Aeromarine AM-1
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=AM | image=Aeromarine AM-3.jpg | caption=AM-3 }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Mail plane | national origin=United States of America | manufacturer=Aeromarine | designer=Paul Zimmerman | first flight=September 1923 | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from=Aeromarine AMC | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Aeromarine AM-1 was a biplane built to pursue a US Air Mail Service requirement for a nighttime transport.{{cite book|title=Automotive industries, the automobile, Volume 50|author=Class Journal Co.|date=1924}}
Design and development
The AM-1 was completed 122 days from the announcement of a 1924 requirement for a nighttime mail plane capable of hauling {{convert|300|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of mail.{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Skyways|date=January 1999}} The contest was lost to Douglas aircraft.{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Skyways|date=July 1998|page=44|author=Ted Koch}}
The AM-1 was a biplane with conventional landing gear. It featured an all-metal fuselage with metal covering {{convert|.32|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} thick. The engine was fully cowled with the exhaust stacks stretching behind the pilot. The water-cooled engine used a centrally mounted radiator mounted above the top wing for visibility. Two streamlined fuel tanks sat on top of the wings. The upper wing was larger than the lower wing, each using spruce spars. The tail surfaces were aluminum framed with fabric covering. Many components were common with the design of the Aeromarine AMC flying boat.
Variants
;Aeromarine AM-1
:Base version
;Aeromarine AM-2
:A slight redesign to address nose drop with engine out, and drag. The aircraft was the same as an AM-1 except the radiator was relocated under the fuselage.
;Aeromarine AM-3
:Radiator moved to the front of the engine, tested with 350hp engine, found to be under-performing.
Specifications (Aeromarine AM-1)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=
|capacity=1
|length m=
|length ft=32
|length in=11
|length note=
|upper span m=
|upper span ft=50
|upper span in=
|upper span note=
|lower span m=
|lower span ft=45
|lower span in=10
|lower span note=
|height m=
|height ft=12
|height in=9
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=541
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=Aeromarine airfoil section 2A
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=2875
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=4450
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|100|gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Liberty 12
|eng1 type=12 cylnder
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=400
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=9
|prop dia in=6
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=115
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=45
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=3 hrs
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=17,000
|ceiling note=service
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=800
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=8.27
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{Aeromarine}}
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft