Paramount Cabinaire

Cabinaire
Role Cabin biplane
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Paramount Aircraft Corporation
Designer Walter J. Carr
First flight 1928
Introduction 1929 National Aircraft Show
Number built 8
Unit cost
$5750 in 1931
Developed from Travel Air 2000

The Paramount Cabinaire was a 1920s designed cabin biplane, designed by Walter J. Carr and produced by the Paramount Aircraft Corporation. Only eight were completed before production ceased.

Design and development

Following the failure of Walter J. Carr's first aircraft company, the CSC Aircraft Company, Carr worked as a tester for the new Warner Scarab radial engines. Carr flew with Scarabs on a Travel Air 2000, and later cannibalized the test aircraft to produce the first Cabinaire aircraft design.[1]

The prototype Cabinaire was formed around a welded steel tube Travel Air 2000 fuselage modified for an enclosed cabin. A new center section of wing was added and Travel air wings were reinstalled onto the center sections. The biplane aircraft featured a radial engine, and conventional landing gear. The upper wing was mounted several inches above the enclosed cabin.[2] The entire plane was fabric covered with wooden wing spars and ribs. The upscale cabin used two individual upholstered wicker seats in the front and a wicker bench seat for passengers. The interior used velor finishing, nickel plating, mohair rugs, mahogany panels and roll-down windows.[3]

Prototype #2 was made from parts of the first. Each production model differed slightly from each other with choices of engines, and landing gear and aileron improvements.

Operational history

In 1929, Viola Gentry and Jack Ashcroft attempted an endurance record for flight with aerial refueling in a modified Cabinaire SN#5 named The Answer. The name was chosen in response to the Army aircraft that had completed previous endurance records, the Question Mark. The aircraft had a 55-gallon cabin tank, and 21 gallon wing tanks installed for the attempt. The Answer crew was unable to refuel after the first ten hours of flight due to fog and crashed 28 June 1929, killing Ashcroft. Carr had been the original choice of co-pilot, but had to pass on the opportunity when struck with pneumonia.[4]

In 1930, a Cabinaire was entered in the 4814 mile long Ford National Reliability Air Tour, placing 15th out of 18.[5] The same aircraft has been restored and was still flown in 2011.[6]

Variants

Cabinaire 110
110 hp (82 kW) Warner Radial SN#1-6
Cabinaire 165
165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-6 SN#7[7]
Cabinaire A-70
165 hp (123 kW) - Originally, SN#3 flown as an aerial survey aircraft, it was rebuilt to meet ATC requirements, with an new engine becoming SN#9.

Specifications (Paramount Cabinaire 165)

Data from Skyways,FAA, Popular Aviation

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ "Paramount Aircraft Corporation". Skyways. July 2001.
  2. ↑ Popular Aviation: 36. June 1931. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ "Paramount Aircraft Corporation". Skyways. July 2001.
  4. ↑ Joshua Stoff. Long Island aircraft crashes 1909-1959.
  5. ↑ "1930 Ford Air Tour". Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Smithsonian Institution (2002). Air & space, Volume 17. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ "FAA TCDS 265" (PDF). Retrieved 30 December 2011.

External links

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