Fairchild (Swearingen) Merlin
- CountryUnited States of America
- TypeTurboprop corporate transport
- PowerplantsIIB - Two 495kW (665shp) AiResearch (Garrett) TPE3311151G turboprops driving three blade constant speed propellers. IIIC - Two 670kW (900shp) Garrett TPE33110U503G turboprops driving four blade constant speed Dowty propellers.
- PerformanceIIB - Max cruising speed 475km/h (257kt). Initial rate of climb 2570ft/min. Service ceiling 29,000ft. Range with max fuel 2872km (1550nm). IIIC - Max cruising speed 556km/h (300kt). Initial rate of climb 2650ft/min. Range with max standard fuel at max cruising speed with six people on board 3590km (1938nm).
- WeightsIIB - Empty 2926kg (6452lb), max takeoff 4540kg (10,000lb). IIIC - Empty equipped 3695kg (8150lb), max takeoff 5670kg (12,500lb).
- DimentionsIIB - Wing span 13.98m (45ft 11in), length 12.22m (40ft 1in), height 4.37m (14ft 4in). Wing area 26.0m2 (279.74sq ft). IIIC - Wing span 14.10m (46ft 3in), length 12.85m (42ft 2in), height 5.13m (16ft 10in). Wing area 25.8m2 (277.5sq ft).
- CapacityIIB - Flightcrew of one or two, with typical main cabin seating for six in executive layout or up to eight. III - Seating in main cabin for up to 11, or eight in a corporate configuration. Merlin IV seats up to 12 passengers in main cabin in a corporate configuration.
- ProductionIncludes 33 Merlin IIAs, 87 Merlin IIBs, 92 Merlin III and IIIAs and 10 Merlin 300s.
The Merlin arrangement of turboprop official transports was Swearingen's first assembling project, and established the frameworks for the fruitful Metro arrangement of suburbanites.
Before the first Merlin II, Swearingen represented considerable authority in building transformations of existing airplane into corporate transports. The Merlin II (or Sa26t) was a case of this arrangement in that it is focused around the Beech Queen Air and Twin Bonanza. The Merlin consolidated the wing of the Queen Air with the Twin Bonanza's undercarriage and an all new Swearingen planned pressurized fuselage and tail. The principal Merlins were fueled by two 300kw (400hp) Lycoming Tigo540s, while the Merlin IIA was controlled by Pratt & Whitney Canada Pt6a20 turboprops. The model IIA flew shockingly on April 13 1965 and 33 were manufactured before generation exchanged to the Airesearch Tpe331 fueled Merlin IIB.
The enhanced and somewhat bigger Merlin III consolidated the Merlin II's fuselage yet extended marginally and with another tail; and the wings and arriving apparatus of the Metro II aerial shuttle (portrayed independently) and all the more effective motors. The Merlin III (or Sa226t) was certificated on July 27 1970. The Merlin III was trailed by the Merlin 300 (by which time Fairchild had gained the Merlin and Metro lines) which presented aeromechanic upgrades including winglets. Just 10 were fabricated.
The Merlin IV assignment applies to corporate arranged renditions of the Metro arrangement of worker carriers. The Merlin IVA assignment blankets the corporate adaptations of the first Metro II (which utilized an extended Merlin II's fuselage coupled with another wing, undercarriage and tail), the IVB is what might as well be called the Metro III, and the Merlin 23 is identical to the Metro 23.
Pictures of Fairchild (Swearingen) Merlin
