Friesley Falcon
Friesley · United States · first flew 1921 · airliner
The Friesley Falcon was a twin-engine, 12-passenger biplane airliner, designed and flown in the United States in 1921.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large three-bay biplane with equal-span wings and no stagger
- Two Liberty engines with square radiators mounted halfway between the wings
- Low-set tailplane carrying a pair of triangular fins and rudders
A large equal-span biplane with two 400 hp Liberty V-12 engines between the wings and a rectangular plywood-covered fuselage with an enclosed cockpit ahead of the cabin.
Specifications
- The Friesley Falcon has a length of 12.19 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.89 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 193 km/h (120 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Falcon was funded by farmer Harold Friesley and was designed and first flown by Bond Spencer. The first flight, of about two minutes, was made at Friesley Field on 17 April 1921.
Variants
Only one was built, so there were no variants.
Where you'll see it
The Falcon did not reach production, but the sole machine made some of the earliest commercial passenger flights in the United States, including flights from Gridley, California, to San Francisco and Marysville. It was later sold to China.
Related aircraft
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