Operational history Fairchild C-82 Packet

trans world airlines packet in 1959



c-82a packet freighter of cruzeiro (brasil) @ santos dumont airport, rio de janeiro, in may 1972



packet of taxpa airlines (chile) in 1972



fairchild c-82 packet dropping paratroops in training exercise



three c-82s , various troops , cargo in 1948



fairchild c-82 packet

first flown in 1944, first delivery not until june 1945 , few entered service before end of war. in end, 223 c-82as built, small number wartime production cargo aircraft. used cargo , troop transport, although few used paratroop operations or towing military gliders. during brief operational life, several c-82 packets utilized during berlin airlift, bringing large disassembled vehicles city. redesign of xc-82b result in production of c-119 flying boxcar.

in 1946, united states postal service explored concept of flying post offices using highly modified c-82s operate on trains mail sorted clerks , put in bags , transferred trucks on landing.

in 1948, c-82 fitted track-gear landing gear, similar tracks on crawler tractor, allowed landings on unpaved, primitive runways.

though relatively unsuccessful, c-82a best considered development stage of c-119b flying boxcar. c-82a saw limited production before being replaced flying boxcar.

the c-82 retired air force inventory in 1954.