The Thaden T-4 Argonaut was a 1930s American four-seat all-metal cabin monoplane built by the Thaden Metal Aircraft Company of San Francisco, California.[1]
| T-4 Argonaut | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Cabin monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Thaden Metal Aircraft Company |
| Designer | Louise Thaden & Herbert von Thaden |
| First flight | 1930 |
| Number built | 2 |
Design and development
editThe T-4 was the third and last design of the Thaden Metal Aircraft Company which had been formed by Herbert von Thaden, a former United States Army Signal Corps pilot and engineer, to work on developing the first American all-metal aircraft. The T-4 was a high-wing monoplane powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Wright Whirlwind radial engine.[1] It had a fixed conventional landing gear with a tailwheel.[2] Two aircraft were built.[3]
Specifications
editData from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931,[4] Aerofiles[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 pax
- Length: 32 ft 10 in (10.01 m)
- Wingspan: 45 ft (14 m)
- Height: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Wing area: 277.4 sq ft (25.77 m2)
- Empty weight: 2,366 lb (1,073 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,800 lb (1,724 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 96 US gal (80 imp gal; 360 L) fuel tank capacity; 636 lb (288 kg) fuel and oil
- Powerplant: 1 × Wright Whirlwind 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 300 hp (220 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton Standard fixed-pitch metal propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn)
- Cruise speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn) *Landing speed: 59 mph (51 kn; 95 km/h)
- Range: 600 mi (970 km, 520 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 920 ft/min (4.7 m/s)
- Wing loading: 13.88 lb/sq ft (67.8 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 12.67 lb/hp (7.71 kg/kW)
See also
editReferences
editWikimedia Commons has media related to Thaden T-4.
- Notes
- ^ a b The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 1985. p. 3000.
- ^ "Louise M. Thaden and Herbert V. Thaden Aviation Pioneers". Retrieved 12 October 2010.
- ^ a b "American airplanes - Ta - Th". www.aerofiles.com. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
- ^ Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 323c.