Albree Pigeon-Fraser

The Albree Pigeon-Fraser was the first pursuit aircraft project for the United States Government.

Albree Pigeon-Fraser
General information
Type	Fighter
National origin	United States
Designer	George N. Albree
Status	cancelled
Number built	3
History
First flight	December 1917

Development

George Albree was awarded the first US pursuit aircraft contract in 1917. The aircraft was designed with a flat bottom airfoil and the aft fuselage was hinged to act like an elevator.^[1]

Operational history

The first aircraft flew in December 1917, however it crashed on its first flight, killing the pilot.^[2] The second aircraft never flew and was destroyed during structural testing. The third aircraft was not completed before the program was cancelled for being "too old-fashioned, unreliable, and slow".^[1]

Surviving aircraft

The incomplete third aircraft was put into storage and in 1961 was acquired by the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome where it is currently on display.^[3]

Specifications

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 11 in (11.56 m)
• Gross weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnome rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn)