Aeronca Sedan

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Aeronca Sedan

Type	Light utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Aeronca
Maiden flight	1947
Introduced	1947
Produced	1948-1951
Number built	561
Variants	Hindustan Aeronautics Krishak

The Aeronca 15AC Sedan is a four-seat fixed conventional gear general aviation airplane which was produced in the United States between 1948 and 1951. Designed for personal use, the Sedan also found applications in utility roles including bush flying. The Sedan was the last design which Aeronca put into production and was also the largest aircraft produced by the company.

1 Production history
2 Design
- 2.1 Modifications
3 Operational history
- 3.1 Record flights
4 Specifications (1948 15AC Sedan)
5 References
6 External links
7 Related content

[edit] Production history

Introduced in 1947, and entering production in 1948, the 15AC Sedan was Aeronca’s four-seat addition to its pair of two-seat airplanes, the Champ and Chief, both of which had entered production an 1946. The four-place design gave Aeronca a lineup similar to that of its competitors. Many other companies with two-place designs had been adding four-place versions. Among these four-place competitors were Cessna’s 170, Piper’s PA-14 Family Cruiser, Stinson’s 108, Taylorcraft’s 15, and Luscombe’s 11A Silvaire Sedan.

The Aeronca Sedan was produced from 1948 until Aeronca ceased all production of light aircraft in 1951. The Sedan production line had actually been shut down in 1950, but Sedans were still being assembled in 1951 from the stock of parts. The last Sedan, which was also the last Aeronca-built airplane to fly, left the factory on October 23, 1951.

Though Aeronca sold a number of its other designs after ceasing production, it maintained ownership of the Sedan. The HAOP-27 Krishak, built by Hindustan Aeronautics, shows some similarities to the Sedan. Some sources say that the Krishak was produced under license from Aeronca, though the differences are significant enough to call this into question.

Aeronca did finally part with the design in 1991, selling it to (according to Federal Aviation Administration records) “William Brad Mitchell or Sandra Mitchell.” In 2000, ownership of the design passed to Burl A. Rogers, owner of Burl’s Aircraft Rebuild. While no new aircraft have been produced, Burl’s does provide parts and support to Sedan owners and operators.

[edit] Design

As with other Aeronca designs of the day, the Sedan’s fuselage and tail surfaces are constructed of welded metal tubing. The outer shape of the fuselage is created by a combination of wooden formers and longerons, covered with fabric. The cross-section of the metal fuselage truss is triangular, a design feature which can be traced all the way back to the earliest Aeronca C-2 design of the late 1920s.

In a significant design departure from previous Aeronca aircraft, the strut-braced wings of the Sedan are all-metal assemblies. Such combinations of construction types were not common, but not unheard of. (Interestingly, while the Sedan mated a fabric-covered fuselage to all-metal wings, the contemporary Cessna 170 mated an all-metal fuselage to fabric-covered wings.) Also unique to the Sedan, among Aeronca designs, are the single-piece wing struts.

The landing gear of the Sedan is in a conventional arrangement, with steel tube main gear, and a steerable tailwheel. Unlike its siblings the Champ and Chief, with their use of oleo struts for shock absorption, the Sedan makes used of bungee cords to absorb landing and taxi loads.

The Sedan is powered by the Continental C-145-2 or Continental O-300-A engine of 145 horsepower. The Franklin 6A4-165-B3 and Franklin 6A4-150-B3, of 165 and 150 horsepower, respectively, are also approved for installation. The Sedan features an electrical system, including a starter, as standard equipment.

As it had with many of its other models, Aeronca certified a seaplane version of the Sedan; it was designated model S15AC. While the standard Sedan was equipped with a single entry door on the right side, the seaplane version had a left-side door as well.

[edit] Modifications

Modernized Sedan with 180 horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine

More than 50 Supplemental Type Certificate modifications are available for the Sedan, many these intended to modernize the aircraft. One, sold by the current owner of the Sedan design, replaces many of the components ahead of the firewall with updated versions, including a Lycoming O-360-A1A engine of 180 horsepower, a constant speed propeller, a new engine mount, and a fiberglass cowling.

