Aeronca Sedan
Encyclopedia
The Aeronca 15AC Sedan is a four-seat, fixed conventional gear light
airplane
which was produced in the United States between 1948 and 1951. Designed by Aeronca
for personal use, the Sedan also found applications in utility roles including bush flying
. The Sedan was the last design that Aeronca put into production and was the largest aircraft produced by the company.
and tail surfaces
are constructed of welded metal tubing. The outer shape of the fuselage is created by a combination of wooden former
s and longeron
s, covered with fabric. The cross-section of the metal fuselage truss is triangular, a design feature which can be traced back to the earliest Aeronca C-2
design of the late 1920s.
In a significant design departure from previous Aeronca aircraft, the strut-braced wings of the Sedan are all-metal assemblies. Such combinations of construction types were not common. While the Sedan mated a fabric-covered fuselage to all-metal wings, the contemporary Cessna 170
mated an all-metal fuselage to fabric-covered wings. Also unique to the Sedan, among Aeronca designs, are the single-piece wing struts.
The landing gear
of the Sedan is in a conventional
arrangement, with steel tube main gear, and a steerable tailwheel. Unlike its siblings the Champ and Chief, both of which employ oleo struts
for shock absorption, the Sedan makes used of bungee cord
s to absorb landing and taxi loads.
The Sedan is powered by the Continental C-145-2
or Continental O-300-A
engine of 145 hp; the Franklin 6A4-165-B3 and Franklin 6A4-150-B3, of 165 and 150 hp, respectively, are also approved for installation. The Sedan features an electrical system, including a starter, as standard equipment.
As it had with many of its other models, Aeronca certified a seaplane
version of the Sedan, the model S15AC. While the standard Sedan was equipped with a single entry door on the right side, the seaplane version offered a left-side door as well.
More than 50 Supplemental Type Certificate
modifications are available for the Sedan, many of these intended to modernize the aircraft. One, sold by the current owner of the Sedan design, replaces many of the components ahead of the firewall with updated versions, including a Lycoming O-360-A1A engine of 180 hp, a constant speed propeller
, a new engine mount, and a fiberglass cowling
. A second modification from the design holder allows the removal of the oil cooler, which can break and for which there are no replacements available.
and Chief, both of which had entered production in 1946. The four-place design gave Aeronca a lineup similar to that of its competitors. Many other companies with two-place designs had been adding four-place versions. Among these four-place competitors were the Cessna 170
, PA-14 Family Cruiser, Stinson 108
, Taylorcraft 15 and the Luscombe 11A Silvaire Sedan.
The Aeronca Sedan was produced from 1948 until 1951, when Aeronca ceased all production of light aircraft. The Sedan production line shut down in 1950, but Sedans were still being assembled in 1951 from the remaining stock of parts. The last Sedan, which was also the last Aeronca-built airplane to fly, left the factory on October 23, 1951.
Though Aeronca sold a number of its other designs after ceasing production, the company long maintained ownership of the Sedan. The HAOP-27 Krishak, built by Hindustan Aeronautics
, shows some similarities to the Sedan. Some sources say that the Krishak was produced under license from Aeronca, though the differences are significant enough to call this into question.
Aeronca finally parted with the design on 11 April 1991, selling it to (according to Federal Aviation Administration
records) “William Brad Mitchell or Sandra Mitchell”. On 10 July 2000, ownership of the design passed to Burl A. Rogers, owner of Burl's Aircraft
of Chugiak, Alaska
. Since 2000 Burl's Aircraft has provided parts and technical support to Sedan owners and operators.
announced that the company was building new Sedan fuselages and a new style fuel valve. On December 8, 2009, Burl's Aircraft announced that they were commencing building new 15AC Sedans.
Since Aeronca still exists, but no longer holds the type certificate
, the new production aircraft will be marketed by Burl A. Rogers and Burl's Aircraft LLC as the Rogers 15AC Sedan.
operations. It found a niche as a personal aircraft and in commercial bush flying
roles; it could also be equipped for agricultural work
. Though the commercial roles have been largely taken over by more modern designs, many Sedans remain in use as personal airplanes. Their ongoing operation is aided by the availability of support from the design owner.
and the Sunkist
growers association, the second sponsor accounting for the naming of the aircraft as the Sunkist Lady. (The accompanying support aircraft, also a Sedan, was called the Lady’s Maid.) Departing from the Fullerton, California
, Municipal Airport
on March 15, the flight crossed the United States to Miami, Florida
, where bad weather forced the pilots to circle for 14 days before making the return trip to Fullerton. Along the way, fuel and food were passed from vehicles on the ground to the pilots during low passes over airport runways. Having reached Fullerton on April 11, the pilots kept flying around the local area until April 26, finally landing at Fullerton Municipal Airport and setting a record of over 1,008 hours, or 42 days, in the air.
