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

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]

The T-4 cockpit
Inside the rear fuselage of a Thaden T-4

Design and development

The 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

Data 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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thaden T-4.
Notes
  1. 1 2 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 1985. p. 3000.
  2. ↑ "Louise M. Thaden and Herbert V. Thaden Aviation Pioneers". Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 "American airplanes - Ta - Th". www.aerofiles.com. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  4. ↑ Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 323c.
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