Ryan Foursome

C-1 Foursome
C-1
Role	Business aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Ryan Aeronautical
First flight	1930
Number built	3

The Ryan C-1 Foursome, also known as the "Baby Brougham" was a single-engine, four-seat light aircraft built by Ryan Aeronautical in the United States in 1930 as an executive transport.^[1] It was a high-wing, braced monoplane based on Ryan's highly successful Brougham design, but substantially smaller.^[2] The interior was luxuriously furnished, with deeply upholstered seats,^[2] and an oversize cabin door was fitted to ease boarding and disembarking for the three passengers.^[1]

Ryan C-1 Foursome interior photo from Aero Digest March,1930

Only three examples were built before deteriorating economic conditions led to the sale of the Ryan factory in October 1930.^[3] One of the three machines was fitted with a Packard DR-980 diesel engine and designated the C-2.^[4] This latter aircraft was lost during an attempted transatlantic crossing by Alex Loeb and Richard Decker in August 1939.^[5] They were en route to Ireland^[5] with (Palestine perhaps their intended final destination - this is supposition, not stated in the source article).^{[4][citation needed]}

Variants

• C-1 - original version with Wright R-760 engine (2 built)
• C-2 - diesel-powered version with Packard DR-980 engine (1 built)

Specifications (C-1)

Data from "Ryan, Ryan-Douglas, Ryan-Flamingo, Ryan-Standard"

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 27 ft 7 in (8.41 m)
• Wingspan: 39 ft 3 in (11.96 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-760 , 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 128 mph (205 km/h, 111 kn)
• Range: 600 mi (960 km, 520 nmi)

References

Notes

1. Munson 1982, p.129
2. Taylor 1989, p.773
3. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft p.2835
4. "Ryan, Ryan-Douglas, Ryan-Flamingo, Ryan-Standard"
5. "Wasted Courage" 1939, p.167

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing.
• Munson, Kenneth (1982). Airliners from 1919 to the Present Day. London: Peerage Books.
• "Ryan, Ryan-Douglas, Ryan-Flamingo, Ryan-Standard". Aerofiles. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• "Wasted Courage". Flight: 167. 17 August 1939. Retrieved 2009-02-04.