Kolbenmotorflugzeug

Reiseflugzeug Comte AC 4 (AC-4), Gentleman, Immatrikulation HB-KIL

Dating

1930

Persons

De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd (1920), Hersteller/in Motor, archivalisch belegt

Alfred Comte Flugzeugwerke (Alfred Comte Schweiz. Flugzeugfabrik, Alfred Comte Luftverkehr, A. Comte Luftverkehr Zürich) (1923 - 1935), Hersteller/in, archivalisch belegt

Description

Jungfernflug: 1930 (Grundversion 1928) - Werknummer: 35 - Flügelfläche: 20 m2 - Motor: 1938 wurde der ursprüngliche 80 PS Cirrus-Motor durch einen 120 PS de Havilland Gipsy-Major ersetzt - Reisegeschwindigkeit: 140 km/h - Dienstgipfelhöhe: 4000 m - ab dem 25.10.1930 mit dem Kennzeichen CH-264, später HB-KIL immatrikuliert - Anzahl gebaute Flugzeuge: 11 inkl. Grundversion

Signature / Inscription

Signatur / Beschriftung: Signatur: "HB-KIL"

Object type

Object (three-dimensional)

Material / Technique

Metall, Holz, Kunststoff

Dimensions

810 x 1230 x 280 cm 500 kg maximales Startgewicht: 800 kg

Inventory number

VHS-3052

Legend

Comte AC-4 Gentleman First Swiss Mass-produced Aircraft The Comte AC-4 Gentleman is Switzerland’s first industrially produced aircraft. Alfred Comte was enlisted in the young Swiss Air Force in 1914. In 1919 Alfred Comte was the co-founder of the « Aero Firm Comte, Mittelholzer & Co », the first aviation company in Switzerland and the ancestor of Swissair. In 1921 he established the « Aviation and Sport-Pilot School Alfred Comte » in Horgen at Lake Zürich. In 1925 this became Switzerland’s first aircraft factory. After several disappointments in the sphere of military aircraft production, Comte then concentrated on civil aviation. The first AC-4 flew in 1928. The aircraft attracted the attention on the experts after two pilots made the flight from Dübendorf to Bombay (India) in 104 flying hours. After a first series of six AC-4s, Comte starter in 1930 on a second series, which carried the additional designation “Gentleman”. The aeroplane on display is from this group. A further AC-4 is operated by Swissair a san airworthy oldtimer.