07/21/2007. Remarks by Weldon
Stevens: "The XC-99 was a transport version of the B-36 and
retained the same wings, the six 3,500 hp P&W R-4360-25 engines, tail
structure and landing gear, but had a new double deck fuselage. The
design of this plane began in early 1942 and production was approved
on the last day of that year. Only one was ordered by the USAAF (s/n
43-52436) and built at San Diego, California, it was first flown by
Russell R. Rogers and his crew on November 23, 1947.
After flight testing it was delivered to the USAF on May 26, 1949 and
put into regular inventory/service. The XC-99 more than paid for
itself because of the amount of cargo it could haul and the range it
could fly. While it was based at Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas, I saw
it come into Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, several times, it was awesome
to see it flying. It was retired in 1957.
A veterans group in San Antonio put it on public display, it was
interesting to go through it and compare it with the XB-36. Because
of the long range and limited airports/service, the design allowed
engine repair while in flight. To give you an idea as to the size of
the wing, I am 5 ft 8 in (1,73 m) tall and could walk out to the
middle engine standing erect; I had to stoop at the outboard engine.
The plane later succumbed to vandalism and disrepair. It was pulled
from display and put in storage at Kelly AFB. It is my understanding
that it is being restored to be returned to museum status and will be
moved to the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.
After WW II Convair offered a civilian passenger version to the
airlines. It had the long range as well as a passenger load of about
250, as I remember. Pan American ordered several of them and even
promoted it in their advertisements. They later canceled it "because
they would never need that kind of passenger capacity"."
