- Source: Pitcairn PAA-1
The Pitcairn PAA-1 was an autogyro developed in the United States in the early 1930s. Of similar configuration to Pitcairn's earlier machines, the PAA-1 had an airplane-like fuselage with two open cockpits in tandem and a tractor-mounted engine in the nose. It was also equipped with small wings, which carried control surfaces, rather than using the rotor for flight control. It was a smaller and lighter machine than its predecessors and was designed specifically with private pilots in mind.
Variants
PAA-1 - main production version with Kinner B-5 engine
PA-20 - improved version with Kinner R-5 engine
PA-24 - version with twin tails and Kinner R-5 engine, modified from existing PAA-1s and PA-20s
Specifications
Data from "Pitcairn, A G A, Pitcairn-Cierva, Pitcairn-Larsen"General characteristics
Crew: One pilot
Capacity: 1 passenger
Length: 18 ft 7 in (5.66 m)
Wingspan: 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m)
Powerplant: 1 × Kinner B-5 , 125 hp (93 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
Main rotor area: 10.75 sq ft (99.9 m2)
Performance
Maximum speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)
Range: 250 mi (400 km, 220 nmi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
References
Notes
Bibliography
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing.
"Pitcairn, A G A, Pitcairn-Cierva, Pitcairn-Larsen". Aerofiles. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
External links
"Will Autogiro Banish Present Plane?", March 1931, pg 28