W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

HEINRICH PURSUIT USA

   During the 19 months in which the USA participated in World War I, several attempts were made to develop competent single-seat fighters of original design. Among these was the Heinrich Pursuit designed by Albert S Heinrich and built by the Victor Aircraft Corp. The Heinrich Pursuit was an aerodynamically clean, single-bay, unequal-span biplane powered by a 100 hp Gnome nine-cylinder rotary engine. Two examples were ordered by the US Army Signal Corps and built in 1917, the first of these being delivered in November of that year. Some testing was undertaken at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, but official US policy at this time was to forego fighters of national design in favour of tested foreign types. Nevertheless, the Heinrich Pursuit was considered to have potential as a fighter trainer, and two additional aircraft were ordered. These employed the more reliable Le Rhone rotary of 80 hp, had a strengthened cabane and paired rather than single struts and a lighter structure, gross weight being reduced by 170 lb (77 kg). These aircraft were built in 1918, but no further development was undertaken. The following data relate to the Gnome-engined version.

Max speed, 115 mph (185 km/h).
Loaded weight, 1,235 lb (560 kg).
Span, 26 ft 0 in (7,92 m).
Wing area, 162.5 sq ft (15,09 m 2).