AAC Angel

{{Short description|Twin-engine STOL utility aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} __NOTOC__  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Model 44 Angel | logo = | logo_size = | image = Angel Aircraft Corporation Model 44 Angel.jpg | alt = | caption = Angel Aircraft Corporation Model 44 Angel | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = STOL utility aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Angel Aircraft Corporation | design_group = | designer = Carl Mortenson | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 4 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 13 January 1984 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Angel Aircraft Corporation Model 44 Angel''' is a twin-engine STOL utility aircraft produced in the United States since the mid-1990s. Designed by Carl Mortenson and The King's Engineering Fellowship to be well-suited for missionary work from remote locations around the world, it is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a retractable tricycle undercarriage and eight seats. The design is largely conventional, with the exception that the engine nacelles are mounted on top of the wings in a pusher configuration. Construction is aluminum throughout the airframe.

Design work began at the home of designer Carl Mortenson in 1972, with work on the prototype beginning in 1977, also from the designer's home. In 1980 the project was moved to the municipal airport in Orange City, Iowa. The first flight took place on 13 January 1984, and FAA type certification was achieved on 20 October 1992. Angel Aircraft Corporation manufactures the aircraft under a license agreement with The King's Engineering Fellowship.

The aircraft was tested at Apatzingán Airport, Mexico, in February 1993 to demonstrate its capabilities on short runways and in severe weather conditions, a test which the AAC Angel successfully passed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Estrada García |first1=Miguel |date=2025-10-02 |title=UNA DE LAS PRUEBAS DEL AVIÓN EN “ÁNGEL” SE REALIZO EN EL AERÓDROMO GRAL. PABLO L. SIDAR DE APATZINGAN |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10229581445151239&set=a.10205300108092988&type=3 |trans-title=One of the tests of the aircraft "ÁNGEL" was carried out at the General Pablo L. Sidar Airfield in Apatzingan. |website=Facebook |language=Spanish |access-date=2025-10-04 }}</ref>

Four aircraft were produced between 1984 and 2008. However, in 2013, Hubei Taihang Xinghe Aircraft Manufacturing of China acquired a production license. The first Chinese example was substantially completed in May 2016 before the Hubei local government financed a manufacturing plant.<ref name=AvWeek8oct2017>{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/nbaa-2017/emerging-aircraft-props-and-turboprops |title= Emerging Aircraft: Props And Turboprops |date= 8 October 2017 |author= Paul Jackson |work= Aviation Week Network }}</ref> The Model 44 was approved on 17 July 2015, by the Chinese National Civil Aviation Administration. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ce.cn/aero/201601/19/t20160119_8374079.shtml|title = 2015国内新增飞机生产项目汇总_航空产业_中国经济网}}</ref>

==Crashes== On 14 December 2019, an Angel 44 crashed into a field of corn near the airport at Mareeba, Queensland, Australia at 11.15am during what is believed to be a training flight. The aircraft has been said<ref name="2019-12-15_7News">[https://7news.com.au/news/aviation/two-queensland-men-dead-in-plane-crash-c-606546 Man killed in Far North Queensland plane crash identified], Cheryl Goodenough, 7News, 2019-12-15</ref> to be the only example of the type in Australia. The pilot, William Scott-Bloxam (73) and male passenger (63) died at the scene of the incident.<ref name="2019-12-14_ABC">[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-14/two-killed-in-far-north-queensland-light-plane-crash/11800404 Light plane crashes in Far North Queensland cornfield, killing two], Rebeka Powell & Jesse Thompson, ABC News Online, 2019-12-14</ref><ref name="2019-12-15_CT">[https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6543565/real-character-dead-in-qld-plane-crash/ 'Real character' dead in Qld plane crash], Cheryl Goodenough, Canberra Times/Australian Associated Press, 2019-12-15</ref>

==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94<ref name="Janes 93 p576-7">Lambert 1993, pp. 576–577.</ref> |prime units?=kts

|max speed kmh=333 |max speed mph=207 |cruise speed kts=169 |cruise speed note=65% power<ref name=AvWeek8oct2017/> |stall speed kmh=106 |stall speed mph=66 |range nmi= 1,720 |range note= max, {{cvt|1248|nmi}} at 65%<ref name=AvWeek8oct2017/> |endurance=13 h 6 min |ceiling m=5,796 |ceiling ft=19,015 |climb rate ms=6.83 |climb rate ftmin=1345 }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= * Evangel 4500 – another Mortenson twin-engine STOL design |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

* {{cite magazine |last=Dekkers |first=Hans |title=Flying the Angel 44 |magazine=Flight International |date=29 September – 5 October 1993|pages=25–26 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1993/1993%20-%202331.html?search=kings%20angel |accessdate=15 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095234/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1993/1993%20-%202331.html?search=kings%20angel|archive-date=2016-03-05}} * {{cite book |editor-last=Lambert |editor-first= Mark |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94 |year=1993 |publisher=Jane's Data Division |location=Coulsdon, UK |isbn= 0-7106-1066-1}} * {{cite book |last= Simpson |first= R. W. |title=Airlife's General Aviation |year=1995 |publisher=Airlife Publishing |location=Shrewsbury |page=416 }} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |page=932 }} * {{cite book|last=Taylor|first=John W R|authorlink=John W. R. Taylor|title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1987–88 |publisher=Jane's Publishing |location=London |pages=439–440 }} *{{cite magazine |last= Walters|first=Brian M. |title=Wings of an Angel |magazine= Air International|volume= 45 |issue= 4 |date=July 1993 |pages=213–214 |location=Stamford, UK |issn=0306-5634}}

==External links== {{commonscatinline}} * {{Official|http://www.angelaircraft.com/ }} * [http://www.angelaircraft.com/AACBrochure2.pdf Angel brochure on manufacturer's website] * [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/6D9712752214C5388625713100569346?OpenDocument Type Certificate Data Sheet A2WI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104015817/http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/6D9712752214C5388625713100569346?OpenDocument |date=4 November 2016 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aac Angel}} Category:1980s United States civil utility aircraft Category:Engine-over-wing aircraft Category:Twin-engined pusher aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1984 Category:STOL aircraft