Warbird Information Exchange

C-87 being reconditioned for use by the Bolivian government @ Dallas Love Field April 3, 1951.

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“PMURT KCUF”

The postwar lives of C-87s might make an interesting book.
They ranged very far afield.

The best known is probably being the Morrison Knutson ship which eventually came to grief in Alaska. It's the airframe that was in storage in Colorado for many years and has recently moved to one of the Carolinas for restoration.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

I've always wondered if the C-87 was as difficult as described by Ernest K Gann in Fate is the Hunter.
Can anyone provide information on how they performed post war and how they were regarded.

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Chris Mellor

Olive Drab C-87 production on the left.

https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/10010316

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45-47=-2

I think Gann's account is complimentary compared to other sources like Ambrose's The Wild Blue...

Perhaps that was being older and more experienced than the run of the mill WWII bomber pilot, Gann could put the types weaknesses (and strengths) into proper context.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

From what I always heard, the biggest issue wasn't the plane, it was the payload, especially on the C-109 (the fuel tanker version). The B-24/C-87/C-109 was always known for being sensitive in pitch and having a relatively narrow Center of Gravity envelope, especially compared to the B-17. With the C-87 and C-109, the loadmasters weren't always as strict about making sure the load was properly balanced, making an already unforgiving plane even more unforgiving, also, the fuel bladders in the C-109 didn't have any form of baffling, so sloshing was a major issue, especially on landing. Add to that the horrible weather of the CBI, and it's a perfect combination to make it a not great fit.

I will defer to the guys who fly 'Lil for how it handles with normal loading, since that aircraft is quite literally the pattern which the C-87 was built off of.