This is a promotional video for the YC-15, S.T.A.R. OF THE FUTURE, looks at the strategic aircraft produced by McDonnell Douglas Corporation, designed for tactical transport. The video dates from the mid 1970’s, most likely 1976.
Series of short shots of the YC-15; landing, a tank reverses into the cargo bay, two shots of a take-off, a refuelling, and of agile handling. Slow zoom in on the U.S Air Force logo (:06-:59). Title plate (1:00-1:09). Several engineers look over technical drawings. Footage of fuselage of plane being constructed (1:10-1:22). YC-15 Number One, white in colour, is seen taking off, then a shot of it in flight (1:23-1:37). This shot structure repeated with the YC-15 Number Two, camouflaged in paint scheme. (1:38-1:55) Shots of both of these planes landing (1:56-2:18). TC-15 Number 2 is seen unloading a military jeep, then Number 1 unloads a tank (2:19-2:27). Number 1 is seen landing on a dirt strip, then driving over several basic obstacles on another runway (2:28-2:58). Thrust reverser seen opening, then various shots of Number 1 reversing (2:59-3:28). A perfectly symmetrical shot of Number One taking off from the front, then a shot of it landing (3:29-4:01). Number Two seen landing, then taking off and sharply manoeuvring to the side during take off (4:02-4:25). Slow motion shot of airdropped items being release from the cargo bay of Number Two (4:26-4:38). The planes are seen landing and maneuvering sharply on dirt landing strip, then Number One slowly pulls to a stop (4:39-5:07). Zoom out from a business meeting. Cut to a group of engineers constructing a redesigned set of YC-15 wings in a hangar (5:08-5:33). Shots from different angles of Number One with improved wing and engine design (5:34-5:57). Number Two is seen flying, then a refuelling from a plane above is seen from two different angles (5:58-6:31). Number two is seen taking off in two different environments, one an air show, another a more isolated location (6:32-6:58). A small missile is loaded into the cargo bay. A tank is driven out of the cargo bay in another location (6:59-7:17). Zoom in and out on an updated engine system for Number Two. (7:18-7:39). Number One lifts off and is seen doing a flight test with updated wing and engine system (7:40-8:26), then an over-the-shoulder cockpit shot of the pilot flying over farmland (8:27-8:50). We see flight test of Number Two with design update (8:51-9:45). Both planes seen flying at close proximity at very low altitude (9:46-10:07). Various short shots of the planes in flight, sometimes in tandem with one another or another strategic aircraft (10:08-10:54). More brief shots; number two is seen landing, a tank leaving the cargo bay, two land rovers leaving cargo bay in synchrony, an airdrop at low altitude (10:55-11:17). Number One seen taking off from a dirt strip, then flying from below (11:18-11:38). Closing plate (11:39-11:47).
The McDonnell Douglas YC-15 was a prototype four-engine short take-off and landing (STOL) tactical transport. It was McDonnell Douglas’ entrant into the United States Air Force’s Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) competition to replace the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. In the end, neither the YC-15 nor the Boeing YC-14 was ordered into production, although the YC-15’s basic design would be used to form the C-17 Globemaster III. Two YC-15s were built, one with a wingspan of 110 feet (34 m) (#72-1876) and one of 132 feet (40 m) (#72-1875). Both were 124 feet (38 m) long and powered by four Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 engines, each with 15,500 pounds-force (69,000 N) of thrust.
The first flight was on 26 August 1975. The second prototype followed in December. They were tested for some time at McDonnell Douglas as the Boeing entry was not ready until almost a year later. In November 1976, both designs were transferred to Edwards Air Force Base for head-to-head testing. Both the YC-14 and YC-15 met or exceeded the AMST specifications under most conditions. However, the increasing importance of the strategic vs. tactical mission eventually led to the end of the AMST program in December 1979.The Lockheed C-130 Hercules would be further improved into the C-130J and remains in service.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
