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The Pitcairn PA-1 Fleetwing (Pitcairn Aviation - One) [1] is the first biplane designed for air racing and commercial airmail service by Pitcairn Aircraft Company.[2]

Design

The Fleetwing biplane featured three cockpits capable carrying four revenue sightseeing passengers. The fuselage used (square and round) steel tubing with fabric covering. The squarish fuselage featured a slanted radiator on the front of the lower cowling[3]

Operational history

The prototype PA-1 crashed after a flight with the control cables rigged backwards. A second aircraft was built shortly afterward.[4][5][6]


Specifications (Pitcairn PA-1 Fleetwing)

Pitcairn PA-1 Fleetwing 3-view drawing from L'Air June 15,1926

Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 5
  • Length: 25 ft 11 in (7.90 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft (12 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss C-6 , 160 hp (120 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 96 kn (110 mph, 180 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 81 kn (93 mph, 150 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 39 kn (45 mph, 72 km/h)

References

  1. ^ American Aviation Historical Society. AAHS journal, Volume 31.
  2. ^ Frank Kingston Smith. Legacy of wings: the story of Harold F. Pitcairn.
  3. ^ "Pitcairn". Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  4. ^ Robert J. Serling. From the captain to the colonel: an informal history of Eastern Airlines.
  5. ^ Jack Cox (November 1991). "Harold Armstrongs Pitcairn Fleetwing". Sport Aviation.
  6. ^ Smith, Frank (1981). Legacy of Wings; The Harold F. Pitcairn Story. New York: Jason Aronson, Inc. p. 62-71. ISBN 0876684851.
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