Corben Baby Ace

The Corben Baby Ace of 1929 was a professional design based on the Heath Parasol, but was a little more comfortable and had much better performance because of higher power. A 40-hp French Salmson AD-9 was used. Only six were factory-built, and a few were built from magazine plans in the 1930s.

 
The original Corben Baby Ace first flew back in 1931.

In 1954, Paul Poberenzy, who a year earlier had founded the still fledgling Experimental Aircraft Association, built a Baby Ace aircraft as a three part series in Mechanix Illustrated. The success of the articles caused an explosion in the homebuilt movement. The Baby Ace that Mr. Poberenzy built for Mechanix Illustrated is now in the EAA AirVenture Museum.

The Baby Ace was extensively redesigned in 1955 as an ultralight monoplane specially designed for the amateur builder, the Baby Ace Model D. Baby Aces usually carry Continental engines rated from 65 to 85 hp and their performance is considered excellent by owners. Construction consists of a steel tube fuselage, all-wood wings and fabric covering. The wing is Clark Y mod from the root to the tip.

The kit price in 2009 was US$18950.

Gallery

Baby Ace Model D
Engine: Continental C-65, 65 hp.
Hp range: 65-120.
Gross Wt. 950 lb.
Empty Wt. 575 lb.
Fuel capacity 17 USG.
Wingspan 26 ft 5 in
Length: 17 ft 9in
Wing area: 112 sq.ft.
Top 110 mph.
Cruise 90-100 mph.
Stall 34-38 mph.
Climb rate 1200 fpm.
Takeoff run 200ft.
Landing roll 250 ft.
Range 350-400 sm  
Cockpit width: 34 in.
Seats: 1.

Ace Aircraft Corben Baby Ace Model D
Engine: Continental, Lycoming
Horsepower: 65-100
Propeller: 2 blade metal or wood
Cabin Width: 24 inches (61 cm)
MTOW Weight: 950 lbs (430 kg)     
Empty Weight: 575 lbs (260 kg)
Useful Load: 375 lbs (170 kg)
Fuel Capacity: 17 USG (64 lt)
Wingspan: 26.5 ft (8 m)
Wing Area: 110 sq.ft (10.2 sq.m)
Wing Loading: 8.6 lbs/sq.ft (42 kg/sq.m)
Overall Length: 17.9 ft (5.46 m)
Maximum Speed     VNE: 96 kts | 110 mph | 177 kmh @ sea level
Cruise Speed: 87 kts | 100 mph | 161 kmh
Stall Speed(@ MTOW): 30 kts | 34 mph | 55 kmh
Service Ceiling: 10,500 ft (3,200 m)
Takeoff Distance: 300 ft (91.5 m)
Landing Distance: 250 ft (76 m)                 
Rate of Climb(gross): 1200 fpm | 6 m/s     
Centre of Gravity Aft Limit: 18.36 in
Centre of Gravity Forward Limit: 11.88 in
Empty Cg: 12.5 in To 13.5 in
Incidence Angles: Reference: Upper Longeron
Horiz. Stab: 0.0 Degrees
Wing: +1.18 Degrees
Engine: 0.0 Degrees Vert./Hor.
Vertical Fin: 0.0 Deg. (Fuse C/L)
Control Surface Travel: Ailerons: 20 Deg. Up/Dn
Elevator: 32 Deg. Up/Dn
Rudder: 27 Deg. L/R
Landing Gear: FG (tailwheel or trike)
Seats: 1