Bryan Autoplane

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Bryan Autoplane | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Bryan Model 2 Autoplane taken at Maule Field, Napoleon, MI.jpg | alt = | caption = Bryan Model II at Maule Field in Napoleon, Michigan | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Roadable aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = Leland Bryan | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 2 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1953 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Bryan Autoplane'''s were a series of three experimental roadable aircraft.

==Development== Leland Bryan built his roadable aircraft in the town of Milford, Michigan. As a roadable aircraft the aircraft was required to be registered by both the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and the Michigan Motor Vehicle Administration (MMVA), with road propulsion provided by propeller thrust.

==Design== The Bryan Model I was built with a welded steel tube fuselage frame, wings from a Briegleb BG-6 primary glider and a Crosley automobile engine, which was later replaced by a 40 hp Continental.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|title=In Memory Of Dewey Bryan|author=Peter J. Smith|date=June 1975}}</ref>

The Model II autoplane featured an extended Erco Ercoupe center-section, with a pusher engine at the rear of the fuselage nacelle, with twin tail booms supporting the tail section. The Ercoupe landing gear was used for the roadable operations, reaching up to 60 mph on the road. For storage and road transport the wings folded at two hinge lines.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Flight|date=October 1957}}</ref>

==Operational history== The Model I was approved for limited flight, in the experimental category by the CAA, managing to accumulate 500 miles of road driving, and flying for the first time in 1953.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|title=Bryan's Autoplane|date=September 1957}}</ref> The improved Model II achieved 80 hours of flight time and 4000 miles of road travel before a road accident. During repairs the Model II was rebuilt with two-seats becoming the Model III Autoplane, with a Continental A75 engine and convertible top motors, from a Chevrolet Corvair, to extend and fold the wings. After accumulating 70 hours of flight time and 1000 road miles, the Model III crashed during a flyby at the 1974 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) airshow, at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, when an inadequately secured wing section parted company killing the designer. At the time of his death Leland Bryan was in the process of designing the Model IV Autoplane, based on a Rutan VariViggen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadabletimes.com/roadables-integ_bryan.html|title=Bryan Autoplane|first=Lionel|last=Salisbury|website=www.roadabletimes.com}}</ref>

==Variants== ;Bryan Special :Alternative name for the Bryan Model I ;Bryan Model I Autoplane :entered flight test in 1953 ;Bryan Model II Autoplane :1957 based on an Ercoupe fuselage with a double articulating wing.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=October 1958}}</ref> ;Bryan Model III Autoplane :1970 a rebuild of the model II with single hinged wing articulation. ;Bryan Model IV Autoplane

==Specifications (Model II) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Sport Aviation September 1957 |prime units?=kts  |genhide= |crew=1 |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=22 |span in=6 |span note= |upper span m= |upper span ft= |upper span in= |upper span note= |mid span m= |mid span ft= |mid span in= |mid span note= |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |swept m= |swept ft= |swept in= |swept note= |dia m= |dia ft= |dia in= |dia note= |width m= |width ft=8 |width in= |width note=Wings Folded |height m= |height ft=7 |height in=10 |height note=Wings Folded |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |swept area sqm= |swept area sqft= |swept area note= |volume m3= |volume ft3= |volume note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=720 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |lift kg= |lift lb= |lift note= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Continental A75 |eng1 type=4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=75 |eng1 kn= |eng1 lbf= |eng1 note= |power original= |thrust original= |eng1 kn-ab= |eng1 lbf-ab= |eng2 number= |eng2 name= |eng2 type= |eng2 kw= |eng2 hp= |eng2 kn= |eng2 lbf= |eng2 note= |eng2 kn-ab= |eng2 lbf-ab= |eng3 number= |eng3 name= |eng3 type= |eng3 kw= |eng3 hp= |eng3 kn= |eng3 lbf= |eng3 note= |eng3 kn-ab= |eng3 lbf-ab= |more power= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= |rot number= |rot dia m= |rot dia ft= |rot dia in= |rot area sqm= |rot area sqft= |rot area note=  |perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=105 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=90 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=55 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=500 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance=  |armament= |guns= |bombs= |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints= |hardpoint capacity= |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other= |other armament= |avionics= }}

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Category:Roadable aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1953 Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft Category:1950s United States civil utility aircraft Category:Twin-boom aircraft Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear