and sometimes greatly conflicting, inputs. Competing inputs are signaled on Airbus craft. Yokes take up more room than side-sticks in the cockpit and may even obscure some instruments; by comparison, side-sticks have minimal cockpit intrusion, allowing

2640-422: The planned peacetime flight hours of the fleet were doubled. According to a GAO report, weight-related operational restrictions imposed upon the fleet have little effect on performance overall. This airlift effort has been referred to as the largest in history. On 1 June 1992, following the disestablishment of Military Airlift Command, all C-141s and the airlift wings to which they were assigned were transferred to

2700-565: The possibility of using aerotow systems to bring towed winged vehicles to sufficient altitude to launch small satellites, the ultimate goal was to lower the cost of space launches. Six successful tests were flown with a modified Convair F-106 Delta Dart , the QF-106 variant, in tow. A similar system can be seen in SpaceShipTwo , whereby atmospheric engines carry a rocket-engined "second stage" to high altitude for launch. On 16 September 2004,

2760-408: The remaining fleet's flying hours being implemented during the 1990s. The GAO warned that, should another event on the scale of Desert Storm break out, the USAF would probably experience a significant shortage in airlift capabilities due to the high fatigue state of the fleet, and noted that the C-17 Globemaster III intended to eventually replace the C-141 was experiencing delays. During 1994, one of

2820-532: The requirement, internally designated as the Lockheed Model 300 ; it would be the first large jet designed from the start to carry freight. In comparison to the firm's previous utility transport, the turboprop -powered Lockheed C-130 Hercules , it was considerably bigger, as well as possessing greater speed and more power. In terms of its basic configuration, the Model 300 was a large airlifter, furnished with

2880-453: The type to be used for dropping paratroops (in August 1965, the C-141 performed the first such drop from a jet-powered aircraft). The rear cargo doors could be also opened in flight to perform airborne cargo drops. The prototype and development aircraft were involved in an intensive operational testing program, along with the first C-141 to be delivered to MATS (63-8078) on 19 October 1964 to

2940-485: The type was never able to replace the C-124 Globemaster II fully due to its inability to transport outsize equipment in-theatre; this situation was later addressed by the introduction of the even larger C-5 Galaxy . The final duties performed by the C-141 in the conflict were repatriation flights, bringing home thousands of American prisoners of war (POWs). Despite some operational issues experienced,

3000-470: Was a boom receptacle for inflight refueling . The fuselage was stretched by adding "plug" sections forward and aft of the wings, lengthening the fuselage a total of 23 feet 4 inches (7.11 m) and allowing the carriage of 103 litters for wounded, 13 standard pallets, 205 troops, 168 paratroopers , or an equivalent increase in other loads. In 1994, a total of 13 C-141Bs were given SOLL II (Special Operations Low-Level II) modifications, which gave

3060-414: Was a useful stop-gap, but only had side-loading doors, thus much of the bulky and oversize equipment employed by the U.S. Army would not fit. During the spring of 1960, the USAF released Specific Operational Requirement 182 , calling for a new aircraft that would be capable of performing both strategic and tactical airlift missions. The strategic role demanded that the aircraft be capable of missions with

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3120-498: Was also the first aircraft to be designed and produced at the plant that would go into full-rate production. The prototype performed its maiden flight on 17 December of that year, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Wright brothers ' first flight. In conjunction with the USAF, Lockheed subjected the prototype to an intensive flight testing programme, which would involve five testing and evaluation aircraft. The first delivery of

3180-738: Was delivered during December 1979. The final C-141B was delivered in 1982. A total of 270 C-141As were modified to the C-141B standard, comprising nearly the entire original production run. The first strategic airlift flight of Operation Desert Shield was flown by a MAC C-141 of the 437th Military Airlift Wing out of Charleston AFB , SC, on 7 August 1990. The C-141 proved to be a workhorse airlifter of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm , flying 159,462 short tons (144,661 t) of cargo and 93,126 passengers during 8,536 airlift missions. In order to provide sufficient C-141s to meet intense demands, all scheduled maintenance activities were postponed, while

3240-410: Was retired in 1995 and was replaced by the 747SP-based Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). In service, the C-141 proved to "bulk out" before it "grossed out", meaning that it often had additional lift capacity that went wasted because the cargo hold was full before the plane's weight capacity had been reached. To correct the perceived deficiencies of the original model and utilize

3300-469: Was still underway, as a consequence of the United States' military involvement in South Vietnam , the C-141 was quickly dispatched to the region to commence operational sorties with the combat zone. The type became heavily used throughout the latter stages of the Vietnam War , its transport capabilities being in high demand. Even following the arrival of large numbers of C-141s in the Vietnam theatre,

3360-477: Was the initial operator of the C-124 Globemaster, with 50 in service from 1950 through 1962. Four squadrons operated the type, consisting of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Strategic Support Squadrons. Their primary duty was to transport nuclear weapons between air bases and to provide airlift of SAC personnel and equipment during exercises and overseas deployments. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS)

3420-596: Was the only aircraft of its time capable of transporting fully assembled heavy equipment such as tanks and bulldozers. The C-124 first flew on 27 November 1949, with the C-124A being delivered from May 1950. The C-124C was next, featuring more powerful engines, and an APS-42 weather radar fitted in a "thimble"-like structure on the nose. Wingtip-mounted combustion heaters were added to heat the cabin, and enable wing and tail surface deicing. The C-124As were later equipped with these improvements. One C-124C, 52-1069 , c/n 43978,

3480-544: Was the primary operator until January 1966, when the organization was retitled Military Airlift Command (MAC). Within a few years following the formation of MAC, the last remaining examples of the C-124 were transferred to the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) and the Air National Guard (ANG), said transfers being complete by 1970. The first ANG unit to receive the C-124C, the 165th Tactical Airlift Group (now known as

3540-573: Was to order the development of the Lockheed 300 on 13 March 1961, placing an initial contract for five aircraft for test and evaluation, to be designated the C-141 . One unusual aspect of the aircraft was that it was designed to meet both military and civil airworthiness standards. The prototype C-141A serial number 61-2775 was manufactured and assembled in record time, having been rolled out of Lockheed's factory at Marietta, Georgia on 22 August 1963. It

3600-600: Was used as a JC-124C, for testing the 15,000 shp (11,000 kW) Pratt & Whitney XT57 (PT5) turboprop , which was installed in the nose. First deliveries of the 448 production aircraft began in May 1950 and continued until 1955. The C-124 was operational during the Korean War , and was also used to assist supply operations for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica . They performed heavy lift cargo operations for

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