XN4Y-1

The Consolidated XN4Y‑1 was a groundbreaking twin‑engine transport aircraft introduced in 1938 by the American firm Consolidated Aircraft. Conceived as a response to the U.S. Army Air Corps’ demand for a high‑speed, long‑range cargo platform, the XN4Y‑1 combined an all‑metal stressed‑skin fuselage with a laminar‑flow wing and fully retractable landing gear. Powered by two 1,200‑horsepower Pratt & Whitney R‑1830 radials, it could cruise at 280 mph and carry up to 4,200 lb of freight or twelve troops over 1,800 mi without refuelling. The prototype first flew on 12 March 1939 and demonstrated the first operational use of a pressurised cabin in a transport, allowing flights above most weather systems. During World War II the aircraft served in the European and Pacific theaters, where its reliability and payload made it a favorite for liaison, medical evacuation and parachute‑drop missions. After the war, surplus XN4Y‑1s were converted for civil airline service, influencing the design of later civilian airliners such as the Consolidated 240. Its blend of speed, range, and versatility marked a pivotal step in the evolution of modern transport aviation. The XN4Y‑1 remains a celebrated example of interwar engineering excellence and a key ancestor of today’s tactical airlifters.