Ace Baby Ace
| Ace Baby Ace | |
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| Role | Sports aircraft |
| National origin | USA |
| Manufacturer | Acro Sport |
| Designer | Orland Corben |
| Unit cost | approximately $2750 to build in 1971[1] |
The Ace Baby Ace was the world's first aircraft to be marketed as a homebuilt aircraft when its plans were offered for sale in 1929. Plans are still available and Baby Aces are still being built today[update]. Orland Corben designed a series of aircraft for the Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company, the Baby Ace, Junior Ace, and Super Ace. Corbin's name was associated with the aircraft, and it is commonly known as the Corben Baby Ace.[2]
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[edit] Design
It is a single-seat parasol wing monoplane of conventional taildragger configuration. The fuselage is of fabric-covered tubular construction and the wings are wood. A variety of aircraft powerplants may be used, typically in the 65-100 hp (50-75 kW) range. Examples have been built using 70hp Chevrolet Corvair engines. [3]
[edit] Operational History
In the mid-1950s Paul Poberezny, founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association bought the rights to the Ace aircraft, and produced a $500 Baby Ace that was featured in Popular Mechanics. The series of articles were in conjunction with a CAA effort to revitalize American aviation by promoting amateur built aircraft.[4] A 1958 Baby Ace is currently the oldest Canadian homebuilt aircraft flying presently.[5]
[edit] Specifications (Baby Ace D)
Data from Experimenter
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Length: 17 ft 11 in (5.46 m)
- Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
- Height: 6 ft 7 in ()
- Wing area: 110 ft² (10.22 m²)
- Airfoil: Clark Y
- Empty weight: 600 lb (270 kg)
- Loaded weight: 950 lb (430 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Salmson, Szekely, Continental, or Anzani engine choices., 65-100 hp (50-75 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 95 knots (110 mph, 176 km/h)
- Service ceiling: 10,500 ft (3,200 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (370 m/min)
[edit] See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
[edit] External links
- Web site of Ace Aircraft provides info on the kit for building the Corben Baby Ace Model D.
- The History of Ace Aircraft
[edit] References
- ^ Leo J. Kohn (Winter 1971). "The true cost of building your own plane". Air Trails: 63.
- ^ "The Baby Ace". Experimenter. February 1955.
- ^ Air Trails: 14. Winter 1971.
- ^ "The Baby Ace". Experimenter. February 1955.
- ^ "Tiger Boy's Airplane Works". http://www.tigerboys.com/bace.html. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
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