Northrop Alpha 4
Single-engine one-place open-cockpit all-metal cargo land monoplane

Overview

Northrop Alpha 4
• Type: Single-engine one-place open-cockpit all-metal cargo land monoplane.
• Original Engine: 420-425 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp C
• Wing span: 43 ft 10 in
• Wing area: 312 ft²
• Length: 28 ft 5 in
• Height: 9 ft 0 in
• Weight empty: 2,800 lbs
• Weight gross: 4,700 lbs
• Top speed: 177 mph
• Year built: 1932
• ATC: 451
• Comments: TWA and Army Y1C-19

Issued ATC 451 on 10 September 1931, the Northrop Alpha 4 included 11 converted aircraft. Conversion of both new Alpha 3s and those previously made over from Alpha 2s for TWA was accomplished in the fall of 1931 at the Northrop factory in Burbank, CA. It included the installation of trousered wheel fairings, NACA cowl, battery, electric starter, low-pressure wheels and tires, flares, and new baggage compartments. The resulting pilot-only mail and express planes flew for TWA for four years from 1931 two 1935.

References

• Allen, Richard Sanders, The Northrop Story 1929-1939, Orion Books, New York, 1990, ISBN 0-517-56677-X