Albree Pigeon-Fraser

(Redirected from Pigeon Scout)

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

Albree Pigeon-Fraser
General information
TypeFighter
National originUnited States
Designer
Statuscancelled
Number built3
History
First flightDecember 1917

Development

edit

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

edit

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]

Surviving aircraft

edit

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

edit

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

edit
  1. ^ a b 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.