General Aviation GA-43
| Clark GA-43 | |
|---|---|
 General Aviation GA-43 HB-ITU at Swissair |
|
| Type: | Passenger plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: |
General aviation |
| First flight: |
May 22, 1932 |
| Production time: |
1931 to 1934 |
| Number of pieces: |
5 |
The General Aviation GA-43 was a commercial aircraft produced in small numbers in the 1930s. In German-speaking countries, better known as the Clark GA-43 because of its use by Swissair , the aircraft was also known as the Pilgrim 150 or Fairchild 150 .
development
The prototype was made at Fairchild's American Pilgrim department . The project was taken over by General Aviation Manufacturing Corporation when the company was sold . Shortly afterwards, the aircraft flew for the first time; Despite the first flight in 1932, the construction of further machines did not take place until 1934. In the meantime, General Motors had acquired a controlling majority in North American Aviation and merged it with General Aviation Manufacturing Corporation. This also made the GA-43 the first aircraft to be built by North American. The engineer responsible for the aircraft was aviation pioneer Virginius Clark . A three-engine variant was considered but not built.
construction
The GA-43 was an all-metal aircraft in a low -wing configuration. While the prototype had a rigid landing gear with a rear wheel , the main landing gear was later designed to be retractable. Three of the four aircraft produced flew in this configuration, while the fourth aircraft had two floats for operation on water surfaces. The passenger cabin with 10 seats was located in the fuselage with an oval cross-section, while the cockpit was raised.
The engines used were Wright Cyclone 1820 with 700 HP, the HB-ITU aircraft from Swissair being equipped with a 600 HP Wasp engine and the float plane with a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 .
commitment
Accident on the Rigi
On April 30, 1936, the HB-ITU aircraft collided with the western flank of the Rigi in the Rigi Staffelhöhe area due to navigation problems. The pilot and the radio operator were killed.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| Passengers | 10 |
| length | 13.13 m |
| span | 16.15 m |
| height | 2.90 m |
| Wing area | 43.2 m² |
| Empty mass | 2,420 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 3,970 kg |
| Top speed | 312 km / h |
| Cruising speed | 274 km / h |
| Minimum speed | 104 km / h |
| Range | 680 km |
literature
- Michael JH Taylor: Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions, London 1989, p. 417.
- The Clark GA-43 Commercial Monoplane . In: Flight . November 23, 1933, p. 1176.