[edit] Operational history

The Sedan was designed to be a docile airplane but also a good performer. Pilots found that the Sedan, with its large interior, had plenty of room for baggage and passengers. With its large wing, it had good takeoff performance, and was capable of short takeoff and landing operations. It found a niche as a capable personal aircraft and in commercial bush flying roles; it could also be equipped for agricultural work. Though the commercial roles have been largely taken over by more modern designs, many Sedans remain in use as personal airplanes. Their ongoing operation is aided by the availability of support from the current design owner.

[edit] Record flights

A Sedan was chosen by pilots Bill Barris and Dick Riedel for their attempt to set a time aloft record in 1949. Their flight was sponsored by the local chamber of commerce and the Sunkist growers association, the second sponsor accounting for the naming of the aircraft as the Sunkist Lady. (The accompanying support aircraft, also a Sedan, was called the Lady’s Maid.) Departing from the Fullerton, California, Municipal Airport on March 15, the flight crossed the United States to Miami, Florida, where bad weather forced the pilots to circle for 14 days before making the return trip to Fullerton. Along the way, fuel and food were passed from vehicles on the ground to the pilots during low passes over airport runways. Having reached Fullerton on April 11, the pilots kept flying around the local area until April 26, finally landing at Fullerton Municipal Airport and setting a record of over 1,008 hours, or 42 days, in the air.

The Fullerton record drew attention but was, in the end, short lived. Inspired by the flight at Fullerton, later in 1949, Yuma, Arizona, decided to sponsor their own time aloft record attempt. The city needed publicity as it was experiencing economic hard times due to the 1946 closure of Yuma Army Air Field. Pilots Woody Jongeward and Bob Woodhouse piloted the City of Yuma, a Sedan borrowed from local owners, modified for the flight and painted with the slogan, “The City with a Future.” The flight began on August 24, with the aircraft remaining in the Yuma area throughout, and ended after more than 1,124 hours, or nearly 47 days in the air, on October 10. In 1997, the record-setting airplane was located and returned to Yuma; made airworthy again, it flew on October 10, 1999, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the record flight.

[edit] Specifications (1948 15AC Sedan)

1948 Aeronca 15AC Sedan landing

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Capacity: three passengers
Length: 25 ft 3 in (7.7 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 6 in (11.4 m)
Height: 10 ft 4 in (3.1 m)
Wing area: 200 ft² (18.6 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 4412
Empty weight: 1,170 lb (531 kg)
Loaded weight: 2,050 lb (930 kg)
Useful load: 880 lb (399 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,050 lb (930 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Continental C-145-2 , 145 hp (108 kW)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 139 mph (224 km/h)
Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h)
Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h)
Stall speed: 53 mph (85.3 km/h)
Range: 400 mi (644 km)
Service ceiling: 12,400 ft (3,780 m)
Rate of climb: 650 ft/min (3.30 m/s)
Wing loading: 10.3 lb/ft² (50 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 14.1 lb/hp (8.6 kg/kW)

[edit] References

Aircraft specification no. A-802. Revision 24. (Aug. 31, 2000.) Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration.
American airplanes: Aeronca. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
American Airplanes: Cessna. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
Bhargava, Kapil. The IAF as an aircraft manufacturer. Indian Air Force – History. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. STC number SA302NW. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
History. Endurance Flight 1949. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
Hollenbaugh, Bob, John Houser (1993). Aeronca: A photo history. Destin, FL: Aviation Heritage Books. ISBN 0-943691-10-9.
Juptner, Joseph P. (1994). "ATC #802 (9-23-48): Aeronca ‘Sedan,’ 11AC (S15AC)". U. S. Civil Aircraft Series 9 (ATC 801-817): 15-18. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Aero—McGraw-Hill.
Kaptain’s Korner. Endurance Flight 1949. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
Luscombe. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
O’Leary, M. (May 2003). "City of Yuma". Air Classics.
On tour: City of Yuma. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
Perdue, S.. The very first Aeronca Sedan. Plane & Pilot Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
Piper. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
Siciliano, S. A. (1949). "Flight of the City of Yuma". Arizona Highways.
Stinson. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
The Sunkist Lady. City of Fullerton. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
Taylor, Taylorcraft. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.