The Pitcairn PA-18 was an autogyro produced in the United States in the early 1930s.
4-511: In 1931, Pitcairn had produced a lightweight autogyro suitable for the private pilots as the PAA-1 . Experience with this and with other light, low-powered machines convinced Pitcairn that while the concept was good, they presented significant handling problems to inexperienced pilots. The PA-18 was designed as a machine for the same market, but with a more powerful engine and structural strengthening. The availability of more power contributed greatly to
8-440: The aircraft's responsiveness at low speeds. According to Frank Kingston Smith Sr. wrote, "Pitcairn's assessment of the market had been correct: within a year and a half more than nineteen PA-18s were produced and sold, vindicating his decision to proceed with the basic machine while experimenting with the direct-control system." In 2008, a PA-18 was restored to flying condition by Jack and Kate Tiffany of New Carlisle, Ohio . At
12-816: The same time, a second PA-18 was under restoration by the Posey Brothers firm at the Trenton-Robbinsville Airport . Most other PA-18s were purchased by the United States government in 1940 and sold on to the United Kingdom. They never arrived, however, since the ship carrying them was sunk by a German submarine. Data from "Pitcairn, A G A, Pitcairn-Cierva, Pitcairn-Larsen" General characteristics Performance Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Pitcairn PAA-1 The Pitcairn PAA-1
16-475: Was an autogyro developed in the United States in the early 1930s. Of similar configuration to Pitcairn's earlier machines, the PAA-1 had an airplane-like fuselage with two open cockpits in tandem and a tractor-mounted engine in the nose. It was also equipped with small wings, which carried control surfaces, rather than using the rotor for flight control. It was a smaller and lighter machine than its predecessors and
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