Northrop YC-125 Raider

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YC-125_Raider

The Northrop YC-125 Raider was a 1940s American three-engined STOL utility
transport built by Northrop Corporation, Hawthorne, California.

Northrop's first postwar civil design was a three-engined STOL passenger and
cargo transport named the Northrop N-23 Pioneer. The Pioneer could carry 36
passengers or five tons of cargo and first flew on 21 December 1946. The
aircraft had good performance, but there was little interest due to the
availability of cheap war surplus aircraft. The Pioneer was lost in a fatal
crash on 19 February 1948 when it lost a new tailfin design in flight. In 1948,
the United States Air Force expressed interest in an aircraft of the same
configuration and placed an order with Northrop for 23 aircraft, 13 troop
transports designated the C-125A Raider and 10 for Arctic rescue work designated
the C-125B. With the company designation N-32 Raider the first aircraft flew on
1 August 1949.

The aircraft was powered by three 1,200 hp (890 kW) Wright R-1820-99 Cyclone
radial engines. The aircraft could also be fitted with JATO rockets that enabled
it to take off in less than 500 feet (150 m). The 13 troop transporters were
designated YC-125A in-service and the Arctic rescue version the YC-125B.

The Canadian company Canadair considered building the N-23 under licence but did
not proceed.


Role
Transport aircraft

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Northrop Corporation

First flight
1 August 1949

Introduction
1950

Retired
1955

Primary user
United States Air Force

Produced
1949–1950

Number built
23

Operational history

Deliveries of the YC-125 to the USAF began in 1950. These aircraft did not serve
long as they were underpowered and they were soon sent to Sheppard Air Force
Base, Texas and relegated to be ground instructional trainers until retired in
1955 and declared surplus.

Most of the surplus aircraft were purchased by Frank Ambrose and sold to bush
operators in South and Central America.

Specifications (YC-125B)

General characteristics
Crew: 4
Length: 67 ft 1 in (20.45 m)
Wingspan: 86 ft 6 in (26.37 m)
Height: 23 ft 1 in (7.04 m)
Max takeoff weight: 41,900 lb (19,006 kg)
Powerplant: 3 × Wright R-1820-99 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston
engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance
Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn)
Cruise speed: 171 mph (275 km/h, 149 kn)
Range: 1,856 mi (2,987 km, 1,613 nmi)
Service ceiling: 12,200 ft (3,700 m)




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