UNIQUE PACKETS

THE FLYING MAIL CAR

The USAAF leased a single C-82A-15-FA (s/n: 44-23016 / msn: 10060), to United Airlines Inc.
from September 27, 1946 to October 8th, 1946. It was to test the concept behind the 5 cent airmail
stamp where mail could be sorted, processed and bagged while in flight for immediate delivery
after landing, hence speeding delivery times and reducing costs.
Fairchild performed the interior modifications to the aircraft which was brand new off the production
line in Hagerstown where it was christened as the Flying Mail Car with civil registration NC8855.
The cargo hold was fitted with everything required for processing large quantities of mail.
Up to six tons of mail could be carried on a 500 mile route or up to four tons on a 1,200 mile route.
The inaugural flight on October 1, 1946 carried up to 13 personnel and took-off from LaGuardia Field,
New York westbound to California along US Air Mail Route No. 1. With onboard staff sorting the mail
along the way the trip was completed in 12 hours. Although the concept seemed like a great idea it held
little practical value and was discontinued after making only a few trips.
The aircraft was returned to the USAAF in mid October, 1946 for continued military service,
it's ultimate fate is unknown.

NC8855 as the United Flying Mail Car, livery was bare metal with blue stripes
and bold "United" logos. The cockpit stripes are an official Fairchild design,
"Fairchild Packet" logos also adorn the engine nacelles and ventral fins.

Artwork showing to good effect the color scheme carried by NC8855.

Magazine advert for the Flying Mail Car.

An advert in Popular Science magazine promoting the Flying Mail Car.

NACA / NASA PACKETS

The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), operated a C-82A-30-FA (s/n: 44-23056 /
msn: 10100), from August 31, 1947 right up to February 7, 1961 for various logistics and utility duties.
The C-82 carried a colorful livery along with fleet number: 107, it was based out of the Ames Facility
at NAS Moffett Field, California. In 1958, the NACA was re-formed into the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA). "107" was occasionally used in flight tests for NASA if
required, the aircraft was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in 1961.

C-82A s/n: 44-23056 in NASA livery.
Photo: Andre van Loon Collection.

During the 1950's, NACA acquired up to 50 (according to some sources), C-82 Packets which were
tested to destruction at the NACA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The aim of the tests was
to investigate the crash-worthiness / fire hazards of piston-powered aircraft. Packets were propelled at
speed along a ramp into an embankment which tore off wings causing the ruptured fuel tanks to ignite.
The spread of the fires was studied from film reels recording the crashes so fire suppression systems
could be developed. Other tests included G-force effects on dummies in passenger seats and the
behaviour of pylon-mounted jet engines during a take-off or landing accident.
Known NACA crash numbers are: I-M, X2, Y2, Y5, Y6, Y7, Y8, 6, 7, 10.

 
Two examples of a C-82 Packet tested to destruction in simulated crashes during 1952.
Note other Packets parked in the background awaiting their turn...
Photos: NACA / NASA official.

PACKET PRESSROOMS

Two C-82 Packets were converted into "flying newsrooms" by the USAF for the purposes of
promoting airshows and hence the Air Force. The aircraft were C-82A s/n: 48-573 (msn: 10208)
and s/n: 48-578 (msn: 10213), the cargo hold was outfitted with desks, lamps, typewriters etc.
for use by the travelling media. A large nose was painted on each aircraft with the words
nose for news printed underneath, the slogan Packet Pressroom was printed on the fuselage
sides under the US Air Force label. Service of the Packet Pressrooms was from 1948 onwards.

Packet Pressroom s/n: 48-573, sporting the nose-on-the-nose artwork.
Photo: USAF official.

The second Packet Pressroom s/n: 48-578, at an airshow. Note the prototype
Lockheed XR6O-1 Constitution in the background.
Photo: W.J. Balogh.

MEXICAN DORSAL-FILLETED PACKETS

Mexicana Airlines operated up to five C-82 Packets from 1956 through to the early 1960's out of Mexico City Airport.
Local Mexicana engineers came up with the idea of adding long dorsal-fillets ahead of the vertical fins to improve
yaw characteristics in the aircraft. Very little is known about the fillets themselves or the improvements they made
to C-82 performance. Four of the Mexicana fleet were known to have had dorsal-fillets: XA-LOJ (45-57740),
XA-LOK (45-57756), XA-LOL (45-57766) and XA-MAW (45-57807).

Grainy but rare shot of dorsal-filleted XA-LOJ over Mexico City in 1957.
Photo: Steward-Davis.

Another angle on XA-LOJ in early Mexican livery, later the Compania
Mexicana de Aviacion logo was rewritten with MEXICANA.
Photo: Steward-Davis.

Clear shot of dorsal-fillets on XA-LOL at Mexico City in March, 1957.
Photo: Adolfo Villasenor.

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