Adam RA-15 Major

Adam RA-15 Major
	Adam RA-15 Major in 1957
Role	light sporting high-wing cabin monoplane
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Ets. Roger Adam
Designer	Roger Adam
First flight	1948
Introduction	1948
Status	Rights sold to Maranda Aircraft Company in 1957
Primary user	private owners and aero clubs
Developed from	Adam RA-14 Loisirs

The Adam RA-15 Major was a French sporting plane developed and produced in the decade after World War II.

Development

The RA-15 was developed in 1948 as a higher-powered successor to the Adam RA-14 Loisirs, utilising a number of refinements including a plywood-covered fuselage and an enlarged rudder. It was a side-by-side two-seater with dual controls, wooden construction and a fabric-covered two-spar wing which folded for storage in hangars. The Major was designed to use any flat-four engine in the 65-75 h.p. range.^[1]

Production and operational history

A small series of Majors was produced in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The basic RA-15 was fitted with the 75 h.p. Regnier 4D-2 engine and the RA-151 had the 75 hp Continental C75 engine.^[2] Two Majors were still active in 1965.^[2]

Variants

RA-15 Major
RA-17: a modified single seat crop dusting variant of the RA-15.
Maranda BM3: Canadian production of the RA-17 by the Maranda Aircraft Company^[3]^[4]

Specification (RA-15)

Data from ^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in (10.59 m)
Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Empty weight: 616 lb (279 kg)
Gross weight: 1,145 lb (519 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Regnier 4D-2 four cylinder air-cooled engine , 75 hp (56 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 111 mph (178 km/h, 96 kn)
Cruise speed: 103 mph (165 km/h, 90 kn)
Range: 340 mi (547 km, 300 nmi)

References

Notes

^ Simpson, 2001, p. 3
^ ^a ^b ^c Green, 1965, p. 34
^ Taylor 1967, pp. 24–25
^ William Green, Gerald John Pollinger. The aircraft of the world.

Bibliography

Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.
Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1967). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1967–68. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.

[1] Simpson, 2001, p. 3

[Green,_1965,_p._34-2] Green, 1965, p. 34

[3] Taylor 1967, pp. 24–25

[4] William Green, Gerald John Pollinger. The aircraft of the world.

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