The Republic RC-3 Seabee was designed by Percival Spencer and produced by the Republic Aircraft Aviation as an all-metal amphibious sports aircraft that first flew in December 1945. It was introduced in 1946 and was produced until 1947. A total of 1,060 aircraft were built.

Manufacturer:
Republic Aviation
Country:
United States
Manufactured:
1946 to: 1947
ICAO:
RC3
Price:
US$0.006 million (1946)
Avionics:
Engine:
1x Franklin 6AS-215-BSF
Piston
Power:
215 horsepower
Max Cruise Speed:
100 knots
185 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
50 knots
Travel range:
490 Nautical Miles
907 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
Service Ceiling:
12,000 feet
Rate of Climb:
700 feet / minute
3.56metre / second
Take Off Distance:
304 metre - 997.36 feet
Landing Distance:
213 metre - 698.81 feet
Max Take Off Weight:
1,428 Kg
3,148 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
1,361 Kg
3,000 lbs
Max Payload:
200 Kg
441 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
75 gallon
284 litre
Baggage Volume:
0.56 m3 / 20 ft3
Seats - Economy / General:
4 seats
Seats - Business Class:
Seats - First Class:
Cabin Height:
1.17 metre - 3.84 feet
Cabin Width:
1.6 metre - 5.25 feet
Cabin Length:
2.69 metre - 8.83 feet
Exterior Length:
8.5 metre - 27.89 feet
Tail height:
3.1 metre - 10.17 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
1.65 metre - 5.41 feet
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
11.47 metre - 37.63 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

The Republic RC-3 Seabee was developed by Percival Spencer, an American inventor, and aviation pioneer who worked with the Republic Aircraft Corporation as a test pilot during World War II. On November 22, 1945, the RC-3 prototype with serial NX87451 moved off the production line at the manufacturing company’s plant in Farmingdale, New York.

On December 1 of the same year, the aircraft took to the air for the first time piloted by Spencer. On December 27, the company acquired the Franklin engine manufacturer, Aircooled Motors to produce and develop engines that will power the Seabee.

The RC-3 Seabee can carry a single crew and up to three passengers on board. It has an external length of 8.5 meters, an external height of 2.4 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.65 meters. It has a tail height of 3.1 meters and a wheelbase of 3.7 meters. The wingspan is 11.47 meters and the wing area is 18.2 square meters. It has an empty weight of 885 kg, a gross weight of 1,361 kg, and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,428 kg. The maximum payload is 200 kg and the fuel tank capacity is 75 US gal.

The aircraft is powered by a single Franklin 6AS-215-BSF engine. It is a six-cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed-piston engine with a single OHV exhaust and inlet per cylinder operated by push-rods and rockets, a single Marvel-Schebler MA4-5 updraught carburetor fuel system, a pressure-fed oil system, and an air-cooled with cooling fan and shrouds cooling system. The engine produces a maximum takeoff thrust of 215 hp at 25,000 feet and drives a two-bladed Aeromaster adjustable pitch wooden propeller or an optional Hartzell reversible pitch wooden propeller.

The Seabee has a maximum speed of 100 knots, a cruise speed of 90 knots at seventy-five percent power, and a landing speed of 50 knots. The travel range is 490 nautical miles. It can fly up to 12,000 feet and can climb at a rate of 700 feet per minute.

All Republic Aviation Aircraft