American Eagle A-129

American Eagle A-129
American Eagle A-129 with Kinner K-5 engine at Old Rhinebeck, NY, in June 2005
Role three seat open cockpit biplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer American Eagle Aircraft Corporation
Designer Giuseppe Bellanca
First flight 1929
Status several still airworthy and displayed in museums
Primary user training, barnstorming and private owners
Number built more than 400
Developed from American Eagle A-101

The American Eagle A-129 was an American biplane first flown in 1929.

Design and development

The preceding American Eagle A-101 of 1926 had achieved some success, but its fierce spin characteristics had resulted in several crashes during training flights. Giuseppe Bellanca redesigned the biplane with a longer fuselage and narrower cowling to accommodate the five-cylinder Kinner K-5 100 h.p. radial engine, which had its cylinder heads exposed. To mark the year of its first appearance, the designation A-129 was applied.[1]

Operational history

Initially designed to replace the Porterfield Flying Schools A-101s, the new biplane proved to have good flying characteristics and more than 400 were built. The aircraft were also flown by "barnstormers" and sports pilots.

Several A-129s remain airworthy and examples are preserved at the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum at Old Rhinebeck in New York state and in the Kansas Aviation Museum Wichita, Kansas.[2]

Variants

A range of engines was fitted to the A-129 without changing the type designation. They included the 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 straight engine and others up to the 200 h.p. Wright J-4.

The American Eagle A-229 was a two seat trainer version with a Curtiss OX-5 engine.[3]

Specifications (100 h.p. Kinner K-5)

American Eagle A-129 3-view drawing from Aero Digest June 1929

Data from Aero Digest June 1929[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: two passengers
  • Length: 25 ft 1 in (7.65 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
  • Wing area: 160 sq ft (15 m2) upper, lower 140 sq ft (13 m2) lower
  • Empty weight: 1,220 lb (553 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,041 lb (926 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 42 US gal (35 imp gal; 160 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Kinner K-5 five cylinder radial, 100 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden, fixed pitch

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn) /bk>
  • Take-off run: 100–150 ft (30–46 m)
  • Landing speed: 30 mph (48 km/h; 26 kn)
  • Stall speed: 35 mph (56 km/h, 30 kn)
  • Range: 500 mi (800 km, 430 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
  • Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s) initial

References

Notes
  1. ^ Simpson, 2001, p. 40
  2. ^ Ogden, 2007, p. 572
  3. ^ a b "American Eagle". Aero Digest. 14 (6). New York City: Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corp: 116. June 1929.
Bibliography
  • Ogden, Bob (2007). Aviation Museums and Collections of North America. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-385-7.
  • Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.
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