View source for LTV XC-142

{{Short description|Experimental military tilt-wing aircraft}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=September 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = XC-142
| image = File:Ling-Temco-Vought XC-142A.jpg
| caption =
| type = [[Experimental aircraft|Experimental]] V/STOL transport
| national_origin = United States
| first_flight = 29 September 1964<ref>[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195770/chance-voughtltv-xc-142a/ Chance-Vought/LTV XC-142A- National Museum of the United States Air Force™]</ref><ref>[https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0461447.pdf Unclassified Defense Documentation Center for Scientific and Technical Information Cameron station ALEXANDRIA. Virginia XC-142A progress report VOLUME NO. CONTRACT NO. AF33(6öV)-7868]</ref>
| introduction =
| manufacturer = [[Ling-Temco-Vought]] (LTV)
| primary_user = [[NASA]]
| more_users = <!--maximum of three-->
| number_built = 5<ref>[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195770/chance-voughtltv-xc-142a/ Chance-Vought/LTV XC-142A- National Museum of the United States Air Force™]</ref>
| variants =
}}
The '''Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) XC-142''' is a [[tiltwing]] [[experimental aircraft]] designed to investigate the operational suitability of [[V/STOL|vertical/short takeoff and landing]] (V/STOL) transports. An XC-142A first flew conventionally on 29 September 1964,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Chance-Vought/LTV XC-142A |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195770/chance-voughtltv-xc-142a/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=National Museum of the United States Air Force™ |language=en-US}}</ref> and completed its first transitional flight on 11 January 1965 by taking off vertically, changing to forward flight, and finally landing vertically. Its service sponsors pulled out of the program one by one, and it eventually ended due to a lack of interest after demonstrating its capabilities successfully.
==Development==
[[File:XC142A.jpg|thumb|XC-142A at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force]]
In 1959 the [[United States Army]], Navy and Air Force began work on the development of a prototype V/STOL aircraft that could augment helicopters in transport-type missions. Specifically they were interested in designs with longer range and higher speeds than existing helicopters, in order to support operations over longer distances, or in the case of the [[United States Marine Corps]], from further offshore. On 27 January 1961, a series of DOD actions resulted in an agreement where all of the military services would work on the ''Tri-Service Assault Transport Program'' under the Navy's [[Bureau of Naval Weapons]] (BuWeps) leadership.
The original outline had been drawn up as a replacement for the [[CH-37 Mojave|Sikorsky HR2S]], with a payload on the order of {{cvt|10000|lb}}. BuWeps released a revised specification that specified the same payload, but extended the operational radius to {{convert|250|mi|km|-1}} and increased the cruising airspeed to {{convert|250|-|300|kn|km/h|-1}} and the maximum airspeed to {{convert|300|-|400|kn|km/h|-1}}. However, for the Marine Corps mission, the requirement stated that the fuel load could be reduced so that the maximum gross weight would not exceed {{convert|35000|lb|kg|-3}}, as long as a {{convert|100|nmi|km|-1|adj=on}} radius was maintained.
[[Vought]] responded with a proposal combining engineering from their own design arm, as well as [[Ryan Aeronautical|Ryan]] and [[Hiller Aircraft|Hiller]], who had more extensive helicopter experience. Their proposal won the design contest, and a contract for five prototypes was signed in early 1962 with first flight specified for July 1964. The design was initially known as the Vought-Ryan-Hiller XC-142, but when Vought became part of the [[Ling-Temco-Vought]] (LTV) [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]] this naming was dropped.
During the prototype development the Navy decided to exit the program. They were concerned that the strong propeller downwash would make it difficult to operate. Their existing HR2S fleet had a ground pressure of about {{convert|7.5|psi|hPa|abbr=on|-2}}, and proved to blow people about on the ground and stir up considerable amounts of debris. The C-142 was predicted to have an even higher loading of {{convert|10|psi|hPa|abbr=on|-2}}, which they believed would limit it to operations to and from prepared landing pads and was therefore unsuitable for assault operations.
The first prototype made its first conventional flight on 29 September 1964, first hover on 29 December 1964, and first transition on 11 January 1965. The first XC-142A was delivered to the Air Force test team in July 1965. During the XC-142A program, a total of 420 hours were flown in 488 flights. The five XC-142As were flown by 39 different military and civilian pilots. Tests included carrier operations, simulated rescues, paratroop drops, and low-level cargo extraction.
