07/15/2006. Jack McKillop:
"This aircraft was purchased by the USAAC for use
as a high altitude research and pressurized cabin test plane and was
the world's first airplane specifically constructed with a pressure
cabin. The basic Model 10 fuselage was redesigned with a near
circular cross section to better withstand the stresses of
pressurization and the large passenger windows were replaced with
much smaller slit windows.
The interior was split into two
sections, the forward pressurized section had room for three crewmen
and two passengers; the aft section, behind the pressure bulkhead had
room for one additional passenger but could only be used at lower
altitudes below 12,000 ft (3,658 m). Besides the pilot and
copilot, the XC-35 carried an engineer who controlled the
pressurization and high altitude research equipment.
Power was provided by two 550 hp (410 kW),
nine-cylinder, single row, air-cooled, turbosupercharged Pratt &
Whitney XR-1340-43 radial engines. The plane was designed to fly at
altitudes above 30,000 ft (9,144 m)."
View also photo 5752.
