Welch OW-5M
| Welch OW-5M | |
|---|---|
| Role | Two-seat cabin monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Orin Welch Aircraft Company, Welch Aircraft Industries Inc, 1720 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend IN., Welch Aircraft Industries Inc. |
| Designer | Orin Moore Welch |
| First flight | April 1931 |
| Unit cost |
$795 in 1931 |
| Developed from | ACE Aircraft Falcon |
The Welch OW-5M (along with the OW-6M, OW-7M and OW-8M) were a family of American two-seat light cabin monoplanes designed by Orin Welch based on his first cabin monoplane design, the ACA Falcon. Welch's goal was to design cheap and functional light aircraft. The aircraft is a strut-braced high-wing monoplane with an enclosed cabin with side-by-side seats for two. It is similar in appearance to the Aeronca C-3, save for the wing struts. It had a steerable tailwheel landing gear and a nose-mounted engine. The fuselage was constructed with fabric covered welded steel tubing with a triangular cross section. The controls were mounted overhead with an adjustable control wheel that could be positioned for either pilot. Welch developed their own low-pressure wheels and tires for suspension.[1]
Welch aircraft were first built at Welch Aircraft Industries Inc, 1720 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend IN.,[2] then production moved to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1940, with the first aircraft christened "The Wyoming Valley". Total production of all types was 55 aircraft, 35 of which were Continental powered OW-5M models.
Their company location history 1927: (Orin) Welch Aircraft Co, Anderson IN. 1928: Welch Aviation Co. 1931: Refinancing as Air-Craft Corp of America, 1406 S Meridian Ave, Anderson and Portland IN. 1936: Welch Aircraft Industries Inc, 1720 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend IN. 1940: Acquired by Aircraft Corp, La Porte IN; Welch Aircraft Developments, 221 Conyham St, Wilkes Barre PA.
Variants
- OW-5M
- Powered by a 40hp (30kW) Continental A-40-4 engine. Type Certificate held by the Hartmann Aircraft Corporation and sometimes described as the Hartmann OW-5M. 38 aircraft
- OW-6M
- Powered by a 37hp (28kW) Aeronca E-113-B engine. Type Certificate held by Stewart Aircraft Industries and sometimes described as the Stewart OW-6M. 7 aircraft
- OW-6S
- OW-6 with 45hp Szekely SR-30 and experimental, two-speed gear-reduction system regn. no NX14521, c/n 110.
- OW-7M
- Powered by a 45hp (36kW) Welch O-2 engine. 8 aircraft
- OW-8M
- Powered by a Franklin 4-AC-150 engine. 2 aircraft
- OW-9M
- Proposed variant with a Lycoming O-145, not built.
- Welch ACE Falcon
- A prototype fitted with an 60hp Anzani radial engine
Survivors
- An OW-8M built from an uncompleted factory OW-5M is on display at the Airpower Museum, Iowa, United States.
- A scale model of the OW is displayed in the atrium lobby of the South Bend Regional Airport (KSBN).[3]
Specifications (OW-5M)
Data from skyways
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (pilot)
- Capacity: 1 (passenger)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m)
- Empty weight: 515 lb ( kg)
- Gross weight: 954 lb ( kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental A-40-4 flat-four piston, 40 hp (40 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 90 mph (145 km/h)
- Range: 250 miles ( km)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft ( m)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- ↑ Jerry Bates (July 1998). "The Welch Monoplane". Skyways: 48.
- ↑ Template:Aerofiles, American Airplanes
- ↑ "KSBN airport". Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- FAA Type Certificate #637 for the OW5M
- FAA Type Certificate #636 for the OW6M