Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar

Fairchild · United States · first flew 1951 · transport aircraft

The C-119F Flying Boxcar is a mid-production variant of the Fairchild C-119 with uprated Wright R-3350-85 engines, improving on the performance and reliability of the earlier C-119C.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	26.36 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Mid-production C-119 variant with Wright R-3350-85 engines
Twin-boom high-wing layout with clamshell rear cargo doors
Improved engine nacelles and performance over C-119C

Virtually identical in outline to other C-119 variants — twin-boom, high-wing, clamshell-door transport; distinguishable from the C-119C primarily by engine cowling details and from the C-119G by the absence of the improved fin.

Specifications

The Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar has a length of 26.36 m (86 ft).
It has a wingspan of 33.3 m (109 ft).
Its maximum speed is 460 km/h (286 mph).
Typical crew: 5.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The C-119F entered USAF service in the early 1950s, incorporating engine improvements that addressed power deficiencies encountered in early C-119 operations. It served in Korea and continued in USAF and allied service throughout the decade.

Variants

The C-119F sits between the C-119C and the later C-119G in the production sequence; some C-119Fs were later fitted with auxiliary jet pods to improve single-engine and hot-and-high performance.

Where you'll see it

Served extensively with the USAF Tactical Airlift Command and was supplied to allied nations including Italy, Belgium, and India; saw use in the Congo and various Cold War-era operations.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.