The Northrop YC-125 was a military version of the Northrop N-23 'Pioneer' commercial cargo aircraft. The YC-125 series was intended to satisfy two types of missions for the US Air Force: Troop and equipment transport to forward combat areas and Arctic rescue. The YC-125 was designed to operate from rough, short airfields and to be easily maintained. Thirteen YC-125As were ordered in 1948 to test the aircraft's ability to haul troops and cargo. Ten additional aircraft were ordered slightly modified as YC-125Bs to test their capability for the Arctic rescue role. The first flight of the YC-125A occurred on August 1, 1949, and deliveries to the USAF began in 1950. Tests found the aircraft to be significantly underpowered for the intended missions. Furthermore, helicopters were recognized as a better solution for moving troops into forward areas and for performing rescue missions. As a result, the YC-125s were sent to Sheppard AFB, Texas, to be used as ground maintenance trainers. They were declared surplus in 1955. The aircraft shown is painted to represent the YC-125B used for cold weather testing and was based at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in 1950. It went on display here at Wright-Patterson in 1995. Technical Notes: Crew: Four Engines: Three Wright R-1820-99s of 1,200 hp each Range: 1,856 miles Weight: 41,900 pounds Maximum Maximum Speed: 207 mph This photo was taken on 8 June 2010. Thanks for viewing and commenting, Sig...