YC-15 going to Edwards AFB Museum

[bdk]

This is a note about Vision.

Vision is what differentiates world-class companies from mediocre ones. Vision separates great leaders from ordinary ones.

A great vision more than 35 years ago set in motion a chain of events that eventually became the C-17. Part of that vision, in the early 1970s, was the development of the YC-15. Many of you from those early days are now on the C-17 program, and I salute you for your vision.

At the time, the YC-15 was a prototype for a new U.S Air Force requirement called the Advanced Medium STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) Transport. Though that aircraft was never ordered into production, the revolutionary YC-15 prototype’s basic design would eventually be used for the C-17.

And you all know the rest of the story: the C-17 has become the world’s leading airlifter, the only aircraft with both tactical and strategic capabilities. The C-17’s success in the marketplace is the result of many things – among them pioneering use of new designs, new technologies, new ways of thinking about our customer.

The YC-15’s role in that was visionary.

And now, the YC-15 has a new mission. It is being honored for its role in aviation history by going to the U.S. Air Force Museum at Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert, 50 miles east of Los Angeles. The YC-15’s historic contributions to the future of airlift will be seen and shared by aviation enthusiasts, which includes many of us.

All who love airplanes and military aviation are fortunate that the YC-15 remains in Southern California. It will forever be a symbol of the vision that is now the C-17.

As the C-17 continues to evolve, with new capabilities, new block improvements – and hopefully in the next decade – the C-17B, please remember that the YC-15 made much of this possible.

The YC-15 embodies the vision that makes the C-17 great. It was our past, and it will always be a part of our future.

[wendovertom]

the yc-15 sure was a funky looking bird and it would have been cool to see its take off capablities - I have heard it was amazing!

Tom P.

[bdk]

It is at Palmdale now, so not too far to fly on its last mission.

[famvburg]

I liked the YC-14. Now that's a funky looking airplane! I've read it was quite a machine too.

the yc-15 sure was a funky looking bird and it would have been cool to see its take off capablities - I have heard it was amazing!

Tom P.

[bdk]

I liked the YC-14. Now that's a funky looking airplane! I've read it was quite a machine too.

Well, the YC-15 concept was chosen the winner. There is/was a Soviet transport though that looked just like the YC-14.

[famvburg]

Yeah, the Antonov An-72/An-74. Quite a bit smaller than the YC-14, but apparently quite capable as well as versatile.

I liked the YC-14. Now that's a funky looking airplane! I've read it was quite a machine too.

Well, the YC-15 concept was chosen the winner. There is/was a Soviet transport though that looked just like the YC-14.

[Randy Haskin]

]Well, the YC-15 concept was chosen the winner.

Neither aircraft "won" the competition...unless you know something that was not published in any of the items I've read about the AMST competition.

[ZRX61]

Edwards AFB is 50 miles EAST of LA??

I hope whoever wrote that isn't navigator on the delivery flight, they'l end up in Chino instead of Edwards.. ...

[bdk]

Well, the YC-15 concept was chosen the winner.

Neither aircraft "won" the competition...unless you know something that was not published in any of the items I've read about the AMST competition.

The concept of the blown flap was the winner as seen on the C-17 versus the coanda effect flap of the YC-14 which was not put into production. Douglas, the designer and builder of the YC-15, got the production contract for the C-17 as well.

[RareBear]

The YC-15 can be seen at Palmdale here:

http://maps.live.com/#JnE9eXAucGFsbWRhbGUlMmMrY2ElN2Vzc3QuMCU3ZXBnLjEmYmI9NDYuMTk1MDQyMTA4NjYwMiU3ZS01Ny4yMTY3OTY4NzUlN2UyOS45OTMwMDIyODQ1NTExJTdlLTk3LjI5NDkyMTg3NQ==

Go to the "aerial" view, then zoom in to the ramp near the NW corner of the field. You can see the YC-15 parked on the ramp. Then use the "Birds-Eye" feature to get a close-up oblique shot of the plane. This feature will also zoom to get a closer view. The N-E-S-W feature will change the direction of the view in the "Birds-Eye" feature.


Walt

[bdk]

That be her- all decked out in the Boeing "commercial" YC-15 paint.