The Bach Air Yacht was a trimotor airliner produced in the United States in the 1920s. Typical of its day, it was a high-wing braced monoplane, with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. Unusual for airliners of the late 1920s, (due to legislation that forbade carrying passengers in wooden aircraft), the Air Yachts were constructed almost entirely of wood with steel fittings, undercarriage and struts. Different models were powered by varying combinations of Wright, Ryan-Siemens, Kinner, Comet, and Pratt & Whitney engines, a large engine in the nose of the aircraft and two smaller "helpers" under the wings in nacelles supported by struts. As with so many aircraft companies of the late 1920s the Bach Aircraft Company succumbed to the Great Depression, thus further development of the Air Yacht was abandoned after the 3-CT-9.
On 26 July 1929 a 3-CT-9 model piloted by Waldo Waterman set a new altitude record, lifting a 1,000 kg payload to 20,820 ft (6,347 m).
3-CT-2
Variant with one Wright J-5 and two Ryan-Siemens 9 engines.
3-CT-3
Variant with one Pratt & Whitney Wasp and two Ryan-Siemens 9 engines, one built.
3-CT-4
Variant with one Pratt & Whitney Wasp and two Ryan-Siemens 9 engines, two built.
3-CT-5
Variant with one Pratt & Whitney Wasp and two Comet 100hp engines, one built.
3-CT-6
Variant with one Pratt & Whitney Hornet and two Comet 100hp engines, five built.
3-CT-8
Variant with one Pratt & Whitney Hornet and two Wright J-6 engines, four or five built.
3-CT-9
Variant with one Pratt & Whitney Wasp and two Wright J-6 engines, three built.
3-CT-9K
Variant of the 3-CT-9 with one Pratt & Whitney Wasp and two Kinner C-5 engines, ten built.
3-CT-9S
Deluxe variant of the 3-CT-9 with engine cowls, wheel spats, and custom interior, one built.
3-CTS
Variant with one 3-CT-8 modified with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp and two Wright J-5 engines, one built.
T-11P
Three aircraft, being single-engined conversions (formerly NC219H, NC53M, and 34998 built from spare parts)
Note
As it was common practice to upgrade airframes as improvements became available, some 'N' numbers and/or serial numbered airframes were redesignated as different or new models. Total number of Bach Air Yachts built verified by Air Commerce Bureau and FAA records is 21.
Data from
General characteristics
Crew: two (pilot, copilot)
Capacity: ten passengers
Length: 11.23 ft (3.42 m)
Wingspan: 58 ft 5 in (17.81 m)
Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Wing area: 512 sq ft (47.6 m2)
Empty weight: 4,739 lb (2,150 kg)
Gross weight: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Hornet 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 525 hp (391 kW)
Powerplant: 2 × Comet 7-RA 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 130 hp (97 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h; 134 kn)
Cruise speed: 126 mph (109 kn; 203 km/h)
Stall speed: 60 mph (52 kn; 97 km/h)
Range: 600 mi (521 nmi; 966 km)