During testing the aircraft's cross-linked driveshaft proved to be its [[Achilles heel]]. The shaft resulted in excessive vibration and noise, resulting in a high pilot workload. Additionally, it proved susceptible to problems due to wing flexing. Shaft problems, along with operator errors, resulted in a number of hard landings causing damage. One crash occurred as a result of a failure of the driveshaft to the tail rotor, causing three fatalities. One of the limitations found in the aircraft was an instability between wing angles of 35 and 80 degrees, encountered at extremely low altitudes. There were also high side forces which resulted from yaw and weak propeller blade pitch angle controls. The new "2FF" propellers also proved to generate less thrust than predicted.
==Design==
[[File:XC-142A at USAF Museum.jpg|thumb|XC-142A at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, with the pitch rotor visible at the end of the tail]]
The basic design was fairly typical for a [[cargo aircraft]], consisting of a large boxy fuselage with a tilted rear area featuring a loading ramp. It had a wingspan of {{convert|67|ft|m|abbr=on}} and was {{convert|58|ft|m|abbr=on}} long overall. The fuselage housed a {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} long, {{convert|7.5|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} wide {{convert|7|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} high cargo area with a somewhat boxy cockpit on the front for the crew of two pilots and a loadmaster. The wing was high-mounted and the tail surfaces were [[Cruciform tail|cruciform]] to keep the rear area clear during loading. Tricycle landing gear were used, with the main legs retracting into blisters on the fuselage sides. In normal parked configuration it would appear to be a conventional cargo plane.
For V/STOL operations, the aircraft "converted" by tilting its wing to the vertical. Roll control during hover was provided by differential clutching of the propellers, while yaw used the ailerons, which were in the airflow. For pitch control the aircraft featured a separate tail rotor, oriented horizontally to lift the tail, as opposed to the more conventional anti-torque rotors on helicopters that are mounted vertically. When on the ground, the tail rotor folded against the tail to avoid being damaged during loading. The wing could be rotated to 100 degrees, past vertical, in order to hover in a tailwind.
The XC-142 was powered by four [[General Electric T64]] turboshaft engines cross-linked on a common driveshaft, which eliminated engine-out asymmetric thrust problems during V/STOL operations, to drive four {{convert|15.5|ft|m|1|adj=on}} [[Hamilton Standard]] fiberglass propellers. Compared to conventional designs it was overpowered: it had 0.27&nbsp;hp/lb, compared to 0.12&nbsp;hp/lb for the contemporary [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C-130D Hercules]]. This extra power was required for safe VTOL operations, and gave the aircraft excellent all-around performance which included a maximum speed of over {{convert|400|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}, making it one of the fastest VTOL transport aircraft of the era.
==Operational history==
[[File:XC-142 landing on USS Bennington (CVS-20) 1966.jpg|thumb|The XC-142 during trials aboard {{USS|Bennington|CVS-20}}, in 1966]]
The aircraft never proceeded beyond the prototype stage. Five XC-142As were built during the 1960s.<ref name=":2" />
The flight, made on the #2 aircraft, was 38 minutes in length, during which the aircraft's general handling characteristics were checked at an altitude of 10,000 feet at a speed of approximately 150 knots. The landing gear was left down throughout the entire flight; takeoff and landing were made with wing and flaps at 10 degrees. Throughout the flight, the aircraft demonstrated smooth response and stable aerodynamic characteristics.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Unclassified Defense Documentation Center for Scientific and Technical Information Cameron station ALEXANDRIA. Virginia XC-142A progress report VOLUME NO. CONTRACT NO. AF33(6öV)-7868 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0461447.pdf}}</ref> At the end of September 1964, the overall program was analazed and considered to be "6 to 7 weeks behind schedule".<ref name=":1" />
In 1966, while tests were still underway, the Air Force requested a proposal for a production version, the C-142B. Since the Navy had backed out by this time, the Navy carrier compatibility requirement could be eliminated. This dramatically reduced the empty weight. Other changes proposed for this version included a streamlined cockpit, larger fuselage, upgraded engines and simplified engine maintenance.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=News |first=Aerotech |date=2021-09-25 |title=On this Date |url=https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2021/09/25/on-this-date-79/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Aerotech News & Review |language=en-US}}</ref>
After reviewing the C-142B proposal, the tri-services management team could not develop a requirement for a V/STOL transport. XC-142A testing ended, and the remaining flying copy was turned over to [[NASA]] for research testing from May 1966 to May 1970.<ref name=":0" />
In service it would carry 32 equipped troops or {{convert|8000|lb|kg|-3}} of cargo. It had maximum gross weight of {{convert|41000|lb|kg|-3}} for a vertical take-off and {{convert|45000|lb|kg|-3}} for a short takeoff. A civilian version, the '''Downtowner''', was also proposed. This was designed to carry 40–50 passengers at a cruise speed of {{convert|290|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} using only two of its engines.<ref>McPhee, Andrew. [http://www.unrealaircraft.com/gravity/vhr_XC-142A.php "Beating Gravity: Vought-Hiller-Ryan XC-142A"]. ''unrealaircraft.com'', 2005. Retrieved: 15 November 2010.</ref>
==Surviving aircraft==
Of the five aircraft built, only one still survives.
