The Boeing Model 493 was a proposed, large,
turboprop
A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. ...
-driven transport
aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or by using the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in ...
envisaged in the early 1950s by the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
aircraft manufacturer
Boeing
The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and ...
for use by the USAF.
Design and development
The Model 493-3-2 was similar to the baseline C-97 Stratofreighter but differed in having a gull-wing and increased wingspan, but also turboprop engines. The wingspan measured 165 feet from tip to tip, and the fuselage diameter was increased to 214 inches to accommodate a second deck as on the
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shaky", 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 (U ...
.
[Cox, George, and Kaston, Craig, 2019. ''American Secret Projects 2: Airlifters 1941-1961''. Manchester: Crecy Publishing.][Holder and Vadnais, 2004. ''The "C" Planes: U.S. Cargo Aircraft from 1925 to the Present.'' Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing.][Johnson, E.R.; Jones, Lloyd S. (2013). American military transport aircraft since 1925. McFarland & Company, Inc.]
Although a promising design, the Model 493 never left the drawboard because of the USAF's announcement of the XC-Heavy competition based on the concept of pod-equipped airlifter.
[
The Model 493-3-2 is known in some sources as the C-127, but Air Force records show that the C-127 designator was allocated to the Douglas C-124B.][
]
See also
* List of military aircraft of the United States
Lists of military aircraft of the United States cover current and former aircraft of the United States Armed Forces.
By designation
* List of United States Air Force aircraft designations (1919–1962)
* List of United States Navy aircraft desi ...
References
* {{cite book, title=USAF Aircraft 1947-1956, author=James C. Fahey, author-link=James C. Fahey, publisher=Air Force Museum Foundation, year= 1978
Model 493
Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States