From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
Aero-Craft Aero-Coupe
is an American, 2-passenger, semi-cabin, all-purpose, commercial
biplane
that was designed by Captain Clement Brown in 1928 and manufactured by Aero-Craft Manufacturing Company. The aircraft was intended for use as an air taxi, as well as for mail and express feeder service.
[2]
The Aero-Coupe was manufactured by
Aero-Craft Manufacturing Company
, based in
Detroit
,
Michigan
.
[3]
Aero-Craft Mfg. Co. was founded in 1928, and the Aero-Coupe was the first production model that was released by the company.
[4]
The Aero-Coupe was a "semi-cabin" aircraft: the three passengers were situated within a closed cabin in the aircraft's fuselage near the nose, while the aircraft's single pilot was positioned in an open cockpit, above and behind the passenger cabin, behind the wings.
[5]
The aircraft was first introduced to the public in 1928 during the Detroit Aero Show, also known as the All-American Aircraft Show, which occurred from April 14–21. Its price, as mentioned in Volume 20 of
Flight International
, was $6500, when it was first exhibited to the public.
[6]
It was powered by a single, seven-cylinder Warner Scarab rotary engine, which provided 120 hp. The aircraft had a range of 740 kilometres, and was capable of flying as fast as 185 km/h. The wings were of unequal span.
[4]
Specifications
[
edit
]
Data from
Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928
[7]
General characteristics
- Crew:
1
- Capacity:
2 passengers
- Length:
7.32 m (24 ft 0 in)
- Upper wingspan:
9.76 m (32 ft 0 in)
- Lower wingspan:
8.54 m (28 ft 0 in)
- Height:
2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Empty weight:
499 kg (1,100 lb)
- Gross weight:
953 kg (2,100 lb)
- Fuel capacity:
40 US gal (33 imp gal; 150 L) in two centre-section tanks; 4 US gal (3.3 imp gal; 15 L) oil in engine mount tank
- Powerplant:
1 ×
Warner Scarab
7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 82 kW (110 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed:
185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn)
- Cruise speed:
160 km/h (100 mph, 87 kn)
- Stall speed:
61 km/h (38 mph, 33 kn)
- Range:
970 km (600 mi, 520 nmi) "cruising radius"
- Service ceiling:
3,700 m (12,000 ft)
- Rate of climb:
4.6 m/s (900 ft/min)
- Wing loading:
41 kg/m
2
(8.4 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass
:
0.054 hp/lb (0.089 kW/kg)
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Mondey, David (1978).
The complete illustrated encyclopedia of the world's aircraft
. A & W Publishers. p. 67.
- ^
Aero-Craft Manufacturing Company, Inc. (1928).
Aero-coupe semi-cabin biplane, intended for air taxi, mail & express feeder service
.
- ^
Gunston, Bill (1993).
World encyclopaedia of aircraft manufacturers: from the pioneers to the present day
. Naval Institute Press. p.
12
.
ISBN
978-1-55750-939-0
.
- ^
a
b
Jane, Frederick Thomas, ed. (1928). "Jane's all the world's aircraft".
1928
. Franklin Watts.
- ^
Pauley, Robert F. (2009).
Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers
. Arcadia Publishing. p. 67.
ISBN
978-0-7385-5218-7
.
- ^
"Flught International".
20
. IPC Transport Press, Ltd. 1928.
- ^
Grey, C.G., ed. (1928).
Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928
. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 193c.
