Fairchild C-82A Packet

Designed in 1941 in response to an Army Air Force requirement for a new cargo plane capable of ground-level loading, paratroop operations, and glider towing, the C-82 incorporated a number of innovations that have become standard in military cargo aircraft. These include rear loading doors, a high wing, and an unobstructed cargo area. The rear passenger doors allowed the easy dropping of paratroopers and the removal of the rear clamshell doors allowed the dropping of larger cargos and vehicles. The C-82 first flew in September 1944 and over 220 had been delivered when production ended in 1948.