Buhl Airsedan

The Buhl Aircraft Company was founded by the Buhl family in Detroit in 1925. One of the firm’s most famous aircraft became the Buhl Airsedan. Production of the aircraft began in 1927.

Early Developments and Variants

The smallest variant of the aircraft, the CA-3 Airsedan, appeared in 1928. It was a three-seat biplane, equipped with a 225 hp Wright J-5 engine. In this and the following year, five more sub-variants emerged: the CA-3A, the somewhat smaller CA-3B Junior Airsedan (with a 110 hp Warner Scarab engine), the CA-3C Sport Airsedan, the CA-3W (with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp), the CA-3D Sport Airsedan (with a 300 hp Wright J-6), and the CA-3E Sport Airsedan (with a 225 hp Packard DR-980 diesel engine).

Expansion and Advanced Models

From 1927, a five-seat version of the aircraft, the CA-5, was produced with a Wright J-5 engine (also released in an enhanced comfort variant, the CA-5A). In 1929, a six-seat version, the CA-6, was introduced with a Wright J-6 engine. Like the CA-3, the CA-6 was also built in five modifications, differing mainly in engines: the CA-6A (Pratt & Whitney Wasp 420 hp), CA-6B (Pratt & Whitney Wasp 450 hp), CA-6D (a conversion of the CA-3D), CA-6J (five-seat with Pratt & Whitney Wasp 300 hp), and C-6W (four-seat with Pratt & Whitney Wasp 420 hp).

The final version of the aircraft was the eight-seat CA-8 Senior Airsedan, powered by a 450 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine. It was also produced in two modifications: the CA-8A with a 525 hp Wright Cyclone and the CA-8B with a Pratt & Whitney Hornet of the same power.

Notable Achievements and Expeditions

The Airsedan gained fame in various competitions and long-distance flights. For instance, in 1929, pilot Loren Mendell won first prize in the Oakland-Cleveland Air Derby with an Airsedan. The aircraft named “Spokane Sun God” participated in a non-stop flight across the USA the same year, using in-flight refueling over 120 hours. Sadly, the CA-5 named “Miss Doran” went missing in the infamous 1927 Dole Race from California to Hawaii.

Technical Specifications

Modification	CA-6
Wingspan, m	12.19
Length, m	9.04
Height, m	2.62
Wing area, m2	29.30
Empty weight	1124
Maximum takeoff weight	20141
Engine type	1 Piston engine Wright J-6
Power, hp	1 x 300
Maximum speed, km/h	225
Cruising speed, km/h	193
Practical range, km	1159
Maximum rate of climb, m/min	276
Practical ceiling, m	4600
Crew, crew members	1
Payload:	5 passengers

Image and diagram gallery of the Buhl Airsedan

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