Elias EM

Elias
Role	Utility biplane
Manufacturer	Elias
Introduction	1922
Primary users	United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Number built	7

The Elias EM was a 1920s American general-purpose and marine expeditionary biplane built by Elias.

Development

The company designed the Elias EM-1 to meet a United States Marine Corps requirement for a multi-role marine expeditionary aircraft. It was required to operate on either floats or wheels. The EM-1 was a tandem two-seat unequal-span biplane powered by a 300hp (224kW) Wright-Hispano H engine. The prototype was modified with equal-span wings and delivered to the Marine Corps in 1922. Six production aircraft were built (designated EM-2) all had the equal-span wings and were powered by a 400hp (298kW) Liberty 12 inline engine.

One production aircraft was delivered to the United States Marine Corps and five to the United States Navy. One of the Navy aircraft was modified as an observation aircraft and re-designated EO-1.

Variants

EM-1: Prototype with a 300hp (224kW) Wright-Hispano H engine, one built.
EM-2: Production aircraft with a 400hp (298kW) Liberty 12 inline engine, six built including one later converted to an EO-1.
EO-1: One EM-2 aircraft converted as an observation aircraft.

Operators

United States

Specifications (EM-2)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Wingspan: 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Gross weight: 4233 lb (1920 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Liberty 12 inline piston engine, 400 hp (298 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h)

Armament

dorsal 0.3 inch machine gun

References

John Andrade, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9 (Page 171)
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing