Hales Corners WI.
USA
Circa 1953 built the Yellow Jacket airplane
Era
Pither Monoplane
Herbert John Pither of Invercargill, New Zealand, was a professional cyclist, cycle and small engine manufacturer and aviation experi¬menter. The basic facts are clear. Pither built a Bleriot type monoplane, and a V 4 configured engine to power it. He incor¬porated some ideas of his own, including the early use of bicycle steel for the airframe. His workmanship was of a high standard.
Pither tested his aircraft on a remote Southland beach in winter 1910, but there is no contemporary record of a witness to the flight he later described. He claimed to have flown for 1.5 km along Riverton Beach on 15 July 1910 at a height of 30 ft.
He took it to Australia in November 1910 hoping to attract the attention of the Australian government, and then disappeared from aviation history.
Pitcairn-Cierva PAA-2
The PAA-2 autogyro of 1931 had a tricycle gear added to offset the weight of the motor.
Only one was built; NX10756.
Engine: Martin 333/ Chevrolair, 120 hp
Rotor dia: 37 ft
No of blades: 4
Length: 20’3″
Seats: 2
Pitcairn-Cierva PAA-1
The 1931 PAA-1 (ATC 433) was priced at $6,750. Twenty-five were built.
Any PA-20 or PAA-1 autogyro could be changed to a PA-24 by installing a Kinner B-5 engine.
Year: 1931
Engine: Kinner B-5, 125 hp
Rotor dia: 37 ft
No of blades: 4
Span: 22’9″
Length: 18’7″
Gross wt: 1750 lb
Empty wt: 1178 lb
Max speed: 90 mph
Cruise: 75 mph
Range: 250 mi
Ceiling: 10.000′
Seats: 2
Pitcairn PA-44 / XO-61 / YO-61
In 1943 two Pitcairn PA-44 gyrocopters were built for the Army Air Corp as XO-61 and YO-61, but not delivered. They were fitted with pusher engines.
Engine: 300hp Jacobs R-915A
Rotor diameter: 48’0″
Length: 28’6″
Max speed: 103 mph
Gross wt: 3038 lb
Seats: 2
Pitcairn-Cierva PA-39
Seven PA-18 Autogyros were recalled during WWII and rebuilt as PA-39 for the British Air Commission in the latter half of 1941. BW829 was the first constructed.
The were used experimentally and for RAF communications duties.
BW829 to BE833 were crated and shipped to England but were lost when their transport was sunk.
BW834 and 835 remained in the USA and were used by the British Air Commission personnel for communications duties.
Year: 1939
Seats: 2
Engine: Warner Super Scarab, 165 hp
Gross wt: 2150 lb
Rotor dia: 42 ft 3 in
No of blades: 3
Pitcairn-Cierva PA-36 / Pitcairn-Larsen PA-36
Cierva’s C30 series and Pitcairn’s PA-22 and Luscombe-built aluminum body PA-36, and the KD-1 series constructed by Kellett Autogiro Company of Philadelphia were capable of jump take-offs and direct-control without wings.
Designed by Agnew Larsen, one PA-36 Whirl Wing, o Pitcairn-Larsen PA-36, was built, in 1939, NX20674. An all-metal, roadable version of Autogiro AC-35 for military trials with side-by-side cabin, which proved unsuccessful with the advent of the helicopter and it was cut up for scrap during WW2.
Another was partially constructed as the Pitcairn-Larsen PA-36 in 1941.
Year: 1939
Engine: Warner Super Scarab, 165 hp
Rotor dia: 43 ft
No of blades: 3
Length: 20’5″
Width: 8’3″
Gross wt: 2050 lb
Useful load: 625 lb
Max speed: 122 mph
Cruise: 102 mph
Range: 375 mi
Seats: 2
Pitcairn-Cierva PA-34 / XOP
In 1931 the US Navy used three PA-34, with 45’0″ rotor, designated XOP-1, for testing stability in carrier use.
Of the three, A8850, A8976, and A8977, the first was modified as the wingless XOP-2, and the last two were flown by the USMC.
Engine: Wright R-975/E2, 420 hp
Gross wt: 3300 lb
Empty wt: 2300 lb
Rotor dia: 46 ft 2 in
No of blades: 3
Seats: 2
Pitcairn-Cierva PA-33 / XG-2 / YG-2
The XG-2 Autogyro was a 1935 PA-33 with a 165hp Wright R-975 for evaluation by the Army Air Corp. Only one was built.
Engine: Wright R-975/E2, 420 hp
Rotor dia: 46 ft 2 in
No of blades: 3
Length: 22’8″
Gross wt: 3300 lb
Empty wt: 2300 lb
Speed: 144 mph
Seats: 2
Pitcairn-Cierva PA-24
The 1933 PA-24 (ATC 507) was a two-place modified twin-tail version of PA-20 and PAA-1 with changes in powerplant and rotor system.
Two were built, NC11631 and NC11634, plus about 20 modifications of earlier models.
Year: 1932
Engine: Kinner R-5, 160 hp
Rotor dia: 37 ft
No of blades: 4
Wing span: 22’9″
Length: 18’7″
Gross wt: 1800 lb
Fuel cap: 27 USG
Gross wt: 1750 lb
Empty wt: 1178 lb
Useful load: 572 lb
Max speed: 90 mph
Cruise speed: 75 mph
Range: 235 mi
ROC: 550 fpm
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft
Seats: 2
