Adam RA-15 Major

Adam RA-15 Major
Adam RA-15 Major in 1957
Role	light sporting high-wing cabin monoplane
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Ets. Roger Adam
Designer	Roger Adam
First flight	1948
Introduction	1948
Status	Rights sold to Maranda Aircraft Company LTD in 1957[1]
Primary user	private owners and aero clubs
Developed from	Adam RA-14 Loisirs

The Adam RA-15 Major was a French sporting plane developed and produced in the decade after World War II.

Development

The RA-15 was developed in 1948 as a higher-powered successor to the Adam RA-14 Loisirs, utilising a number of refinements including a plywood-covered fuselage and an enlarged rudder. It was a side-by-side two-seater with dual controls, wooden construction and a fabric-covered two-spar wing which folded for storage in hangars. The Major was designed to use any flat-four engine in the 65-75 h.p. range.^[2]

Production and operational history

A small series of Majors was produced in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The basic RA-15 was fitted with the 75 h.p. Regnier 4D-2 engine and the RA-151 had the Continental 75 h.p. C75 engine.^[3] Two Majors were still active in 1965.^[3]

Specification (RA-15)

Data from ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in (10.59 m)
• Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
• Empty weight: 616 lb (279 kg)
• Gross weight: 1145 lb (519 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Regnier 4D-2 four cylinder air-cooled engine;, 75 hp (56 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 111 mph (178 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 103 mph (165 km/h)
• Range: 340 miles (547 km)

Variants

• Adam RA-17 a modified single seat crop dusting variant of the RA-15. It was also produced as the Maranda BM3^[4][5]

References

Notes

1. ^ "Maranda Aircraft". http://www.aviastar.org/manufacturers/1412.html. Retrieved 3 Jan 2011. 
2. ^ Simpson, 2001, p. 3
3. ^ ^{a b c} Green, 1965, p. 34
4. ^ Janes all the World's Aircraft. 1967. 
5. ^ William Green, Gerald John Pollinger. The aircraft of the world. 

Bibliography

• Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN none. 
• Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.