Kirkham Air Yacht

The Kirkham Air Yacht, also called the Kirkham Gull, was an early monoplane executive transport seaplane.[1]

Air Yacht
Role Seaplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Kirkham Aeroplane and Motor Co.
Designer Charles B. Kirkham
Introduction 1925
Number built 1

Design and development

The Kirkham Air Yacht was a custom built executive transport built in 1925 for Harold Stirling Vanderbilt. Design and construction was started in 1920 by Charles Kirkham. H T Booth, previously of Curtiss, was also involved in the design. Its mission was to provide transport to and from New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. Its design is very similar to the Collier Trophy-winning Loening S-1 Flying Yacht.[2] The all-metal gull-winged Kirkham Flying Yacht was built concurrently in the same shop in Long Island as the Bonney Gull, another more experimental gull wing design.

The Air Yacht is an all-metal seaplane with a mid-gull wing planform. Power is from a single 450 hp (336 kW) pusher engine. The cockpit is open and the passenger compartment is enclosed.[3]

Specifications (Kirkham Air Yacht)

Data from Skyways,Flight

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 4 passengers
  • Powerplant: 1 × Napier Lion , 450 hp (340 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Joshua Stoff. Long Island Aircraft Manufacturers. p. 85.
  2. Skyways: 52. July 2001. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. E. R. Johnson. American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history. p. 306.
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