The Fullerton record was short lived. Inspired by the flight at Fullerton, later in 1949, Yuma, Arizona
, decided to sponsor its own time aloft record attempt. The city needed publicity as it was experiencing economic hard times due to the 1946 closure of Yuma Army Air Field
. Pilots Woody Jongeward and Bob Woodhouse piloted the City of Yuma, a Sedan borrowed from local owners, modified for the flight and painted with the slogan, “The City with a Future.” The flight began on August 24, with the aircraft remaining in the Yuma area throughout, and ended after more than 1,124 hours, or nearly 47 days in the air, on October 10. In 1997, the record-setting airplane was located and returned to Yuma; made airworthy again, it flew on October 10, 1999, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the record flight. The "City of Yuma" airplane is now on display at a museum in Yuma.
Aeronca S15AC Sedan
Rogers 15AC Sedan
Light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross take-off weight of or less.Many aircraft used commercially for freight, sightseeing, photography and scheduled flights are light aircraft.Examples of light aircraft include:...
airplane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
which was produced in the United States between 1948 and 1951. Designed by Aeronca
Aeronca Aircraft
Aeronca, contracted from Aeronautical Corporation of America, located in Middletown, Ohio, is a US manufacturer of engine components and airframe structures for commercial aviation and the defense industry...
for personal use, the Sedan also found applications in utility roles including bush flying
Bush flying
Bush flying is a term for aircraft operations carried out in remote, inhospitable regions of the world. Bush flying involves operations in rough terrain where there are often no prepared landing strips or runways, frequently necessitating that bush planes be equipped with abnormally large tires,...
. The Sedan was the last design that Aeronca put into production and was the largest aircraft produced by the company.
Design and development
Like those of other Aeronca designs, the Sedan’s fuselageFuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
and tail surfaces
Empennage
The empennage , also known as the tail or tail assembly, of most aircraft gives stability to the aircraft, in a similar way to the feathers on an arrow...
are constructed of welded metal tubing. The outer shape of the fuselage is created by a combination of wooden former
Former
thumb|right|150px|Interior of an F-16B with the engine removed showing frames or formers.A former is a structural member of an aircraft fuselage, of which a typical fuselage has a series from the nose to the empennage, typically perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft...
s and longeron
Longeron
In aircraft construction, a longeron or stringer or stiffener is a thin strip of wood, metal or carbon fiber, to which the skin of the aircraft is fastened. In the fuselage, longerons are attached to formers and run the longitudinal direction of the aircraft...
s, covered with fabric. The cross-section of the metal fuselage truss is triangular, a design feature which can be traced back to the earliest Aeronca C-2
Aeronca C-2
-See also:-External links:*...
design of the late 1920s.
In a significant design departure from previous Aeronca aircraft, the strut-braced wings of the Sedan are all-metal assemblies. Such combinations of construction types were not common. While the Sedan mated a fabric-covered fuselage to all-metal wings, the contemporary Cessna 170
Cessna 170
|-See also:-External links:* *...
mated an all-metal fuselage to fabric-covered wings. Also unique to the Sedan, among Aeronca designs, are the single-piece wing struts.
The landing gear
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
of the Sedan is in a conventional
Conventional landing gear
thumb|The [[Piper PA-18|Piper Super Cub]] is a popular taildragger aircraft.thumb|right|A [[Cessna 150]] converted to taildragger configuration by installation of an after-market modification kit....
arrangement, with steel tube main gear, and a steerable tailwheel. Unlike its siblings the Champ and Chief, both of which employ oleo struts
Shock absorber
A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. It is a type of dashpot.-Nomenclature:...
for shock absorption, the Sedan makes used of bungee cord
Bungee cord
A bungee cord , also known as a shock cord, is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usually covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath...
s to absorb landing and taxi loads.
