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. Suggested uses included fish spotting, Anti-Submarine Warfare, gunship, parachute dropping and training. 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.

Jim Winchester "The World's Worst Aircraft", 2005

FACTS AND FIGURES

© The AR-404 had four rather small motors. A twin-engined version with two 1000hp Garrett turboprops was planned but never built.

© It was said the AR-404 could run on diesel fuel as easily as it did on jet fuel, which cost about 10 times as much.

© One proposed version was a carrier-capable transport to replace the C-2 Greyhound in the carrier onboard delivery (COD) role.

© The AR-404's competitors were such aircraft as the Shorts 330, GAF Nomad and even the C-130. Costs per seat-mile were quoted as lower than any direct competitor.