Customer Reviews

Fairchild C-82 Packet/C-119 Flying Boxcar (Aerofax)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As an Illuminator Operator who flew nearly 200 Combat missions against the Ho Chi Minh Trail on AC-119K Gunships, I was always intrigued by the varied history of the flying boxcars. Al Lloyd's book not only portrays the long operational history of the C-119, it also details some of the experiences of the combat crews that flew the C-119 after it transitioned to the historic role of an attack gunship.
Many who maintained and flew the AC-119K Stinger version of the gunship will enjoy the photo on page 156 showing a K model C-119 flying with jets only and its gear down and props feathered. It is just one of the many great photos in this great collection of Packet and Boxcar information. There is something for everyone.
Loaded with tail numbers, base assignments, and much more, this book is a must have for collectors of aviation information, especially information on the C-119.

I have flown C-119Cs and Gs and as a pilot really enjoyed the aircraft.
The book covered much that was of interest to me. The aircraft was of a particular time period and the book helps keep it alive. Anyone who likes flying should love ths book.

A friend, who also flew the C-119 in 1953, recommended this book. The photographs and their reproduction were outstanding. A few quibbles - the captions on several charts were incorrect, and a paragraph was repeated.

A major critique - there was far too much information about paint, insignia and markings, and not nearly enough about stuff important to pilots - clearer photos of the cockpit instrument panel, nav and com control panels, overhead switches, radio operator's station, etc. In addition, there were only a couple of pages relating to the comm and nav suite. I was hoping to see more details about the particular electronic aids to refresh my memory, the Tacan and UHF comm, for example.

I broke into aviation working on the C-119 in 1975-77. I was always fastinated by the "Box". This book does it justice. Well written and interesting although some of the facts I question. For instance the 119 that SS put aux jet engines on. The company I worked for bought that ship and it did NOT have two Westinghouse J-34's under wings. The J-34 was a larger engine and I believe they were the smaller J-30's. The pods looked like an adaption of the pod on the C-82 jet packet. We took them off and put a J-34 on the top of the fuselage and that plane became tanker 133. Also the Canadan Box's we had were C-119F's and they had the Aeroproducts prop. Also some of the fact charts have some of the facts mixed up however for the most part they were correct.

It's enjoyable and a good read. Not perfect but neither am I.

I Find this very interesting having been able to be crew member on C119 aircraft in KOREA. Rate it no.1