Prescott Pusher

Prescott Pusher
Prescott Pusher
Role	Homebuilt aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Prescott Aeronautical Corporation
Designer	Tom Prescott
Unit cost	US$20,000 - fixed gear (1986) US$36,500 - retractable gear (1986)

The Prescott Pusher is a homebuilt aircraft, with a large cockpit, retractable or fixed gear, T-tail and of pusher configuration, that seats four passengers. Passengers enter the aircraft through a large left-side opening clamshell door.^[1]

Design and development

Tom Prescott worked for Sikorsky Aircraft, Piper Aircraft, and Learjet. He left Learjet in 1983 to produce the Prescott Pusher. The pusher was tested using a 1/5 scale model in the Wichita State University wind tunnel in 1983. Flying scale models were tested in 1984, which led to the development of the drooped wing tips for better low speed handling and reduced drag. The aircraft was modeled using CAD/CAM software for creating drawings and defining machine cuts on the fuselage steel, becoming the first CAD/CAM designed homebuilt aircraft. The AVIA Products Co was purchased to develop an electrically controlled variable pitch fiberglass pusher propeller.^[2]

The pusher was designed to FAR Part 23 certification standards of the time. It uses aluminum construction for the wings and tail surfaces. The fiberglass landing gear and flaps are hydraulically activated. The nosegear steering is also hydraulic with electric controls. The fuselage uses a 4130 steel welded square steel tube frame with composite skin covering. Every component can be installed prior to skin installation, and in theory, could even be flown without the skins. The wing skins are formed cold using dry ice, then age hardened to T-42 standards. The engine is mounted far aft with a 12 inch propeller extension.^[2]

The Prescott Pusher was first displayed at the Experimental Aircraft Association airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1985. Prescott Aeronautical Corporation went out of business. In 1991, there were approximately 25-35 builders completing their aircraft in various configurations.^[3]

Aircraft on display

• Kansas Aviation Museum^[4]

Specifications

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

• Capacity: 4
• Length: 20 ft 3 in (6.17 m)
• Wingspan: 28 ft 5 in (8.66 m)
• Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
• Wing area: 110 sq ft (10 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 7.3
• Airfoil: NLF(1)-0215
• Empty weight: 1,550 lb (703 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,400 lb (1,089 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360 , 180 hp (130 kW)

Performance

• Cruise speed: 165 kn; 306 km/h (190 mph)
• Stall speed: 50 kn; 93 km/h (58 mph)
• Never exceed speed: 204 kn; 378 km/h (235 mph)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s)

References

1. Jim Campbell (August 1986). "Hot Wings". Popular Mechanics.
2. Dick Cavin (March 1986). "Tom Prescott's Pusher". Sport Aviation.
3. Jack Cox (September 1991). "Russ and Marcia Taylor's Prescott Pusher".
4. "Kansas Aviation Museum". Retrieved 17 April 2012.