Comte AC-4
| Comte AC-4 | |
|---|---|
 Comte AC-4 from SWISSAIR, Lucerne Allmend, 1931 |
|
| Type: | Single engine airplane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
June 16, 1928 |
| Production time: |
1928-1930 |
| Number of pieces: |
11 |
The Comte AC-4 is a single-engine aircraft produced by the Swiss manufacturer Alfred Comte . It was built from 1928 to 1930.
history
This aircraft was the high point of Alfred Comte's aircraft manufacturing career and is considered to be the first series aircraft to be manufactured in Switzerland. The aircraft was built in two series. The first series consisted of six aircraft. However, the first series was sold out before it was even completed. As a result, a second series was added, which bore the additional designation "Gentleman".
use
The AC-4 was used as a tourist, school, mail and tow plane.
One copy was used by Swissair (Reg. CH-262, HB-IKO from 1934) for domestic flights. At times (1955–1979) at home in Germany as D-ELIS and nicknamed “Spirit of Bamberg” , it was among the top ranks on some German flights up until the 1960s.
Another example (Reg. CH-285) served the Swiss Air Force as a training aircraft from 1931 to 1938 .
An AC-4 (Reg. HB-USI) was converted into the world's first wood gas-powered aircraft in 1939, initiated by Ernst Wyss, then chief pilot of the War Technology Department (KTA) of the Federal Construction Workshop. 34 kg of charcoal were required for one hour of flight.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 2 |
| length | 8.10 m |
| span | 12.30 m |
| height | 2.80 m |
| Wing area | 20 m² |
| payload | 300 kg |
| Empty mass | 500 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 800 kg |
| Cruising speed | 140 km / h |
| Top speed | 170 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 4000 m |
| Range | 700 km |
| Engines | 1 × ADC Cirrus Hermes III with 140 PS (103 kW) |
Preserved copies
- CH-180 / HB-ETI, airworthy, location Raron LSTA airfield
- CH-249 / HB-USI (ex BALAIR, 1930–1931), location Flieger-Flab-Museum Dübendorf
- CH-262 / HB-IKO (ex SWISSAIR, 1931–1947), Swiss Museum of Transport , warehouse Rain LU
- CH-264 / HB-KIL, Swiss Museum of Transport , Lucerne
