| Aero-Craft Aero-Coupe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Biplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Aero-Craft Manufacturing Company |
| Designer | Clement Brown |
| Introduction | 1928 Detroit Aero Show [1] |
The Aero-Craft Aero-Coupe is an American, 2-passenger, semi-cabin, all-purpose, commercial biplane that was designed by Captain Clement Brown in 1928 and manufactured by Aero-Craft Manufacturing Company. The aircraft was intended for use as an air taxi, as well as for mail and express feeder service. [2] The Aero-Coupe was manufactured by Aero-Craft Manufacturing Company, based in Detroit, Michigan. [3] Aero-Craft Mfg. Co. was founded in 1928, and the Aero-Coupe was the first production model that was released by the company. [4] The Aero-Coupe was a "semi-cabin" aircraft: the three passengers were situated within a closed cabin in the aircraft's fuselage near the nose, while the aircraft's single pilot was positioned in an open cockpit, above and behind the passenger cabin, behind the wings. [5] The aircraft was first introduced to the public in 1928 during the Detroit Aero Show, also known as the All-American Aircraft Show, which occurred from April 14–21. Its price, as mentioned in Volume 20 of Flight International , was $6500, when it was first exhibited to the public. [6] It was powered by a single, seven-cylinder Warner Scarab rotary engine, which provided 120 hp. The aircraft had a range of 740 kilometres, and was capable of flying as fast as 185 km/h. The wings were of unequal span. [4]