Harlow PC 5

Development

The Harlow Aircraft Company designed a version of the PJC-2 as a tandem two-seat training aircraft. The PC-5 had a revised fuselage with dual controls. The aircraft first flew in July 1939 but it failed to interest the United States Army Air Corps. Howard Hughes' business partner, J.B. Alexander, backed the project and had flown in early examples of the aircraft. Harlow licensed the manufacturing rights to the PC-5 to Cub Aircraft of Canada during the wartime buildup. Only five aircraft had been built when the company was taken over by the Intercontinent Corporation. Components for 50 aircraft were supplied to the Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics, who were to assemble the aircraft for use by the Indian Air Force as the PC-5A. The first PC-5A flew in August 1941, but it is not known how many were assembled and flown.

Using an engineering team brought in by Intercontinental, a cheaper version of the PC-5 was developed and built as the PC-6. The PC-6 wing failed, causing a fatal accident during an early test flight.

Variants

PJC-5 later PC-5

Tandem two-seat training version of the PJC-2

PC-5A

Version for assembly in India by Hindustan Aircraft, number built not known.

PC-6

Cheaper version of the PC-5, one built.

Operators

 India

Royal Indian Air Force

Specifications (PC-5A)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2099

General characteristics

Crew: Two

Length: 23 ft 8 in (7.21 m)

Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)

Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)

Wing area: 185 ft² (17.19 m²)

Empty weight: 2015 lb (914 kg)

Gross weight: 2600 lb (1179 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Warner Super Scarab 165-D 7-cylinder radial piston engine, 165 hp (123 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h)

Range: 420 miles (676 km)

Service ceiling: 14,500 ft (4420 m)