Alvear (airplane)

Alvear
Role Experimental aircraft
National origin Brazil
Designer J. d'Alvear
First flight November 1914
Number built 1

The Alvear was a Brazilian single-engine, single-seat aircraft.[1]

Design and development

Her structure was made of wood paraná pine wing ribs and beech stringers, and externally covered with varnished linho. The engine was a 7-cylinder 60HP Gnome rotary type, with wooden Chauvier propellers. The landing gear was fixed, with front wheels and rear fixed metal skid.[2]

It was built by J. d'Alvear with his own resources and completed in October 1914. The aircraft was registered by letter patent 8563.[3] The first flight occurred in November 1914 piloted by Ambrósio Caragiolla, who fatally crashed in February 1915 with this same aircraft.[1]

It was the second aircraft built in Brazil and, with the exception of the French engine and propellers, employed domestic materials and components in its manufacture.[1]

Specifications

Data from Pereira 1986, p. 5

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
  • Upper wingspan: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 16 m2 (170 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 200 kg (441 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Σ60 Sigma 7-cylinder rotary engine, 45 kW (60 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Chauvier, 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil" (PDF). Instituto Histórico-Cultural da Aeronáutica (Press release).
  2. ^ Pereira, Roberto (1986). História da Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil 1910-1976. Vol. 1. São Paulo: Editora Aquarius. pp. 4–6. ISBN 9788585262693.
  3. ^ Pereira, Roberto (2013). Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil - 100 Anos de História. Vol. 1. São José dos Campos: JAC Editora. ISBN 978-85-85262-69-3.