Misplaced Pages

Ford Model 15-P

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Ford Model 15-P
Role Light AircraftType of aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company
First flight 1935
Status Not produced
Number built 1

The Ford Model 15-P flying wing was the last aircraft developed by the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company. After several flights resulting in a crash, the program was halted. Ford eventually re-entered the aviation market producing Consolidated B-24 Liberators under license from Consolidated Aircraft.

Development

A press release in Jan 1936 said that Ford was designing behind closed doors a new "flivver" using its new V-8 engine.

Design

The Model 15-P was a two-passenger "flying wing" or tailless design. It featured a rear-mounted Ford V-8 driving a tractor propeller with a driveshaft The fuselage was steel tube with an aluminum covering and the wings were fabric-covered. The landing gear was fully faired with large landing lights mounted in the fairings.

Operational history

Several test flights were made by test pilot Harry Russell, but after an accident the aircraft was put in storage. The aircraft was licensed by the Federal Bureau of Air Commerce in 1936, the same year Ford closed its aircraft division. The remains of the 15P were used to create a prototype autogyro, but all trace of the 15P disappeared when the autogyro was scrapped.

Specifications

Data from Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers By Robert F. Pauley

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 2
  • Length: 14 ft (4.3 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft (10 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Ford V-8, 115 hp (86 kW)

Performance

  • Range: 430 nmi (500 mi, 800 km)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. "Ford, Ford-Stout". Aerofiles.com. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  2. "Ford Licenses Experimental 'Flivver' Plane, Re-enters Competition With V-8 Engine". New York Times. Jan 13, 1936.
  3. ^ Pearce, William. "Ford 15P Personal Aircraft". oldmachinepress.com. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  4. "New 'Flivver' Plane Made By Ford, Carries 2 Passengers And Baggage". The Hartford Courant. Jan 13, 1936.

External links

Stout/Ford aircraft
Stout
Ford
Categories:
Ford Model 15-P Add topic