Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing

The Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing is an early Pitcairn biplane designed for light commercial use in the early 1920s when aircraft production rates did not meet demand for airmail, training, and passenger aircraft.[2]

Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing
1926 Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing model on display at the EAA Airventure Museum
Role Biplane
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Pitcairn Aircraft Company
Designer Agnew E. Larson
First flight 1926
Introduction 1926
Number built 35[1]

Development

The Orowing was the first production aircraft from Pitcairn. Pitcairn purchased surplus Curtiss Oriole wings and mated them to production fuselages. The name "Orowing" is a mix of the PA-2 "Sesquiwing" and the Curtiss "Oriole". The initial production run also was powered by 250 surplus Curtiss OX-5 engines.[3]

Design

The three place Biplane was made of welded steel tube fuselage with an OX-5 engine. The aircraft featured dual controls for flight instruction. The wings were purchased from Curtiss and were the same design as a Curtiss Oriole.[4][5]

Operational history

Most Orrowing production was sold to Pitcairn Aviation for flight training and charters.

An Orowing flew in the 1926 Ford National Reliability Air Tour.[6]

Specifications (Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing)
Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing 3-view drawing from Le Document aéronautique February,1927

Data from The Pitcairn Aerowing[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 2 passengers
  • Length: 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
  • Height: 2 ft 2 1⁄2 in (0.673 m)
  • Wing area: 338.37 sq ft (31.436 m2)
  • Airfoil: RAF 15 modified
  • Empty weight: 1,345 lb (610 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,100 lb (953 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 30 US gal (25 imp gal; 110 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss OX-5 , 90 hp (67 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 78 kn (90 mph, 140 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 70 kn (80 mph, 130 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 39 kn (45 mph, 72 km/h)
  • Range: 350 nmi (400 mi, 640 km)
  • Endurance: 4 hr
  • Service ceiling: 10,500 ft (3,200 m)

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References

Notes
  1. "Harold Pitcairn". Retrieved 18 Jan 2011.
  2. William F. Trimble. High frontier: a history of aeronautics in Pennsylvania.
  3. Sport Aviation. November 1991. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Orowing". Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  5. Janet Rose Daly Bednarek, Michael H. Bednarek. Dreams of flight: general aviation in the United States.
  6. "Ford Air Tour" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 18 Jan 2011.
  7. Aviation November 22, 1926, pp. 882, 884.

Bibliography
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