C-82 VARIANTS
| XC-82 | ||
| Status: Prototype | Year: 1944 | Quantity: 1 |
Twin-engined, twin-boom cargo / troop transport. Two were originally ordered but after the favourable maiden flight of the first prototype the second was cancelled with a production order following. The USAAF took delivery of the XC-82 and used it at Wright-Patterson Field, Ohio as a test aircraft. It is known to have been sent to Saipan in 1944 as part of the test program. The aircraft became a ground instructional airframe in 1948 and was scrapped soon after. Serial number: 43-13202. |
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.jpg) XC-82 during a test flight, note the counter balances on the rear control surfaces. Photo: USAF official. |
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| C-82A | ||
| Status: Production version | Year: 1945 | Quantity: 220 |
The main variant developed from the prototype for the USAAF. Production ran from 1945 to 1948 to fill the immediate need for a cargo / troop transport aircraft in the post-war years. Many improvements were incorporated into the production run, the main one being the introduction of upgraded Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines starting from the 11th airframe. The 11th airframe also introduced a slightly more contoured nose (compare photos above and below) - 14.75 inches longer and bare metal finish as opposed to previous deliveries in US Army olive-drab. Provision was made for glider-towing from the rear horizontal stabilizer. The first 100 were built with block numbers in the designation to denote production line upgrades which ran in jumps of five from 1 to 30. All post-war deliveries of 120 dispensed with block numbers. The C-82A was the only variant later released to the civilian market. Serial numbers: 44-22959 / 44-23058, 45-57733 / 45-57832, 48-568 / 48-587. Distribution: 216 service deliveries, 2 test aircraft (44-22975, 44-23004), 1 static test airframe (44-22961), 1 factory converted prototype (45-57769). |
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 A late production C-82A s/n: 48-585. Photo: USAF official. |
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| EC-82A | ||
| Status: C-82A Conversion | Year: 1948 | Quantity: 2 |
One conversion was performed for testing of a snow-ski installation on the landing gear from 1948 to 1951. Take-off performance was compromised to the point where further testing and improvements was deemed impractical. Serial number: 44-23004. One prototype conversion made with Fairchild-designed tracked undercarriage for landing on rough fields looked very promising from the start. The tracks were designed by Fairchild engineer Alfred A. Gassner in 1947, the prototype flew in 1948 and extensive testing followed by Fairchild and the USAF. During 1949 12 C-82A Packets were earmarked for conversion but problems then arose with the rubber track belts dislodging in crosswind landings. The tracks also became clogged when taxiing on muddy fields. The conversion program was cancelled in 1949. The "E" prefix in the late 40s period stood for Exempt from normal operations. Serial number: 45-57746. Assigned but not converted: 45-57747, 45-57748, 45-57750 / 45-57754, 45-57757 / 45-57760, 45-57763. |
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 The tracked undercarriage EC-82A s/n: 45-57746. Photo: William T. Larkins 1948. |
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| SC-82A | ||
| Status: C-82A Conversion | Year: 1947 | Quantity: 18 |
Search and Rescue conversions for MATS service from 1947 to 1952. Equipped with rescue gear which could be dropped through belly cargo doors. The "S" prefix in the late 40s period stood for Search and Rescue. Known serial numbers: 44-22978, 44-22982, 44-23015, 44-23029, 44-23036, 44-23041, 45-57734, 45-57736, 45-57737, 45-57828. |
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 SC-82A s/n: 44-22978, note the orange-yellow rescue bands on the fuselage and booms. Photo: William T. Larkins. |
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| XC-82B | ||
| Status: Prototype | Year: 1947 | Quantity: 1 |
Factory converted prototype to improve the failures experienced in the C-82A during tactical USAF missions. A massive redesign of the forward fuselage area, major engine upgrade and various internal changes meant a new designation was applied by the USAF as the XC-119A (Fairchild Model 105). Subsequently entered production in large numbers as the C-119 Flying Boxcar, the prototype was scrapped in 1951. Serial number: 45-57769. |
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 The XC-82B (XC-119A) with modified fuselage and engine nacelles. Photo: USAF official. |
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| C-82N | ||
| Status: Production version | Year: 1945 | Quantity: 3 |
License built version by North American Aviation Inc., identical to the C-82A but with minor internal changes. All three were delivered in a coat of US Army olive-drab paint. The remaining order of 997 was cancelled on VJ-Day. All became ground instructional airframes in 1946 with the first two scrapped by 1947. Technically, the Series Suffix Letter should have been "B" as the C-82B, why "N" was chosen out of sequence is unclear, maybe to denote North American? Serial numbers: 45-25436 / 45-25438. |
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 Olive-drab painted C-82N s/n: 45-25436. Photo: P.M. Bowers. |
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| ZC-82N | ||
| Status: C-82N Redesignation | Year: 1948 | Quantity: 1 |
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The third C-82N redesignated as obsolete ("Z") in 1948. Finally scrapped in 1951. Serial number: 45-25438. |
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