Pitcairn PA-4 Fleetwing II

The Pitcairn PA-4 Fleetwing II, also called the Pitcairn Fleetwing DeLuxe, and the Pitcairn PA-4 Fleetwing is a commercial mail hauling and passenger biplane.

PA-4 Fleetwing II
A PA-4 Fleetwing II model on display at the EAA Airventure Museum
Role Biplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Pitcairn Aircraft Company
Designer Agnew E. Larson
First flight 1927
Introduction 1927
Produced 1927-1928
Number built 10
Unit cost
$2850 in 1927

Design and development

Ten PA-4s were built before it was re-engined with the Wright J-5 Whirlwind as the Pitcairn PA-5 to fly on the CAM-19 mail routes.

The Fleetwing II is a conventional landing gear equipped biplane with strut-braced tail surfaces. The fuselage is welded steel-tube construction with aircraft fabric covering. The cowling is formed from two pieces. The wire wheels were streamlined with laced-on discs.[1]

Operational history

Six Fleetwings were sold directly to Pitcairn Aviation. In 1928, the Fleetwing II The City of Reading participated in the Transcontinental Air Race. It was sold to Reading Airways after the race and later used in stunt flying around Cumberland, Maryland with the signature "Flying through a train tunnel" illusion.[2]

The sole remaining Fleetwing II was rebuilt over the course of seven years by Harold Armstrong from drawings supplied by Steve Pitcairn (1925-2008), son of company founder Harold Frederick Pitcairn (1897-1960). The aircraft won Grand Champion Antique at the 1991 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow.[1] Armstrong's Fleetwing was seriously damaged in an accident on September 9, 2012.

Specifications (Fleetwing II)

Data from Vintage Airplane

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 2
  • Length: 22 ft 1.75 in (6.7501 m)
  • Upper wingspan: 33 ft (10 m)
  • Lower wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss OX-5 piston aircraft engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 70 kn (80 mph, 130 km/h)

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References

Citations
  1. Vintage Airplane. December 1991. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Sport Aviation. November 1991. Missing or empty |title= (help)

Bibliography

Media related to Pitcairn PA-4 Fleetwing II at Wikimedia Commons

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