Engineering:Republic RC-3 Seabee
| RC-3 Seabee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Manufacturer | Republic Aviation Company |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 1,060 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1946–1947 |
| Introduction date | 1946 |
| First flight | December 1, 1945 |
| Developed into | Trident TR-1 Trigull |
The Republic RC-3 Seabee is an all-metal amphibious sports aircraft designed by Percival Spencer and manufactured by the Republic Aircraft Corporation.
Design and development
Military operators included the Israeli Air Force,[1] Paraguayan Navy, the United States Army Air Forces and Republic of Vietnam Air Force.[2]
Production
In order to meet the anticipated postwar demand for civilian light aircraft, Republic endeavored to build the Seabee as inexpensively as possible, while still retaining reasonable performance and range. A lot of thought went into eliminating what were at the time termed as 'airplane frills,' resulting in a strong product built with as few parts as possible. For example, Seabees as built did not have ribs in the wings; instead, the heavy corrugated aluminum sheet which formed the skin provided the necessary stiffness. Republic was also willing to buy components in volume, which lowered costs further. [3][4]
In March, 1946, the first production RC-3 Seabee was completed (NC87457, formerly NX87457, and on July 25, 1946 the first Seabee (NC87463, production #13) was delivered at the Republic factory to J.G. (Tex) Rankin of Rankin Aviation Industries of Tulare, California.
Operational history
From the late 1940s and into the 1950s, the Seabee was a popular bush plane and air ambulance in Canada, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
In 2006, over 250 Seabees are still registered and flying, a number that is increasing yearly as new aircraft are assembled from parts and wrecks. A few Seabees are still operating commercially as bush planes and air taxis.
Modifications
Operators
Civil
The Seabee is popular with air charter companies and small feeder airlines and is operated by private individuals and companies.
Military
Israel
- Israeli Air Force
- 101 Squadron[1]
South Vietnam
Specifications
Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947[7]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 27 ft 11 in (8.5 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 8 in (11.47 m)
- Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.91 m)
- Wing area: 196 sq ft (18.2 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 7.23
- Empty weight: 1,950 lb (885 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,000 lb (1,361 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 75 US gal (62 imp gal; 280 l) fuel; 3 US gal (2.5 imp gal; 11 l) oil
- Powerplant: 1 × Franklin 6AS-215-BSF 6-cyl. horizontally-opposed air-cooled piston engine, 215 hp (160 kW) at 2,500 ft (760 m)
- Propellers: 2-bladed Aeromaster adjustable pitch wooden propeller, 7 ft (2.1 m) diameter (optional Hartzell reversible pitch wooden propeller)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)
- Cruise speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn) 75% power
- Landing speed: 58 mph (50 kn; 93 km/h)
- Range: 560 mi (900 km, 490 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
- Wing loading: 15.3 lb/sq ft (75 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 14.2 lb/hp (8.623 kg/kW)
- Take-off run (land): 267 yd (244 m)
- Take-off run (water): 333 yd (304 m)
- Take-off time (water): 25 seconds
- Landing run (water): 122 yd (112 m)
- Alighting run (water): 233 yd (213 m)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Colonial Skimmer
- Goodyear Duck
- Lake Aircraft Amphibian
- SIAI-Marchetti FN.333 Riviera
- Thurston Teal
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Norton, Bill (2004). Air War on the Edge – A History of the Israel Air Force and its Aircraft since 1947. Surrey, UK: Midland Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 1-85780-088-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=q84hAQAAIAAJ.
- ↑ "Seabees operated by Republic of Vietnam Air Force". http://vnaf.net/photos/seabee/seabee_photos.html.
- ↑ Stone, Irving (May 1946). "Design Analysis of Republic Seabee". Aviation 45 (5): 54.
- ↑ Stone, Irving, Aviation, May 1946, "Design Analysis of Republic Seabee", page 45
- ↑ Mikesh, Robert C. (2005) Flying Dragons: The Republic of Vietnam Air Force. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-2158-7
- ↑ L'Aviation Militaire Francaise en Indochine 1946–1954 & L'Aviation Francaise en Indochine 1946–1954 by Jean-Claude Soumille The holy grail of Indochina references, Volume one, published by Association AIRDOC in 1995 .
- ↑ Bridgman, Leonard, ed (1947). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. p. 281c-282c.
External links
Template:Republic aircraft Template:USAF amphibious aircraft
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