Keystone K-78 Patrician
Keystone Aircraft · United States · first flew 1929 · airliner
The Keystone K-78 Patrician was an airliner developed in the United States in the late 1920s. It was built only in prototype form.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fabric-skinned chromoly tube fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing, strut-braced monoplane
- Trimotor layout with three Wright Cyclone radial engines
- Fabric-skinned chromoly tube fuselage
A large high-wing trimotor with strut bracing and an 18-seat cabin in the K-78D.
Specifications
- The Keystone K-78 Patrician has a length of 18.77 m (62 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 26.34 m (86 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 236 km/h (147 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a high-wing, strut-braced trimotor intended to be the largest and fastest of its type. Certification was obtained on 30 October 1929.
Variants
The K-78D was the definitive airline version, with 18 seats, a lavatory and a separate baggage compartment. One was fitted with a deluxe interior as an executive transport for Wright Aeronautical.
Where you'll see it
Colonial Air Transport flew the prototype on charter between New York and Boston. Transcontinental Air Transport chose the Patrician, but the Great Depression ended the market and three prototypes were the only ones built.
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