Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar
Specs, top speed, range and facts
The Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar is an experimental flying saucer built by Avro Canada in Canada. It first flew in 1959, but it never entered regular service. A round craft that rides on a cushion of air and, its makers hoped, could fly like a real flying saucer.
Photo: Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar on Wikipedia (free licence)
- Top speed56 km/h (35 mph)
- Range130 km (81 miles)
- First flight1959
- Wingspan5.5 m (18 ft)
Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar specs
| Top speed | 56 km/h (35 mph)Its fastest speed in tests. It was meant to reach about 480 km/h (300 mph). |
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| Range | 130 km (81 miles)Not published. This is a rough estimate. |
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| Length | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 2.56 t (5,644 lb) |
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| Crew and capacity | 1 pilot (room for 2) |
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| Engines | 3 × Continental J69 turbojet driving a central fan |
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| First flight | 1959 |
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| Entered service | Never entered regular service |
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| Built by | Avro Canada (Canada) |
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Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar facts
- It is a real flying saucer, built for the U.S. Army and Air Force.
- It got wobbly more than about a metre (3 feet) off the ground, so it never flew any higher.
Quick quiz
When did the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar first fly?
In 1959.
Who built the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar?
Avro Canada, in Canada.
How fast can the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar fly?
Its top speed is 56 km/h (35 mph).
How far can the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar fly?
About 130 km (81 miles).
Photos, a true-scale silhouette, quizzes, flashcards, the Size Lab and the Sky Run game.
Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar vs similar aircraft
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