Aeronca c-3

The aircraft became the second model launched on the market founded in 1929 by Aeronautical Corporation Of America. He completely inherited the design and technical features of the construction of the previous, first model of the company - the Aeronca C-2 aircraft. The only significant difference that has successfully affected its sales is the passenger seat. Aeronca C-2 was single.

The aircraft was easy to operate, had high reliability, was sold at an unprecedented low price from 1,700 US dollars, was cheap to operate. These qualities have led to successful sales and great popularity. For its appearance, the aircraft received the name " Flying Bathtub "

The manufacturer focused these aircraft on the market of ordinary inhabitants, who could independently fly into the air after five hours of training with an instructor. By 1935, more than three hundred aircraft were sold.

Gradually, aircraft sales began to decline, as technically more advanced aircraft from competitors appeared. Aeronca also announced two new aircraft of the L and K series. The L series went into production in 1935, but did not achieve much commercial success. But the K series launched in 1937 was commercially and technically quite successful. The aircraft of this series were produced until 1945 , when Aeronca shook this segment of the market with the highly successful Aeronca 7 Champion and Aeronca 11 Chief .

In 1937, the US government changed the criteria for aviation security, which the aircraft ceased to satisfy. Since Aeronca already had two new aircraft ready for sales and meeting new requirements, the fate of the S-3 was a foregone conclusion - it was not practical to subject it to improvements. The production license was sold to the UK, Light Aircraft Ltd. (a division of Aeronautical Corporation of Great Britain Ltd. ), however, things did not go there - only 24 aircraft were built and sold under the name Aeronca 100.

Several dozens of Aeronca C-3 aircraft are still in flight condition and periodically fly into the sky. A few dozen more are stored in various air museums around the world.

By design, the Aeronca C-3 is a high wing that uses a parasol wing mount (umbrella mount). The aircraft is designed to carry two people and 15 - 20 kg of cargo. The location of people in the cab is next to each other. Engine Aeronca 113 - piston, two-cylinder, 36 l. from. (27 kW), located in the bow of the aircraft. The screw is wooden, two-bladed, with an unchanged pitch.

The plane is very easy to fly. It is controlled by a joystick. It also facilitates control of the aircraft by a very low landing speed - only 38 km / h. It has good planning ability.

The aircraft body was made of pipes sheathed with light metal sheets. The body of the Aeronca 100 to reduce the cost of construction was covered with fabric.

Specifications

• Crew : 1 pers.
• Passenger Capacity: 1 pers.
• Length : 6.09 m
• Wing span : 10.97
• Height : 2.3 m
• Wing Area: 13,206 m²
• Empty weight: 0.184 t
• Normal take-off weight: 0.397 t
• Powerplant : 1 × Aeronca E113
• Engine power: 1 × 36 l. from.

Flight characteristics

• Maximum speed: 128 km / h
• Cruising speed : 120 km / h
• Practical ceiling : 4267 m
• Takeoff run: 70 m

The main modifications of the aircraft were three:

1. Aeronca C-3 Razorback - 1931, the original modification with a characteristic "angular" design, open from the sides of the cabin.
2. Aeronca C-3 Master - 1935, streamlined fuselage with smooth bends, fully enclosed cockpit, vertical stabilizer.
3. Aeronca 100 - 1937, the fuselage and wings are covered with fabric.

The first two modifications were produced, on request, and in a seaplane version called Aeronca PC-3 . In any modifications, for an additional fee, it was possible to install brakes on the chassis, flying lights, a lamp in the cockpit, and also glaze the cockpit for Razorback modification.

Description and photos Aeronca C-3 (Eng.) Seaplane Aeronca C-3 in 1935 off the island of Borneo