Blog on World of Civil Airplanes : Ahrens AR 404 Four Engine Turboprop Utility Aircraft

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.