Albree Pigeon-Fraser

The Albree Pigeon-Fraser was the first pursuit aircraft project for the United States Government.

Albree Pigeon-Fraser
Role Fighter
National origin United States
Designer George N. Albree
First flight December 1917
Status cancelled
Number built 3

Development

George Albree was awarded the first US pursuit aircraft contract in 1917. The aircraft was designed with a flat bottom airfoil and the aft fuselage was hinged to act like an elevator.[1]

Operational history

The first aircraft flew in December 1917, however it crashed on its first flight, killing the pilot.[2] The second aircraft never flew and was destroyed during structural testing. The third aircraft was not completed before the program was cancelled for being "too old-fashioned, unreliable, and slow".[1]

Survivor

The incomplete third aircraft was put into storage and in 1961 was acquired by the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome where it is currently on display.[3]

Specifications

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 11 in (11.56 m)
  • Gross weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Gnome rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn)

References
  1. Holcomb, Kevin. "Albree Pigeon-Fraser Pursuit - Holcomb's Aerodrome". www.airminded.net. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  2. "Albree Pigeon Fraser | Aircraft in Focus". aircraft-in-focus.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  3. "World War I (1914-1918) « Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome". oldrhinebeck.org. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  4. Green & Swanborough 1994, p. 471
  • Angelucci, Enzo; Bowers, Peter (1987). The American Fighter. Sparkford, UK: Haynes Publishing Group. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.
  • Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. Smithmark Publishers. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.