Ahrens AR-404

The AR-404 utility aircraft: was the brainchild of a US company who set up a production facility in western Puerto Rico. The company made various claims for the AR-404, including that it could be certified under the same standards as the large jetliners, but in one year rather than four.  In order to facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo, the fuselage was of constant rectangular section along almost its entire length, the main undercarriage was retracted into sponsons on the fuselage sides, and the tail included a loading ramp. As a regional airliner, the AR 404 was designed to carry 30 passengers, or in its cargo configuration, to accommodate four standard D3 freight containers. It first flew 01/12/76.

Flight International

Through obtaining money from the Puerto Rican government, it was said 1000 locals with no previous aircraft making experience would soon be turning out four per month. A mysterious US government investigation into the company dragged on, preventing the development money and loans going through. The project was abandoned and the principals decamped elsewhere. Only two AR-404s were built. The first prototype was last noted serving as a snack bar.

Crew: 2
Capacity: 30 passengers
Length: 52 ft 9 in (16.08 m)
Wingspan: 66 ft 0 in (20.12 m)
Height: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
Wing area: 422 sq ft (39.2 m2)
Aspect ratio: 10.1:1
Airfoil: NACA 643-618
Empty weight: 9,500 lb (4,309 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Allison 250-B17B turboprops, 420 shp (310 kW) each
Performance

Maximum speed: 219 mph; 352 km/h (190 kn)
Cruising speed: 196 mph; 315 km/h (170 kn)
Stall speed: 86 mph; 139 km/h (75 kn) (flaps down)
Range: 978 mi; 1,574 km (850 nmi)
Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,486 m)
Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)