Zenith Albatross Z-12
Zenith Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1928 · airliner
The Zenith Albatross Z-12 was a large three-engined airliner built in the United States in 1928. It could carry up to 11 passengers, and only one was completed.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.07 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three radial engines, one in the nose and one on each side on the wing struts
- Rectangular high wing with rounded tips braced by parallel streamlined struts
- 90 ft span, the largest aircraft built on the West Coast when it flew
A big high-wing trimotor with the outer engines attached to the forward wing struts, and a conventional tail with the tailplane at mid-fuselage.
Specifications
- The Zenith Albatross Z-12 has a length of 17.07 m (56 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 27.43 m (90 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 201 km/h (125 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed and built by the Zenith Aircraft Company of Santa Ana, California, and first flew in January 1928. It was designed for long routes including coast-to-coast flights. By October 1929 Schofield Inc had bought the rights to build it, and by January 1930 the prototype had been re-engined there.
Variants
It was first powered by three 125 hp Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radials. In 1930 Schofield replaced them with 115 hp Axelson A-7R radials, and the cabin was rearranged to seat a navigator.
Where you'll see it
Only one was completed.
Related aircraft
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