American Gyro AG-4 Crusader

AG-4 Crusader
Role
National origin United States
Manufacturer American Gyro Company
Designer Thomas M. Shelton
First flight 1935
Introduction 1935




The American Gyro AG-4 Crusader is a small twin engine aircraft. The aircraft was designed as the Shelton Flying Wing in 1933 by Thomas Miles Shelton.[1]

Design

After wind tunnel testes, the AG-4 was developed. The American Gyro AG-4 Crusader is an aluminum skined four place low-wing twin engine aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear, twin tail booms with individual rudders, and a teardrop shaped fuselage. The wing uses trailing edge flaps and 25 gallon fuel tanks are mounted in each wing root. Retractable landing gear were also tested on the model.[2]

Operational history

The prototype was painted copper colored with green leather seats. It was tested in 1935 at Denver Colorado.[3] The aircraft was funded from stock issue in the Crusader Aircraft Corporation, a parent of the American Gyro Company. The company folded in 1938 under securities fraud investigations before the Crusader could go into production[4]

Popular culture

Tootsietoy came out with a die-cast metal toy of the plane, No. 719 in its catalogue.[5]

Variants

American Gyro AG-4 Crusader
American Gyro AG-6 Buccaner
A six place variant design powered by Menasco engines[6]

Specifications (AG-4 Crusader)

Data from AAHS Journal

General characteristics

Performance


References

  1. http://www.dmairfield.com/airplanes/NX14429/index.html
  2. "none". AAHS Journal: 42. Spring 2004.
  3. E Stanton Brown (August 1935). "The American Gyro Crusader". Popular Science.
  4. The Journal of Air Law , Volume 8. p. 71.
  5. http://www.tootsietoys.info/Tootsietoys-Aircraft.html
  6. Aerospace yearbook, Volume 18. Manufacturers Aircraft Association, Manufacturers Aircraft Association, Inc., New York, Aerospace Industries Association of America. p. 268.

Bibliography

External links

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