*XC-142A (AF Ser. No. ''62-5924'') is on display in the fourth building of the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] near [[Dayton, Ohio]]. It was flown to the museum in 1970 and moved from the experimental aircraft hangar to the fourth building of the museum's main complex in November 2015.<ref>National Museum of the United States Air Force. [https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos.aspx?igphoto=2001320667 "Restoration staff move the Chance-Vought/LTV XC-142A into the new fourth building at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Nov. 22, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Don Popp)"]. ''www.nationalmuseum.af.mil'', 2015. Retrieved: 14 October 2021.</ref>
==Specifications (XC-142A)==
[[File:LTV XC-142 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the LTV XC-142]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66''<ref name="Janes 65 p264-5">Taylor 1965, pp. 264–265.</ref> and <ref>[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195770/chance-voughtltv-xc-142a/ Chance-Vought/LTV XC-142A- National Museum of the United States Air Force™]</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|genhide=
|crew=2
|capacity=<br/>
**32 fully-equipped troops ''or''
**24 stretcher patients and 4 attendants ''or''
**{{convert|8000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} cargo
|length m=
|length ft=58
|length in=1
|span m=
|span ft=67
|span in=6
|height m=
|height ft=26
|height in=1
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=534.5
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=8.6:1<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=22595
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=34474
|gross weight note=(VTOL weight)
|max takeoff weight lb=44500
|max takeoff weight note=(STOL)
|fuel capacity={{convert|1400|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}}
|more general=
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=4
|eng1 name= [[General Electric T64]]-GE-1
|eng1 type=[[turboprop]]s
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=3080<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 shp=2850<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|more power=
|prop blade number=4<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propellers
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=15.5<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=0<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=
<!--
Performance
-->
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=431
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{convert|20000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=288<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed note=at sea level
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=230–470
|combat range nmi=
|ferry range miles=3800
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=25000
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=6800
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
* [[Canadair CL-84 Dynavert]]
* [[Hiller X-18]]
* [[Kaman K-16B]]
* [[Vertol VZ-2]]
|lists=
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
* [[List of VTOL aircraft]]
|see also=
* [[Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey]]
* [[Tiltrotor]]
}}
==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
* Markman, Steve and William G. Holder. ''Straight Up A History of Vertical Flight.'' Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publications, 2000. {{ISBN|0-7643-1204-9}}.
* [[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor, John W. R.]] ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–1966''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.
{{Refend}}
== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last= Norton |first= Willam |year= 2006 |title= VOUGHT / HILLER / RYAN XC-142A TILTWING VSTOL TRANSPORT  |edition= First |publisher= Ginter Books |series=Air Force Legends |volume=Nº213 |url= http://www.ginterbooks.com/AIRFORCE/AFL213.htm |isbn= 0-942612-88-4 |location= California, United States |access-date= 1 February 2015 }}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Ling-Temco-Vought XC-142}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141102121455/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=597 Factsheet] at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/c-142.htm XC-142]
* {{Internet Archive film clip | id=1965-02-11_San_Francisco | description=showing the XC-142 in flight}} (begins at 2:17 mark)
* Operation Suitability Tests. Film donated by the Ryan Aeronautical Company to the San Diego Air and Space Museum in the 1990s. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZoHrlPZd2w]
{{Vought aircraft}}
{{USAF transports}}
{{USAF system codes}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Vought aircraft|C-142]]
[[Category:1960s United States military transport aircraft]]
[[Category:1960s United States experimental aircraft|C-142, Ling-Temco-Vought]]
[[Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Tiltwing aircraft]]
[[Category:Four-engined turboprop aircraft]]
[[Category:NASA aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1964]]
[[Category:Turboshaft-powered aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]