Advanced Medium STOL Transport

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) project was intended to replace the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport in USAF service.

The project was given go-ahead in 1970. The Department of Defense submitted an RFP in 1972. In 1973, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas both received contracts to construct two prototypes, each. This resulted in the YC-14 and YC-15, respectively.

Both aircraft met or exceeded project specifications. However, the AMST project was cancelled before either aircraft could be selected. Ironically, the aircraft that the AMST was intended to replace, the C-130, is still in production today as the updated C-130J Super Hercules. However, the YC-15 was enlarged and upgraded, and is now in production as the highly successful C-17 Globemaster III.