Alexander Flyabout D
{{short description|1931 aircraft by Alexander Airplane Company}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=Flyabout D | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Light Monoplane | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Alexander Aircraft Company, Aircraft Mechanics, Inc. | designer=Proctor Nichols | first flight= | introduced=1931 Detroit Air Show{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Popular Aviation|date=June 1931|page= 32}} | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | program cost= | unit cost=$1,465 in 1931 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Alexander Airplane Company D-1 Flyabout was an early entry into the light aircraft market by the popular biplane aircraft manufacturer.{{cite book|title=The complete illustrated encyclopedia of the world's aircraft|url=https://archive.org/details/completeillustra00mond|url-access=registration|author =David Mondey}} The aircraft was later manufactured by Aircraft Mechanics, Inc.
Design
The D-1 was a conventional landing geared high winged monoplane with side-by-side seating powered by a {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental engine, with a firewall-mounted fuel tank. The cabin featured doors on both sides of the aircraft.{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Popular Aviation|date=July 1931|page=11}} It was the first aircraft certified under new CAA rules for aircraft under {{convert|1000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite book|title=Aircraft year book, Volume 14|author =Aerospace Industries Association of America|author2 =Manufacturers Aircraft Association|author3 =Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America|publisher=American Aviation Publications|year=1932}}
Operational history
The prototype's capabilities were demonstrated by flying up to {{convert|15000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} above Pikes Peak with the {{convert|38|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} model.{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Popular Aviation|date=November 1931|page=35}} Test pilot Proctor Nichols later reported having flown through a tornado formation in the demonstrator returning from the Cleveland National Air Races.{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Popular Aviation|date=December 1931|page=96}}
Variants
;D-1
:First outfitted with a {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental engine.
;D-2
:Improved model with Szekely engine.{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Popular Aviation|date=December 1931|page=134}}
Specifications (Flyabout D-1)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Popular Aviation
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=
|capacity=2
|length m=
|length ft=21
|length in=4
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=37
|span in=2
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=5
|height in=8
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
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|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=536.5
|empty weight note=
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|max takeoff weight kg=
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|fuel capacity={{convert|8|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=continental
|eng1 type=horizontally opposed piston
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=35
|prop blade number=
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|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=85
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=75
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=34
|stall speed kts=
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|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=175
|range nmi=
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|ceiling m=
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|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=650
|climb rate note=
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See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N11076.html Alexander D-2 registrations]
{{Alexander aircraft}}