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| The C-123 troop and cargo transport was designed by the original Chase Aircraft Company. A production order for 300 C-123B, held by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation (which had acquired a majority interest in the Chase company in 1953), was cancelled in June 1953. New bids were asked for, as a result of which production of the C-123B was assigned to Fairchild. The first Fairchild-built C-123B flew on 1 September 1954 and production aircraft entered service with the USAF's 309th Troop Carrier Group in July 1955. Orders totalling more than 300 aircraft were completed by mid-1958, six going to Saudi Arabia and 18 to Venezuela.
In 1955 the prototype C-123B was fitted experimentally with two Fairchild J44 turbojet engines mounted at the wingtips to provide auxiliary power for use in an emergency. As a result ten production aircraft were modified into C-123J with turbojet engines fitted. Meanwhile a small number of C-123H had been produced with wide-track landing gears.
The prototype YC-123H was later experimentally fitted with CJ610 auxiliary turbojet engines and flown on 30 July 1962. Having been tested in South Vietnam as a counter-insurgency aircraft, 183 more C-123B were given 12.68kN General Electric J85-GE-17 auxiliary turbojet engines in underwing pods and designated C-123K. Some were further converted to AC-123K Spectre gunships for service during the Vietnam conflict.
| CREW | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 x P+W R-2800-99W, 1840kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 27240 kg | 60054 lb |
| Empty weight | 14100 kg | 31085 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 33.6 m | 110 ft 3 in |
| Length | 23.3 m | 76 ft 5 in |
| Height | 10.4 m | 34 ft 1 in |
| Wing area | 113.6 m2 | 1222.78 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 392 km/h | 244 mph |
| Ceiling | 7000 m | 22950 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 2350 km | 1460 miles |
| john Dilella, e-mail, 16.09.2016 05:56 this is for joseph Tavolacci. I was at tsn from dec.68 to dec. 69 .I worked the night shift as a cc in a flt on c123k tail #54-616 please e-mail me reply | | Ray Richards, e-mail, 22.05.2016 02:32 Anyone know Edgar Albert Taff. (Ed Taff) C123 pilot NKP in 1967-1970 reply | | Van, e-mail, 06.05.2016 11:38 My uncle co pilot of C123 that day crash in Monkey mountain in Macvsog december 1964 along with american-vietnamese crews and 33 members special forces, does anyone had photo or stories about this crash ? I want the exact location of crash on this monkey mountain reply | | ed bloom, e-mail, 28.03.2016 22:18 looking for a c 123 working co-pilot dg part # 17100, reply | |
| | Roger Newall, e-mail, 22.02.2016 04:14 Martin T. Takeuchi:
Your ride was in a Thai marked C-123K that belonged to the 19th Air Commando Squadron stationed at Tan Son Nhut AB, Saigon. 1 /3 of your squadron was Royal Thai AF. We had 2 planes with Thai Markings, which you flew in. Our crews mixed member when that was the assignment. Hope this helps clear up your question. reply | | Martin T. Takeuchi, e-mail, 17.07.2015 12:10 I was with the 8th Aerial Port Sqdn at Tan Son Nhut AB from Dec'67 until Dec'68.I was a C-123 Dispatcher /Load Planner at ALCE.I got to fly on a C-123K when I was sent to Song Be Air Field for awhile on a MOB.I think the plane I flew on was marked with Royal Thai AF markings,but had an American crew with a Thai Loadmaster reply | | Christopher Parent, e-mail, 03.07.2015 03:36 Anybody on this channel, got a question about T /N 4657 on its whereabouts from Nam. Thanks reply | | Grant, e-mail, 04.06.2015 09:17 I was hoping to get in contact with J.T. Smith,he commented on 16.02.2010 that he flew the White Whale. My Grandfather Lt Col Chip Wadley flew the White Whale during Vietnam, I'm not sure of the exact dates but I'm sure my dad or grandma could get those for me. Anyways I was just curious if Mr. Smith ever flew with my grandfather? If he'd like to get in touch I can be reached at wadley1709@gmail.com. Thanks reply | | Joshua, e-mail, 15.04.2015 21:35 My Grandfather flew with the First Flight Det 66-67. Maj Elmer "Doc" Miller, he was the Primary Mission Pilot and Logistics Officer and I'm looking for anyone who might have served with him. reply |
