American Electric Piranha
Piranha | |
---|---|
Role | Counter-insurgency aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | American Electric Corporation |
Designer | |
First flight | 1966 |
Developed from | LeVier Cosmic Wind |
The American Electric Piranha (also named Blair-American USA[1] or American USA[2]) was a prototype American counter-insurgency aircraft. Designed by and in the early 1960s, it was built by the American Electric Corporation.
Developed for use by the United States Air Force under , initial flight testing of the Piranha took place at Mojave Airport in California; following delivery for evaluation, it was tested at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The design armament of the Piranha was two pods each carrying four Zuni unguided rockets, mounted on the aircraft's wingtips, and a single 500-pound (230 kg) bomb on a belly hardpoint.[3]
Evaluation of the Piranha ceased following the death of Milt Blair in an unrelated aircraft accident.[3] The prototype, N1518, is flown by a private owner in Kansas.[4]
Specifications[]
Data from Sport Aviation[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wing area: 70 sq ft (6.5 m2)
- Gross weight: 3,200 lb (1,451 kg)
Armament
- Hardpoints: 1 with a capacity of 500 pounds (230 kg)
- Rockets: 2 4-round 5.0-inch (127 mm) Zuni rocket pods
See also[]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Fletcher FD-25 Defender
References[]
- ^ [1]
- ^ "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-Number Inquiry". Registry.faa.gov. 2004-01-20. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ^ a b c Sport Aviation. Oshkosh, WI: Experimental Aircraft Association. July 1976, page 40.
- ^ "Orphan jet: one unique aircraft coming to Airfest". September 2012. Great Bend, Kansas: Great Bend Tribune. Accessed 2013-04-06.
- American Electric aircraft
- 1960s United States attack aircraft
- Single-engined tractor aircraft
- Mid-wing aircraft
- Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States
- Aircraft first flown in 1966
- 1960s aircraft stubs