The Rich-Twin X-1-A, also known as the X-1-2, was an American two-seater twin-engined pusher monoplane, dating from the late 1930s.
Design and development The aircraft was designed by Nelson Barnard Rich - an instructor at MIT - and was aimed at the private market. Rich formed the Nelson B. Rich Airplane Corporation to finance its construction and testing. Notable for its twin-pusher configuration, the X-1-A was a low-wing monoplane, with the engines being located within nacelles mounted on pylons above the wing, and which were braced to the fuselage by horizontal struts. The aircraft was otherwise of conventional configuration and construction, being built from steel and wood, and with the wing being built primarily of plywood. There was a tricycle landing gear, with the rear two wheels able to be semi-retracted within faired spats. The empennage featured twin fins and rudders, selected so that they would operate in the propwash of the propellers.
The aircraft was initially fitted with two Lycoming engines, but these were later replaced with Lycoming GO-145 engines.
Operational history The X-1-A first flew in April 1939, and was given the registration NZ23001. In September 1939, it was flown to Cleveland, Ohio and was displayed at that year's National Air Race.
The 1941 edition of Jane's All The World's Aircraft reported that, due to the American war effort, that the aircraft was unlikely to go into production, however a four-seat version was to be developed and manufactured "at a later date".
Specifications
See also
External links Rich-Twin.com
References