Engineering:Kreider-Reisner XC-31
| XC-31 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Single-engine transport |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Kreider-Reisner Fairchild Aircraft |
| First flight | September 22, 1934 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 1 |
The Kreider-Reisner XC-31 or Fairchild XC-31 was an American single-engined monoplane transport aircraft of the 1930s designed and built by Kreider-Reisner. It was one of the last fabric-covered aircraft tested by the U.S. Army Air Corps.[1] Designed as an alternative to the emerging twin-engined transports of the time such as the Douglas DC-2, it was evaluated by the Air Corps at Wright Field, Ohio, under the test designation XC-941,[1] but rejected in favor of all-metal twin-engined designs.
The XC-31 was built with an aluminum alloy framework covered by fabric, and featured strut-braced wing and fully retractable landing gear, with the main gear units mounted on small wing-like stubs and retracting inwards. An additional novel feature was the provision of main cargo doors that were parallel with the ground to facilitate loading.
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Following evaluation by the USAAC, the XC-31 was transferred to NACA, which used it for icing studies at its Langley Research Center.[2]
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Capacity: 15 passengers or 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg) of cargo
- Length: 55 ft 5 in (16.89 m)
- Wingspan: 75 ft 0 in (22.86 m)
- Height: 15 ft 10 in (4.83 m)
- Wing area: 802 sq ft (74.5 m2)
- Empty weight: 7,322 lb (3,321 kg)
- Gross weight: 12,750 lb (5,783 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-25 radial , 750 hp (559 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h, 134 kn)
- Cruise speed: 143 mph (230 km/h, 124 kn)
- Range: 775 mi (1,247 km, 673 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,570 m)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Douglas DC-2
- Ford Trimotor
- Junkers Ju 52
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of the United States
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Kreider-Reisner XC-31 Fact Sheet". Online Aircraft Features. National Museum of the US Air Force. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3290.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Fairchild Model XC-31 Cargo Transport". History of Airplanes. acepilots.com. http://acepilots.com/airplanes/country/american/fairchild-model-xc-31-cargo-transport/.
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