Ader Avion III

The "Avion III" (sometimes referred to as the "Aquilon" or the "Éole III") was a primitive steam-powered aircraft built by Clément Ader between 1892 and 1897, financed by the French War Office.

Retaining the same basic bat-like configuration of the "Éole", the "Avion III" was equipped with two engines driving two propellers. While the earlier aircraft had no means of directional control at all, this one was equipped with a small rudder.

Trials of the aircraft began at the Satory army base near Versailles on 12 October 1897, with the aircraft taxiing along a circular track. The first flight was attempted on 14 October and most sources agree ended almost immediately in a crash without ever leaving the ground. Late in his life, Ader would claim that there had been a flight of 100 m (328 ft) on this day, and said he had two witnesses to confirm it. Whatever actually happened, the French military was unimpressed with the demonstration and cancelled any further funding.

The machine is preserved at the "Musée des Arts et Métiers" in Paris. It underwent extensive restoration in the 1980s.

pecifications (Avion III)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=one, pilot
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=
length alt=
span main= 16 m
span alt= 52 ft 6 in
height main=
height alt=
area main= 56 m²
area alt= 602 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 400 kg
loaded weight alt= 880 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)= Ader
type of prop= alcohol-burning steam engines
number of props=2
power main= 15 kW
power alt= 20 hp
power original=
max speed main=
max speed alt=
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=7 kg/m²
loading alt=1.5 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=0.08 kW/kg
power/mass alt=0.05 hp/lb
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

Gallery

ee also

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