Thomas Towle was an engineer that had been involved with many early aircraft designs. Having just co-designed the Eastman E-2 Sea Rover. The TA-3 was a six-seat follow-on to the Towle TA-2 which crashed on its first flight. The wing from the TA-2 prototype was salvaged and reused on the TA-3.
Designedit
The TA-3 featured two dieselradial engines on tall struts above the wings. Diesel engines were relatively new and were touted as being safer because they used a less volatile fuel than gasoline. The engines were provided on loan from the Packard Motor Car Company.[1] The salvaged all-metal wing featured internal bracing based on the Ford Trimotor design that Towle had worked on previously. The tail used two rudders placed in the slipstream of the engines.[2]
Operational historyedit
The prototype was built at Grosse Ile Municipal Airport and first flew in May 1930 piloted by George Pond.[2] The prototype was leased to Kohler Airlines for two years before being flipped in a gear-down water landing in 1932. The aircraft was later sold and used in running liquor from the Bahamas to Florida during prohibition until it was destroyed in a storm at Bimini Island.[3]
Specifications (Towle TA-3)edit
Data from Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers,[3] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931[4]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 8 pax
Length: 43 ft (13 m)
Wingspan: 56 ft (17 m)
Height: 13 ft (4.0 m)
Wing area: 400 sq ft (37 m2)
Empty weight: 3,943 lb (1,789 kg)
Gross weight: 6,200 lb (2,812 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Packard DR-980 Radial, 225 hp (168 kW) each
^ROBERT B. MEYER (1964). The First Airplane Diesel Engine: Packard Model DR-980 of 1928. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION • NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM WASHINGTON, D.C.
^ abE. R. Johnson. American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history. p. 324.
^ abPauley, Robert F. (2009). MICHIGAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS. South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN9780738552187.
^Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 324c.
towle, amphibious, aircraft, based, towle, 3role, amphibious, aircraftnational, origin, united, states, americamanufacturer, towle, aircraft, companydesigner, thomas, towlefirst, flight, 1930number, built, 1developed, from, towle, contents, development, design. The Towle TA 3 was an amphibious aircraft based on the Towle TA 2 TA 3Role Amphibious aircraftNational origin United States of AmericaManufacturer Towle Aircraft CompanyDesigner Thomas TowleFirst flight May 1930Number built 1Developed from Towle TA 2 Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Operational history 4 Specifications Towle TA 3 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment editThomas Towle was an engineer that had been involved with many early aircraft designs Having just co designed the Eastman E 2 Sea Rover The TA 3 was a six seat follow on to the Towle TA 2 which crashed on its first flight The wing from the TA 2 prototype was salvaged and reused on the TA 3 Design editThe TA 3 featured two diesel radial engines on tall struts above the wings Diesel engines were relatively new and were touted as being safer because they used a less volatile fuel than gasoline The engines were provided on loan from the Packard Motor Car Company 1 The salvaged all metal wing featured internal bracing based on the Ford Trimotor design that Towle had worked on previously The tail used two rudders placed in the slipstream of the engines 2 Operational history editThe prototype was built at Grosse Ile Municipal Airport and first flew in May 1930 piloted by George Pond 2 The prototype was leased to Kohler Airlines for two years before being flipped in a gear down water landing in 1932 The aircraft was later sold and used in running liquor from the Bahamas to Florida during prohibition until it was destroyed in a storm at Bimini Island 3 Specifications Towle TA 3 editData from Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers 3 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1931 4 General characteristicsCrew 2 Capacity 8 pax Length 43 ft 13 m Wingspan 56 ft 17 m Height 13 ft 4 0 m Wing area 400 sq ft 37 m2 Empty weight 3 943 lb 1 789 kg Gross weight 6 200 lb 2 812 kg Powerplant 2 Packard DR 980 Radial 225 hp 168 kW eachPerformance Maximum speed 120 mph 190 km h 100 kn Cruise speed 100 mph 160 km h 87 kn Range 500 mi 800 km 430 nmi Service ceiling 17 000 ft 5 200 m Rate of climb 800 ft min 4 1 m s Wing loading 15 28 lb sq ft 74 6 kg m2 Power mass 13 2 lb hp 8 0 kg kW References edit ROBERT B MEYER 1964 The First Airplane Diesel Engine Packard Model DR 980 of 1928 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM WASHINGTON D C a b E R Johnson American flying boats and amphibious aircraft an illustrated history p 324 a b Pauley Robert F 2009 MICHIGAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS South Carolina Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738552187 Grey C G ed 1931 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1931 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd p 324c External links editImages of the Towle TA 3 1 2 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Towle TA 3 amp oldid 1000358392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