The Sedan is powered by the Continental C-145-2
Continental O-300
|-See also:-References:...
or Continental O-300-A
Continental O-300
|-See also:-References:...
engine of 145 hp; the Franklin 6A4-165-B3 and Franklin 6A4-150-B3, of 165 and 150 hp, respectively, are also approved for installation. The Sedan features an electrical system, including a starter, as standard equipment.
As it had with many of its other models, Aeronca certified a seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
version of the Sedan, the model S15AC. While the standard Sedan was equipped with a single entry door on the right side, the seaplane version offered a left-side door as well.
Modifications
Supplemental Type Certificate
A Supplemental Type Certificate is an FAA approved major modification or repair to an existing type certified aircraft, engine or propeller. As it adds to the existing type certificate, it is deemed 'supplemental'.-Purpose:...
modifications are available for the Sedan, many of these intended to modernize the aircraft. One, sold by the current owner of the Sedan design, replaces many of the components ahead of the firewall with updated versions, including a Lycoming O-360-A1A engine of 180 hp, a constant speed propeller
Constant speed propeller
A constant speed propeller is a type of propeller that can change its blade pitch to take better advantage of the power supplied by an engine in much the same way that a transmission in a car takes better advantage of its power source...
, a new engine mount, and a fiberglass cowling
Cowling
A cowling is the covering of a vehicle's engine, most often found on automobiles and aircraft.A cowling may be used:* for drag reduction* for engine cooling by directing airflow* as an air intake for jet engines* for decorative purposes...
. A second modification from the design holder allows the removal of the oil cooler, which can break and for which there are no replacements available.
Production history
Entering production in 1948, the 15AC Sedan was Aeronca’s four-seat addition to its pair of two-seat airplanes, the ChampAeronca Champion
The Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
and Chief, both of which had entered production in 1946. The four-place design gave Aeronca a lineup similar to that of its competitors. Many other companies with two-place designs had been adding four-place versions. Among these four-place competitors were the Cessna 170
Cessna 170
|-See also:-External links:* *...
, PA-14 Family Cruiser, Stinson 108
Stinson 108
-See also:-References:...
, Taylorcraft 15 and the Luscombe 11A Silvaire Sedan.
The Aeronca Sedan was produced from 1948 until 1951, when Aeronca ceased all production of light aircraft. The Sedan production line shut down in 1950, but Sedans were still being assembled in 1951 from the remaining stock of parts. The last Sedan, which was also the last Aeronca-built airplane to fly, left the factory on October 23, 1951.
Though Aeronca sold a number of its other designs after ceasing production, the company long maintained ownership of the Sedan. The HAOP-27 Krishak, built by Hindustan Aeronautics
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited based in Bangalore, India, is one of Asia's largest aerospace companies. Under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence, this state-owned company is mainly involved in aerospace industry, which includes manufacturing and assembling aircraft, navigation and...
, shows some similarities to the Sedan. Some sources say that the Krishak was produced under license from Aeronca, though the differences are significant enough to call this into question.
Aeronca finally parted with the design on 11 April 1991, selling it to (according to Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
records) “William Brad Mitchell or Sandra Mitchell”. On 10 July 2000, ownership of the design passed to Burl A. Rogers, owner of Burl's Aircraft
Burl's Aircraft
Burl's Aircraft LLC was founded to design, engineer and manufacture FAA approved parts for light aircraft.Burl A Rogers purchased the Aircraft Type Certificate for the Aeronca Sedan in 2000 from William Brad Mitchell.-History:...
of Chugiak, Alaska
Chugiak, Alaska
Chugiak is an unincorporated community in the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska, situated approximately 20 miles northeast of downtown Anchorage. It is located between Eagle River to the south, and Eklutna to the north, and between Knik Arm to the west and the Chugach...
. Since 2000 Burl's Aircraft has provided parts and technical support to Sedan owners and operators.
Burl's Aircraft production
On February 21, 2008, Burl's AircraftBurl's Aircraft
Burl's Aircraft LLC was founded to design, engineer and manufacture FAA approved parts for light aircraft.Burl A Rogers purchased the Aircraft Type Certificate for the Aeronca Sedan in 2000 from William Brad Mitchell.-History:...
announced that the company was building new Sedan fuselages and a new style fuel valve. On December 8, 2009, Burl's Aircraft announced that they were commencing building new 15AC Sedans.
Since Aeronca still exists, but no longer holds the type certificate
Type certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
, the new production aircraft will be marketed by Burl A. Rogers and Burl's Aircraft LLC as the Rogers 15AC Sedan.
