Chase XC-123A Provider

Chase Aircraft · United States · first flew 1951 · transport aircraft

The Chase XC-123A was an experimental jet-powered transport derived from the XG-20 glider, fitted with four Westinghouse J44 turbojets to evaluate jet propulsion for assault transport aircraft. It was the jet-engined precursor to the eventual C-123 Provider.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	4 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	23.5 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Jet-powered version of the XG-20 assault glider lineage
Four wingtip-and-underwing jet engines on high-wing transport
Predecessor to the piston-powered C-123 Provider

A high-wing transport with a slab-sided fuselage, distinctive twin-wheel main undercarriage pods on the fuselage, and four small jet engines mounted under and at the tips of the straight wing.

Specifications

The Chase XC-123A Provider has a length of 23.5 m (77 ft).
It has a wingspan of 33.53 m (110 ft).
Its maximum speed is 805 km/h (500 mph).
Typical crew: 2-3.

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

History

Chase Aircraft converted the XG-20 glider airframe to powered configuration, first as the XC-123 with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radials, then as the XC-123A with four jet engines. The jet variant proved too complex and the production C-123 reverted to piston engines; Fairchild ultimately produced the type.

Variants

The XC-123 was piston-powered; the XC-123A was the jet variant. The production C-123 Provider used two piston engines.

Where you'll see it

The XC-123A did not enter production service; lessons learned fed into the successful Fairchild C-123 Provider used extensively in Vietnam.

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