Pitcairn PAA-1

The Pitcairn PAA-1 was an autogyro developed in the United States in the early 1930s.[1] Of similar configuration to Pitcairn's earlier machines, the PAA-1 had an airplane-like fuselage with two open cockpits in tandem and a tractor-mounted engine in the nose.[2] It was also equipped with small wings, which carried control surfaces, rather than using the rotor for flight control.[2] It was a smaller and lighter machine than its predecessors and was designed specifically with private pilots in mind.[1][2]

PAA-1
This Pitcairn PAA-1 autogiro was flown at Langley for the NACA investigation of an experimental cantilevered three-bladed rotor. June 1943.
Role	Sport autogyro
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro Company
First flight	1931
Number built	25

Variants

• PAA-1 - main production version with Kinner B-5 engine[2]
• PA-20 - improved version with Kinner R-5 engine[2]
• PA-24 - version with twin tails and Kinner R-5 engine, modified from existing PAA-1s and PA-20s[2]

Specifications

Data from "Pitcairn, A G A, Pitcairn-Cierva, Pitcairn-Larsen"

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 18 ft 7 in (5.66 m)
• Wingspan: 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Kinner B-5 , 125 hp (93 kW)
• Main rotor diameter: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
• Main rotor area: 10.75 sq ft (99.9 m²)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)
• Range: 250 mi (400 km, 220 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)

References

Notes

1. Taylor 1989, p.734
2. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, p.2739

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing.
• "Pitcairn, A G A, Pitcairn-Cierva, Pitcairn-Larsen". Aerofiles. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.

External links

• "Will Autogiro Banish Present Plane?", March 1931, pg 28