Paramount Cabinaire
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Cabinaire | image=Paramount Cabinaire 110 left front Aero Digest February 1929.jpg | caption=Cabinaire 110 }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Cabin biplane | national origin=United States of America | manufacturer=Paramount Aircraft Corporation | designer=Walter J. Carr | first flight=1928 | introduced=1929 National Aircraft Show | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=8 | program cost= | unit cost={{AircraftCost|USA|5750|year=1931}} | developed from=Travel Air 2000 | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Paramount Cabinaire was a 1920s designed cabin biplane, designed by Walter J. Carr and produced by the Paramount Aircraft Corporation. Only eight were completed before production ceased.
Design and development
Following the failure of Walter J. Carr's first aircraft company, the CSC Aircraft Company, Carr worked as a tester for the new Warner Scarab radial engines. Carr flew with Scarabs on a Travel Air 2000, and later cannibalized the test aircraft to produce the first Cabinaire aircraft design.{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|title=Paramount Aircraft Corporation|date=July 2001}}
The prototype Cabinaire was formed around a welded steel tube Travel Air 2000 fuselage modified for an enclosed cabin. A new center section of wing was added and Travel air wings were reinstalled onto the center sections. The biplane aircraft featured a radial engine, and conventional landing gear. The upper wing was mounted several inches above the enclosed cabin.{{cite journal|journal=Popular Aviation|date=June 1931|page=36}} The entire plane was fabric covered with wooden wing spars and ribs. The upscale cabin used two individual upholstered wicker seats in the front and a wicker bench seat for passengers. The interior used velour finishing, nickel plating, mohair rugs, mahogany panels and roll-down windows.{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|title=Paramount Aircraft Corporation|date=July 2001}}
Prototype #2 was made from parts of the first. Each production model differed slightly from each other with choices of engines, and landing gear and aileron improvements.
Operational history
In 1929, Viola Gentry and Jack Ashcroft attempted an endurance record for flight with aerial refueling in a modified Cabinaire SN#5 named The Answer. The name was chosen in response to the Army aircraft that had completed previous endurance records, the Question Mark. The aircraft had a 55-gallon cabin tank, and 21 gallon wing tanks installed for the attempt. The Answer crew was unable to refuel after the first ten hours of flight due to fog and crashed 28 June 1929, killing Ashcroft. Carr had been the original choice of co-pilot, but had to pass on the opportunity when struck with pneumonia.{{cite book|title=Long Island aircraft crashes 1909-1959|author=Joshua Stoff}}
In 1930, a Cabinaire was entered in the 4814 mile long Ford National Reliability Air Tour, placing 15th out of 18.{{cite web|title=1930 Ford Air Tour|url=http://www.nationalairtour.org/pilotplanespeople/past_planes.cfm|accessdate=30 December 2011}} The same aircraft has been restored and was still flown in 2011.{{cite journal|journal=Air & Space |volume=17|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|year=2002}}
Variants
;Cabinaire 110
:{{convert|110|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Warner Radial SN#1-6
;Cabinaire 165
:{{convert|165|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Wright J-6 SN#7{{cite web|title=FAA TCDS 265|url=http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/b41de89d5883875a8525673d00456941/$FILE/ATTCKS2F/ATC265.pdf|accessdate=30 December 2011}}
;Cabinaire A-70
:{{convert|165|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} - Originally, SN#3 flown as an aerial survey aircraft, it was rebuilt to meet ATC requirements, with a new engine, becoming SN#9.
Specifications (Paramount Cabinaire 165)
File:Paramount_Cabinaire_110_3-view_Aero_Digest_February_1929.png
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Skyways, FAA, Popular Aviation
|prime units?=kts
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|crew=one
|capacity=three
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|length ft=24
|length in=7
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|upper span ft=33
|upper span in=2
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|lower span ft=29
|lower span in=
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|height m=
|height ft=9
|height in=
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|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=309
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|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1620
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2630
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|50|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Wright R-540
|eng1 type=radial engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=175
|prop blade number=
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|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=120
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=103
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=40
|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=400
|range nmi=
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|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=12,000
|ceiling note=
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|climb rate ftmin=800
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}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Paramount Cabinaire}}
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4590561276/ Image of a Cabinaire]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4589941377/in/photostream/ Image of a Cabinaire]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4589941357/in/photostream/ Image of a Cabinaire]
- [http://www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/240-greg-herrick-s-paramount-cabinaire-project Cabinaire restoration project]
- [http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/136694L.html Cabinaire restoration project]
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1928