Engineering:Acme Sierra

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Acme S-1 Sierra (Sue)
General information
National originUnited States of America
ManufacturerAcme Aircraft Company (Sierradyne Inc.)
Designer
Ron Beattie, Walt Fellers
Number built1
History
First flight23 November 1953

The Acme Aircraft Co S-1 Sierra was an experimental aircraft of unusual configuration built in the US in 1948 to investigate the advantages of a pusher propeller configuration.[1][2] Apart from this engine installation, the aircraft was unusual in having an Y-shaped tail incorporating ruddervators on the upper fins. The wing was shoulder-mounted on the fuselage and was unswept.

During the 1960s, the US aerospace manufacturer Northrop used the aircraft as a technology demonstrator for boundary layer control concepts.[2][3]

Specifications (S-1 Sierra)

Data from Flight Magazine[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 18 ft (5.5 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
  • Wing area: 67 sq ft (6.2 m2)
  • Empty weight: 590 lb (268 kg)
  • Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 15
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C-85 4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 200 mph (320 km/h, 170 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 185 mph (298 km/h, 161 kn)
  • Range: 500 mi (800 km, 430 nmi)
  • Wing loading: 13.5 lb/sq ft (66 kg/m2)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Single-Seat Pusher: An interesting experiment in high performance for lightplanes". Flight Magazine (Dallas, TX: Air Review Publishing Corporation) 40 (5): 26, 28, 41. November 1953. https://archive.org/details/sim_flight-operations_1953-11_40_5/page/26/mode/2up?. Retrieved May 15, 2025. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Acme Aircraft Co (Sierradyne Inc) S-1 Sierra (Sue)". Western Museum of Flight. Archived from the original. Error: If you specify |archiveurl=, you must also specify |archivedate=. https://web.archive.org/web/20160328075858/http://www.wmof.com/Serria%20Sue.html. 
  3. Eckland, E.O. "American airplanes: Acme Aircraft Co". Aerofiles. Archived from the original. Error: If you specify |archiveurl=, you must also specify |archivedate=. https://web.archive.org/web/20121205051134/http://aerofiles.com/_ab.html.