Waco Aristocraft
| Aristocraft | |
|---|---|
| Role | Four-seat cabin monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Waco Aircraft Company |
| Designer | A Francis Arcier |
| First flight | March 1947 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Waco Model W Aristocraft was an American four-seat monoplane, the last aircraft designed and built by the Waco Aircraft Company.[1] It had an unusual configuration with an engine mounted at the front driving a pusher propeller at the rear.[1]
Design and development
[edit]The Aristocraft was an attempt by Waco to enter the post-war market for light aircraft.[1] The prototype first flew in March 1947 powered by a 215 hp (160 kW) Franklin 6AL piston engine mounted at the front with a shaft driven pusher propeller at the rear.[1] Of all-metal construction it was a high-wing monoplane with twin fins and rudders, It had a partially retractable tricycle landing gear.[1]
The company had orders for 300 aircraft but decided that the type would need costly development in a shrinking market and only the prototype was completed.[1] Waco sold the design rights and in the 1960s efforts were made to market the type for home-construction.
The sole prototype was eventually purchased in the early 1960s and restored to flight.[2]
Specifications
[edit]Data from Aerofiles.com,[3] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 pax
- Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.63 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
- Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
- Powerplant: 1 × Franklin 6AL 6-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 215 hp (160 kW) at 2,500 rpm
- Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell, 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) diameter reversible pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h, 134 kn)
- Cruise speed: 152 mph (245 km/h, 132 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
- Landing speed: 65 mph (56 kn; 105 km/h)
- Stall speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)
- Range: 408 mi (657 km, 355 nmi) at5,000 ft (1,500 m)
- Service ceiling: 17,500 ft (5,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 950 ft/min (4.8 m/s)
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Orbis 1985, p. 3077
- ^ O'Neill, Terry. "The Last Waco". Sport Aviation. No. March & April 1964. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Waco". www.aerofiles.com. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1947). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. pp. 296c–297c.
Bibliography
[edit]- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-194-X.