1972: In a competition between five companies, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas received contracts to build prototype, advanced medium STOL transports, the YC-14 (left) and YC-15 (right). Intended to replace the C-130 Hercules, increased need for strategic airlift led the Air Force to cancel the AMST program in favor of a larger airlifter. Under the C-X program, the YC-15’s basic design would become the successful McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) C-17 Globemaster III. (USAF Image)
