Profile image

Airco M.3 Hunteress

37.1k Typhoon03  3.8 years ago

"It's quite beautiful, don't you think?"



Design and Development

The M.3 Hunteress first flew in January 1933, a product of the Fuzavir-based company Airco. The aircraft is a single-bay biplane with metal wings and a capacity for five passengers, with the pilot sitting in an enclosed cockpit directly overhead. Such capacity meant that it was originally intended for use as a short-range civil airliner and touring aircraft, able to be adapted for other roles if needed, such as agricultural work or light cargo transport.


The Hunteress is powered by a single Bristol Jupiter radial engine, providing between 375 and 440 horsepower depending on the model. In airliner configuration it has a maximum speed of 170 mph and a stall speed of 80 mph, although it takes a skilled pilot to maintain flight at such a speed. In standard configuration the aircraft has a range of 625 miles, and with a long-range tank fitted in place of two passenger spaces this increases to 930 miles.
The aircraft was proved to be surprisingly agile in flight, and had sufficient power for high-energy manoeuvring.

Operational History

The first M.3 Hunteress was delivered in June 1933 to Colonial Airbridge, flying a freight and light passenger route between Wright and Brightneau. Other deliveries soon followed, and within a year over sixty aircraft were in service with nine operators, usually as mail aircraft or sightseeing flights, but also as a successful bush aircraft for oil companies working on Maywar.


During the break-up of Fuzavir in the 1960s as many as twelve Hunteresses, then in use mainly as sightseers, were taken up into rebel service in the fledgling Conegsreich Republic and were used as light bombers, regularly flying low under the radar to bomb coastal towns on mainland Fuzavir, equipped with long-range tanks and four 50Ib bombs. Five aircraft were lost.
When production ended in 1939 over 400 aircraft had been built, with many remaining in service into the early 1960s flying tourists on aerial tours. During the Second Global War over fifty Hunteresses had served as military liaison aircraft, with these surplus aircraft literally being dumped on the civil market at the war's end, resulting in large numbers of aircraft surviving to this day.


There are nineteen airworthy examples still in existence, with four known to be in active service transporting oil prospectors around Snowstone, with two others in a similar role on Maywar. Three more are in a partially restored state, with one in Snowstone and two in the Conegsreich Republic.

Variants

M.3 Hunteress:

Powered by 375hp Bristol Jupiter, 98 built.

M.3A Hunteress:

Powered by 400hp Bristol Jupiter, improved
suspension and bush gear for STOL operations,
123 built.

M.3B Hunteress:

Powered by 440hp Bristol Jupiter, 187 built.

M.3C Hunteress:

Proposed military variant, 440hp Bristol Jupiter,
2 built.

M.56 Turbo Hunteress:

Proposed 1990s modernisation for oil prospection
use, 1450hp turboprop, 3 converted.



Controls

AG1 activates the landing assistance gyro, for use by rubbish pilots such as myself. Activate upon landing and deactivate once your speed drops to 45mph. Non-canonical feature.

AG2 activates the anti-collision lights. They're there just because they look nice.

General Characteristics

  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 39.3ft (12.0m)
  • Length 30.4ft (9.3m)
  • Height 13.3ft (4.1m)
  • Empty Weight 6,340lbs (2,875kg)
  • Loaded Weight 8,125lbs (3,685kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.086
  • Wing Loading 19.2lbs/ft2 (93.6kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 423.9ft2 (39.4m2)
  • Drag Points 4282

Parts

  • Number of Parts 190
  • Control Surfaces 7
  • Performance Cost 623
  • Log in to leave a comment
  • Profile image
    14.8k L3FT2R1GHT

    @Typhoon03 here

    1.6 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @LyAnhKhoa Turn up wind settings to about 100mph.
    I haven't seen that video, can you give me a link?

    2.2 years ago
  • Profile image

    @Typhoon03 no problem

    3.0 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Terminator2809 Thanks

    3.0 years ago
  • Profile image

    Cool

    +1 3.0 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @MadBeaver2
    Thank you!

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image

    I like your plane alot. It flies pretty well, and functions nicely on mobile.

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Ryad
    Ok.

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    4,946 MRpingouin

    @TheFantasticTyphoon i will announce a challenge in a minute. It will be funy if you wonna join. I am building a mig 21. Right now. It is a very big project I hope I he get what he deserves.

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Ryad
    Yes, but I build for fun and not upvotes, so I'm not in any rush.

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    4,946 MRpingouin

    @TheFantasticTyphoon you can ask your friends in sp for suggestions.

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Ryad
    I actually built one quite recently. I'll do what I usually do and wait for inspiration to come to me. I usually output one build every week or so.

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    4,946 MRpingouin

    @TheFantasticTyphoon it is fine .what are you going to do next.?? I suggest building a tank.

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Ryad
    The basic layout is based on this aircraft.

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Ryad
    No, I decided to leave it like that, because I'm not very good at custom control surfaces and I didn't want to ruin its looks.

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    4,946 MRpingouin

    @TheFantasticTyphoon i noticed that the yaw is not costumed did you forget to customize it??

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    4,946 MRpingouin

    @TheFantasticTyphoon because it is very small and look lick a cartoon plan. From a show imagine the size of the man that pilot it.

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Ryad
    Thanks. Why is everyone saying it looks funny?

    3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    4,946 MRpingouin

    It is very cute and funny. Great job.

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Rawhide
    No problem.

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    7,021 Rawhide

    @TheFantasticTyphoon thanks

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @Rawhide
    Here you go then!

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @ElectricVehicle
    Um, ok.

    +2 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    21.8k Moonraker

    @TheFantasticTyphoon Its funny body parts

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    37.1k Typhoon03

    @ElectricVehicle
    Thanks, although I'm not sure what's funny.

    +1 3.8 years ago
  • Log in to see more comments