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Description
| Manufacturer: | Convair | |
| Base model: | C-99 | |
| Designation: | XC-99 | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1925-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Transport | |
| Status: | Experimental | |
Specifications
| Length: | 182' 6" | 55.6 m | |
| Wingspan: | 230' 0" | 70.1 m | |
| Gross Weight: | 265,000 lb | 120,181 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 6 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-4360-25 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 3000 | ||
Performance
Known serial numbers
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Kelly Field Heritage Museum | Kelly AFB | Texas |
XC-99 on display
Kelly Field Heritage Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| D. Taylor , VA |
When I was approx. 12 years old, I saw a plane with six trailing edge propeller engines & the two inboard engines were feathered, flying over Southern, VA (Franklin Co.) This was in 1952-53 (not sure), but it made an indelible impression on me at that young age. I wonder if this aircraft was this Convair XC99...I guess I never will know for sure. 06/24/2008 @ 10:59 [ref: 21592] |
| Joe Roach Crestview, FL | I was stationed in San Antonio from 75-79 and remember taking my son inside the XC-99. Memory says you could pay a small fee and tour the aircraft. Very impressive for its time.
Joe 05/23/2008 @ 11:33 [ref: 20994] |
| Val Pajer,fmr. S/Sgt -USAFE Durham, CT | While assigned to Kelly AFB 1952-1954, My wikfe and I lived on base on MilitaryDrive(the back road to Lackland AFB) at the end o Kelly's runway. When the XC-99 was in Take-off, the sound was unique. Also the vibration used to shake our house and our dishes in the kitchen. 05/03/2008 @ 09:52 [ref: 20784] |
| Norm Edwards, LTC. AF Ret. Laguna Niguel, CA | In June, 1954, as a Preflight Aviation Cadet graduate (Class 55-P) at Lackland AFB, I went to Kelly Field to catch a ride back to Mississippi on a MS ANG C-47 being sent to pick up the Governor's son, a fellow Cadet. While we waited, the Base Ops Officer asked us if we would like to see the inside of the XC-99 that was on the ramp. We climbed all over it including climbing up into the tail. What an experience for me as a 19 year old looking forward to pilot training. Many years later I attended my son-in-law's (Greg Mason) OCS graduation at Lackland, as he started his pilot career, and we found the derelict XC-99 at the edge of Lackland in a weed patch. A worker was mowing the weeds and we paid him two dollars to let us go through the fence. We climbed all over and through the plane going out onto the horizontal stabilizer and the wings. The cockpit was void of instruments and covered with spider webs giving it the appearance of a ghost ship under water. I have pictures of that adventure somewhere. It is wonderful to know it is being preserved and I look forward to visiting it again. Truly one of the great experimentals! 04/26/2008 @ 09:07 [ref: 20724] |
| J.C. Miller San Antonio, TX | Today, 13 March 2008, the last major fuselage section was loaded on a 433 AW C-5 for transport to the Air Force museum WPAFB. Later this year the last containers with XC-99 parts will be moved by simular means. No idea when the museum will have funds to reassmble the aircraft, but at least the plane will be in place for that decision. 03/13/2008 @ 14:54 [ref: 20002] |
| Alvin Zimmermann Wyncote, PA | Before my AN/FST-2(Computers) days I was an Aircraft engine mech.
I was stationed at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico (1952-1955) and repaired and changed RB-36 engines.(R-4360's). The XC-99 would come in about once a month and would have engine parts on it to be unloaded. I often had this opportunity to participate in this unloading. It was designed as a cargo type B-36 with the same wing and engines as the B-36. The double deck floors was what awed me at that time. Complete info is at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_XC-99 Al Zimmermann Retired USAF/ US Navy Reserve 1951-1988 02/18/2008 @ 05:53 [ref: 19705] |
| steve douglas kennesaw, GA | my dad flew the xc-99 in the late 50's. i will ask him if he has any flight logs from that period. he was (then) captain jim douglas. retired as lt. col. in smyrna, ga 02/04/2008 @ 06:00 [ref: 19545] |
| Michael French Hampton, VA | MAJ WALT RABY:
Glad to hear that Maj Walt Raby (a retired USAF XC-99 Pilot) is doing well and could offer valuable insight on the XC-99. Know this isn't a chat room site, but Walt, know you are also excited about the XC-99's relocation from Kelly Field and the move to USAF Museum for restoration and display. Saw pictures of you and Jim Pittard (plus crew's photos) on web site. That must have been a real trip to Germany by way of Bermuda and Azores with the XC-99. Your experiences with C-124s and Boeing Heavy Iron sound very exciting, too ! ALL: There is a short (1:23 minute) MATS 1956 promotion film clip on You Tube that shows the XC-99 aircraft being loaded, taxiing, taking-off, in flight, plus on the flight deck. Well worth a look ! ANYONE: I would love to review a copy of the XC-99 flight log book and then provide a copy to the Air Force Museum to go along with the aircraft display. WHAT IF? Final XC-99 retirement flight (my opinion) should have been to WPAFB Museum in March 1957 and plane would have been continuously well kept for future generations. Better late than never ! Cheers, Mike French Aviation Enthusiast 757-878-5307 01/24/2008 @ 08:59 [ref: 19416] |
| Major Walter E. Raby Seattle, WA | When I returned from Korea in 1952 I was assigned to Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas. While speaking to General McMullen, The Commanding General of The San Antonio Area Material Area (SAAMA)the XC-99 flew directly over our heads then circled and landed. When it pulled up to the ramp the General asked me if I wanted to see the airplane and of course I said yes. He called for one of the XC-99 pilots to show me through the plane and I met all of the crew members that were on that flight, Including Capt. Jim Pittard who commanded the flight and was the project pilot as well. It was a breath taking experience. The plane was full of general cargo weighing over 100,000 lbs. We entered the plane and after walking through the lower front cargo bay, then under the wing box to the aft cargo bay we went up the spiral stair case, to the aft upper deck. There just seemed to be be no end in sight. We walked towards the front of the upper deck and met the flight crew. All crew members were great guys and I was impressed with the professionalism that I noticed. A week later Operations called me and asked if I was available to fly as co-pilot on a trip to McClellan AFB, Sacremento, CA. and I asked them what kind of airplane I would be flying. When the Operations Officer said the XC-99 I almost fainted. I was comfortable flying the C-124 for 10,000 hours traveling all over the world but the XC-99 was a goliath in comparison.
It flew well and control was better than exected. Much later I flew the XC-99 through line of thunderstorms and I learned one thing. No mater how big an airplane is it still shakes and bounces around in a storm. The wings flexed and we broke rivets as big as your thumb but she held together. In all flying the XC-99 was a great experience and it was a great learing experience for my next aviation job of flyig large airplanes, for 20 years, at the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington. . Major Walter E. Raby USAF Retired 01/17/2008 @ 11:45 [ref: 19333] |
| Ken Weller Fithian, IL | I spent a week and a half in San Antonio, Tx during Christmas time in 1953. Every day the XC-99 flew over the house. I would assume they were practicing landings and take-offs. It would several passes almost every day we were there. I have seen the pieces at the Air Force Museum in Dayton and am elated that it will get a re-birth. It would be a tradgedy to loose a one of a kind like that. Especially one that kept the experimental status and logged over 7400 hours hauling cargo. 11/24/2007 @ 03:05 [ref: 18651] |
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