Warbird Information Exchange

An older member of our airport gave me these photos today. This is an Allied Aviation Corporation LRA-1. It was built to test troop delivery techniques for the USN. It is mentioned in the 1945/46 Janes, and was built in Dundalk Maryland in a Boat Yard. The person who gave me the photo said there was one more kept by the old owner, who was the engineer on the project. It was a PBM Mariner pulling two of these. That contradicts Janes, as they say only one was produced. Enjoy, and I promise to get proper scans for anybody who wants one.

Coincidence!

I was reading earlier today, the "Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II" (By David Mondey - ISBN 185152 706 0) and noticed the LRA-1 (there is one photo of it, on solid ground and painted a light gray or white color) showing Bu 11648, and mentions the other example as being 11647.

It also mentions that four additional prototypes had been ordered from the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation, only two of which were built, and 100 production examples that had been ordered from each manufacturer, were cancelled in 1943.

Saludos!


Tulio