Albree Pigeon-Fraser Scout

The Albree Pigeon-Fraser was the first pursuit aircraft project for the United States Government.

Albree Pigeon-Fraser
Role	Fighter
National origin	United States
Designer	George N. Albree
First flight	December 1917
Status	cancelled
Number built	3

Development

George Albree was awarded the first US pursuit aircraft contract in 1917. The aircraft was designed with a flat bottom airfoil and the aft fuselage was hinged to act like an elevator.[1]

Operational history

The first aircraft flew in December 1917, however it crashed on its first flight, killing the pilot.[2] The second aircraft never flew and was destroyed during structural testing. The third aircraft was not completed before the program was cancelled for being "too old-fashioned, unreliable, and slow".[1]

Survivor

The incomplete third aircraft was put into storage and in 1961 was acquired by the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome where it is currently on display.[3]

Specifications

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 11 in (11.56 m)
• Gross weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnome rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn)

References

1. Holcomb, Kevin. "Albree Pigeon-Fraser Pursuit - Holcomb's Aerodrome". www.airminded.net. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
2. "Albree Pigeon Fraser | Aircraft in Focus". aircraft-in-focus.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
3. "World War I (1914-1918) «  Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome". oldrhinebeck.org. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
4. Green & Swanborough 1994, p. 471

• Angelucci, Enzo; Bowers, Peter (1987). The American Fighter. Sparkford, UK: Haynes Publishing Group. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. Smithmark Publishers. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)