Elias AJE Air Express
G. Elias and Brother · United States · first flew 1927 · transport aircraft
The Elias AJE Air Express was a prototype American mailplane built around 1927 by G. Elias and Brother. It was intended to be adaptable to other roles but attracted no orders, and only the prototype was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tractor engine in the nose with a mail compartment built into the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay, equal-span biplane with unstaggered wings braced with N-struts
- Tractor engine in the nose with a mail compartment built into the fuselage
- Fixed tailskid undercarriage and an open cockpit for the pilot
A welded steel-tube fuselage with a 65 cubic foot duralumin-lined mail compartment, fabric covering, and N-strut braced wing tips distinguish it.
Specifications
- The Elias AJE Air Express has a length of 8.89 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.41 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 203 km/h (126 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a development of the company's Elias M-1 Mailplane, which was marketed alongside it in 1926. The first flight date is given as about 1927.
Variants
Only one was built, so there were no variants. Elias hoped the mail compartment could carry survey cameras or serve as a crop-dusting hopper.
Where you'll see it
The aircraft failed to find a market and did not progress beyond the single prototype.
Related aircraft
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