Aeromarine PG-1

The sole example of the PG (Pursuit and Ground Attack) category aircraft to be developed for the US Army, the PG-1 was designed by the Service's Engineering Division for the dual role of destroying armoured attack aircraft and ground strafing. Created by a team headed by Isaac M Laddon, the PG-1 was a single-bay biplane with ailerons in the upper wing only, V-type interplane struts and a narrow-chord lower wing. There was only a nominal gap between the upper wing and the forward fuselage decking, the centre section being cut away ahead of the single-seat cockpit which had quarter-inch (6.30mm) armour protection. A particularly innovative feature of the PG-1 was the installation of a 37mm Baldwin cannon firing through the propeller hub, plus a single 12.7mm machine gun. The intended power plant was a 330hp Wright K-2 eight-cylinder water-cooled engine, and a contract for the construction of three prototypes was let to the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company of Keyport, NJ, in May 1921. The first of these was flown on 22 August 1922 with a Packard 1A-1116 engine of 346hp, the K-2 having still to be cleared for flight testing. A second example was completed and both were flight tested for the Army Air Service at McCook Field, but performance proved disappointing and the aircraft was unpopular with its pilots owing to poor visibility from the cockpit and high vibration levels. The PG-1 was tested with the Packard 1A-1116 and 1A-1237 engines, and the Wright K-2, but was soon abandoned.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1660 x 1075)