| Dave Graska, e-mail, 08.04.2015 02:25 Jack Dole, I don't know you personally but I was in RVN when that 123 was hit by the 105 on landing, I remember that aircraft was just back from K-mod and didn't even have it's armor plating in because it was rushed into service because of another broken bird-----------glad your survived ! reply | | Richards. Arthur E., e-mail, 07.01.2015 04:54 Lew Forbes- seeing that you were around the same "birds" as I while at Otis AFB 551st and prior to that at Suffolk on C-47s & 119s. I have been seeking a real great man- Wallace (Wally) Green maybe with an "e"., Last time I saw him was at Clark on 555.(1960s)It is now at Bangkok Museum. Certainly have fond memories of him and if you happen to have known him or wheer he is - please let me know. Art Richards MSgt USAF 1972. I started on B-26s in the korean party. this is a new Site to me fantastic!! reply | | Brendan Sniffin, e-mail, 06.11.2014 03:20 Stationed at Ardmore AFB with 309th 378 Squadron micro switch on nose gear was a constant problem on the C123 causing fire engines to greet us on many landings before it was corrected and bull Bentley had a sight door installed in the oxygen compartment to make sure the nose gear was down and locked left Ardmore for Dreaux France with delay in Goose bay and again in Prestwick Scotland , Got along well with Col. Bull Bentley. Bull got on the wrong side of base commander Col. Randolph Churchill. all in all It was a great Aircraft reply | | Matt Schacht, e-mail, 31.10.2014 09:30 I am a law student at the University of Missouri working on the case of a deceased veteran, and I am looking for C-123 pilots and UC-123 pilots. My client claimed he was poisoned with Agent Orange while refueling planes at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska (1965 to 1968). If you were a pilot or crew member of a C-123 that refueled at Elmendorf, I am interested in speaking with you. Also, if you have information on whether C-123s refueled at Elmendorf, please get in touch. Thanks! MatthewSchacht@gmail.com reply | | Dave Goalen, e-mail, 08.03.2014 06:02 I was your loadmaster on C123 Royal Thai air force reply | |
| | Jean, e-mail, 30.07.2013 00:38 Hi boys !
I'm looking for a checklist (C-123) for Flight Simulator X.
TKS from Belgium.
Jean reply | | Old Grunt, e-mail, 17.07.2013 02:37 Crewed this bookie with 315tac 70 /71 @ Phanrang the dam thing was a airborn weed wacker on spray mission , dam good touch&go on combat supply runs , watched FINNY Flight nose dive at the end of run way nothing left when magniesum tank caught fire. reply | | Anthony Wurthmann, e-mail, 19.04.2013 10:01 Looking for a PRE_FLIGHT Checklist. reply | | Richard Leonard, e-mail, 18.04.2013 21:47 Looking for anyone who may have known or flown with my father Lt. Col Edwin P Leonard who was with the 310 ACS /315 ACS Nha Trang 65-67 reply | | Joe Engelke, e-mail, 21.03.2013 02:33 I was a crew chief on the old birds at Nakom Phnom, Thailand 1969- 1970. Easy planes to work on. They were all K models and were flown as flare birds. My plane was 54-697- EL TIGRE. If anyone worked on it or was flight crew I would like to hear from you. reply | | Tom Sawyer, e-mail, 28.01.2013 08:16 I am looking for anyone who knew my father, Leon "Tom" Sawyer, Captain, USAF, a C-123 "Provider" Pilot from New Hampshire /Minnesota based in Nha Trang '66-'67. Any info would be great. reply |
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Tom Sawyer
I was flying c123 early 1964
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