YC-14 vs YC-15: A Tale of Two Planes that Lost but Ultimately Won

In the mid-1970s, two American plane manufacturers built four transport prototypes that could land almost anywhere and stop quickly.

The Boeing YC-14 and McDonnell Douglas YC-15 were designed to replace the C-130 with advanced short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. Both aircraft exceeded the requirements but lost out due to shifting Air Force priorities.

When the Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) program was canceled in 1979, neither plane entered production. However, one of them had a lasting impact on military airlifters.

The YC-15's design directly influenced the development of the C-17 Globemaster III, which became one of the most capable and heavily used transports in the world.