Aeronca C-3
| C-3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aeronca 100 at Sywell Airshow 2008 | |
| Role | Ultra-light monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Aeronca |
| Number built | 400 |
| Developed from | Aeronca C-2 |
The Aeronca C-3 was a light plane built by the Aeronautical Corporation of America in the United States during the 1930s.
Design and development
Its design was derived from the Aeronca C-2. Introduced in 1931, it featured room for a passenger seated next to the pilot. Powered by a new 36 hp (27 kW) Aeronca E-113 engine, the seating configuration made flight training much easier and many Aeronca owners often took to the skies with only five hours of instruction—largely because of the C-3's predictable flying characteristics. Both the C-2 and C-3 are often described as “powered gliders” because of their gliding ability and gentle landing speeds.
The C-3's distinctive razorback design was drastically altered in 1935 with the appearance of the “roundback” C-3 Master. Retaining the tubular fuselage frame construction, the C-3 Master featured a smaller vertical stabilizer and rudder with a “filled out” fuselage shape that created the new “roundback” appearance and improved the airflow over the tail. With an enclosed cabin (brakes and wing light still cost extra), the 1935 C-3 Master was priced at only $1,895[1]—just a few hundred dollars more than the primitive C-2 of 1930.[2] The low price generated significant sales; 128 C-3 Masters were built in 1935 alone (of 430 C-3s built in all),[3] and the 500th Aeronca aircraft also rolled off the assembly line that same year.
A version of the C-3 with fabric-covered ailerons (instead of metal), designated the Aeronca 100, was built in England under license by Light Aircraft Ltd. (operating as Aeronautical Corporation of Great Britain Ltd.) but the expected sales never materialized—only 24 British-built aircraft were manufactured before production was halted.[4]
Production of the C-3 was halted in 1937 when the aircraft no longer met new U.S. government standards for airworthiness. Many of the C-3's peculiarities—a strictly external wire-braced wing with no wing struts directly connecting the wing panels with the fuselage, extensive fabric construction, single-ignition engine, and lack of an airspeed indicator—were no longer permitted. Fortunately for the legion of Aeronca owners, a “grandfather” clause in the federal regulations allowed their airplanes to continue flying, although they could no longer be manufactured.
Variants
- C-3
- Production variant.
- C-3 Master
- Improved variant.
- Aeronca 100
- British-built variant powered by an Aeronca JAP J-99 (a licence built Aeronca E-113C), 21 built.[5]
- Aeronca 300
- Improved British variant of the Aeronca 100, one built.
- Ely 700
- British variant with wider fuselage and two doors, two built.
Surviving aircraft
- A-125 – C-3 on display at the Western North Carolina Air Museum in Hendersonville, North Carolina.[6][7]
- A-189 – C-3 airworthy at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon. It is a floatplane and was built in 1931.[8][9][10]
- A-215 – C-3 airworthy at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon. It was built in 1932.[11][12][13]
- A-246 – PC-3 airworthy at the Eagles Mere Air Museum in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania.[14][15][16]
- A-258 – C-3 on static display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in San Diego, California.[17][18]
- A-600 - C3 exported to the UK new in 1935 Registered G-ADYS. Airworthy, Yorkshire
- A-603 - C3 exported to the UK new in 1935. Registered G-AEAC. Flown to South Africa in February 1936. Airworthy, Pretoria, SA
- A-610 - C3 exported to the UK new in 1936. Registered G-AEFT. Airworthy, Cornwall
- A-614 – C-3 on display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.[19][20]
- A-668 – C-3 airworthy at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.[21][22][23]
- A-673 – C-3B airworthy at the Port Townsend Aero Museum in Port Townsend, Washington. It was built in 1936.[24][25]
- A-717 – C-3 airworthy at the Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel, Pennsylvania. It is marked as NC17404.[26][27][28]
- A-730 – C-3 airworthy at the Frasca Air Museum in Urbana, Illinois.[29][30]
- A-754 – C-3 airworthy at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Red Hook, New York. It is registered as N17447.[31][32]
- 526 – C-3 in storage at the Virginia Aviation Museum in Richmond, Virginia.[33][34]
- 623 – C-3 airworthy at the Golden Wings Flying Museum in Blaine, Minnesota.[35][36]
- Unknown ID – C-3 under restoration at the Aeronca Museum in Brighton, Michigan.[37]
- Unknown ID – C-3 on display at the Wings of History Museum in San Martin, California.[38]
- Unknown ID - C-3 under restoration at Generations in Aviation in Jacksonville, Florida. Built in 1932. registered NC12496
- Unknown ID – C-3 on static display at the Florida Air Museum in Lakeland, Florida.[39]
Specifications (C-3)
Data from [5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 1 Passenger
Performance
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
Notes
- ^ Payne, Stephen, ed. Canadian Wings (Douglas & McIntyre, Ltd., 2006), p.163.
- ^ Payne, p.163.
- ^ Of those, only 20 were exported to Canada. Payne, p.163.
- ^ Donald M. Pattillo. A History in the Making: 80 Turbulent Years in the American General Aviation Industry. p. 18.
- ^ a b Jackson 1973, page 12
- ^ "1930 AERONCA C-3". Western North Carolina Air Museum. Western North Carolina Air Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N11293]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Aeronca Aircraft". Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - AeroncaC-3, c/n A-189, c/r N12423". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N12423]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Aeronca C-3". Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - AeroncaC-3, c/n A-215, c/r N13000". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N13000]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "1933 Aeronca PC3 "Bathtub"". Eagles Mere Air Museum. Eagles Mere Air Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Aeronca C-3, c/n A-246, c/r N13082". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N13082]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Aeronca C-3 Collegian". San Diego Air & Space Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Aeronca C-3, c/n A258, c/r N13094". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ Wilson, Alan (28 February 2016). "Aeronca C3 'N12587' (really N15287)". Flickr. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N15287]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "1936 Aeronca C-3 Master - N16291". EAA. EAA. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Aeronca C-3, c/n A-668, c/r N16291". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N16291]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "1936 Aeronca C3B "Master"". Port Townsend Aero Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N16529]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "1936 AERONCA C3 "MASTER"". Golden Age Air Museum. Golden Age Air Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Aeronca C-3, c/n A717, c/r N17404". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N17404]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Frasca Air Museum's Aeronca C-3 "Speed Kit"". Antique Airfield. Antique Aircraft Association and Airpower Museum. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N17419]". U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Aeronca C3". Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N17447]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT". Virginia Aviation Museum. Virginia Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Airframe Dossier - Aeronca C-3, c/n 526, c/r N14640". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Aeronca C-3". Golden Wings Flying Museum. Golden Wings Flying Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N15295]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ Trainor, Todd (June 2011). "[Letter to Members]". Aeronca Aircraft Museum. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Aeronca C-3 Exhibit". Wings of History Air Museum. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "EXHIBITS". Sun 'n Fun. Sun 'n Fun. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
References
- Jackson, A.J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
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