Operational history
The Sedan was designed to be a docile airplane but also a good performer. Pilots found that the Sedan, with its large interior, had plenty of room for baggage and passengers. With its large wing, it had good takeoff performance, and was capable of short takeoff and landingSTOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
operations. It found a niche as a personal aircraft and in commercial bush flying
Bush flying
Bush flying is a term for aircraft operations carried out in remote, inhospitable regions of the world. Bush flying involves operations in rough terrain where there are often no prepared landing strips or runways, frequently necessitating that bush planes be equipped with abnormally large tires,...
roles; it could also be equipped for agricultural work
Aerial application
Aerial application, commonly called crop dusting, involves spraying crops with fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides from an agricultural aircraft. The specific spreading of fertilizer is also known as aerial topdressing....
. Though the commercial roles have been largely taken over by more modern designs, many Sedans remain in use as personal airplanes. Their ongoing operation is aided by the availability of support from the design owner.
Record flights
A Sedan was chosen by pilots Bill Barris and Dick Riedel for their attempt to set a time aloft record in 1949. Their flight was sponsored by the local chamber of commerceChamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and the Sunkist
Sunkist Growers, Incorporated
Sunkist Growers, Incorporated is a citrus grower's non-stock membership cooperative composed of 6,000 members from California and Arizona. It is headquartered in the Sherman Oaks district of Los Angeles.-History:...
growers association, the second sponsor accounting for the naming of the aircraft as the Sunkist Lady. (The accompanying support aircraft, also a Sedan, was called the Lady’s Maid.) Departing from the Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
, Municipal Airport
Fullerton Municipal Airport
Fullerton Municipal Airport , owned and operated by the City of Fullerton, is the last strictly general aviation airfield still operating in Orange County, California....
on March 15, the flight crossed the United States to Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, where bad weather forced the pilots to circle for 14 days before making the return trip to Fullerton. Along the way, fuel and food were passed from vehicles on the ground to the pilots during low passes over airport runways. Having reached Fullerton on April 11, the pilots kept flying around the local area until April 26, finally landing at Fullerton Municipal Airport and setting a record of over 1,008 hours, or 42 days, in the air.
The Fullerton record was short lived. Inspired by the flight at Fullerton, later in 1949, Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
, decided to sponsor its own time aloft record attempt. The city needed publicity as it was experiencing economic hard times due to the 1946 closure of Yuma Army Air Field
Yuma International Airport
Yuma International Airport , a shared-use airport together with Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, is located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Yuma, a city in Yuma County, Arizona, United States...
. Pilots Woody Jongeward and Bob Woodhouse piloted the City of Yuma, a Sedan borrowed from local owners, modified for the flight and painted with the slogan, “The City with a Future.” The flight began on August 24, with the aircraft remaining in the Yuma area throughout, and ended after more than 1,124 hours, or nearly 47 days in the air, on October 10. In 1997, the record-setting airplane was located and returned to Yuma; made airworthy again, it flew on October 10, 1999, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the record flight. The "City of Yuma" airplane is now on display at a museum in Yuma.
Variants
Aeronca 15AC Sedan- Basic model, certified 23 September 1948 and produced 1948-1951. Specified engines are Continental C-145-2Continental O-300|-See also:-References:...
or Continental O-300-AContinental O-300|-See also:-References:...
and Franklin 6A4-165-B3 or Franklin 6A4-150-B3 under a Maine Air Service Franklin Aeronca Conversion Kit.
Aeronca S15AC Sedan
- Seaplane model, certified 23 September 1948. Same as the model 15AC except for float installationFloatplaneA floatplane is a type of seaplane, with slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage; only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water, with the fuselage remaining above water...
, larger elevator trim tab and fuselage reinforcements
Rogers 15AC Sedan
- Proposed new version for production commencing 2010. The prototype aircraft, under construction in December 2009, will be equipped with Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 hp engine, 80 in (203 cm) constant speed propellerConstant speed propellerA constant speed propeller is a type of propeller that can change its blade pitch to take better advantage of the power supplied by an engine in much the same way that a transmission in a car takes better advantage of its power source...
, vertically-arranged instrument panel, extended baggage compartment, large windows, dual seaplane-style doors, lightweight battery, starter, alternator and a 3200 series Alaskan Bushwheel tail wheel with a Pawnee-style tailwheel spring.