Civilian Aircraft Collection

1927 Pitcairn Mailwing PA-5

Purpose-Designed Mail Aircraft

The Pitcairn PA-5 was the first in the Mailwing series. It was designed to carry airmail and cargo. Pitcairn Aviation (the forerunner of Eastern Air Transport and Eastern Airlines) used 16 PA-5s to carry airmail on Contract Air Mail route No. 19 between New York and Atlanta. These airplanes served seven cities, including Richmond, Va., on the 792-mile route and were among the first radio-equipped commercial airplanes. The reliable Wright Whirlwind J-5 engine that powered the Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic in 1927 also drove the PA-5. Pitcairn also produced a 3-seat civilianized version of the PA-5 mail plane called the Sport Mailwing.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Pitcairn Mailwing PA-5 (N3835) was built in 1927 and purchased by Colonial Western Airways of New York in 1929. Universal Aviation Corporation, American Airlines, Central Airlines and Robertson Aircraft Corporation later operated this aircraft. Air Shannon purchased the aircraft in 1957 and restored it in Eastern Air Transport colors in 1972.

The fuselage is built of welded steel and wood fairing strips. The wings are made of solid spruce spars and built-up wooden ribs. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is fabric-covered and came equipped with electric lights and parachute flares for night flying.

Shannon Collection Serial No. 9

Specifications for Pitcairn Mailwing PA-5

General	Type: Light cargo/mail transport Manufacturer: Pitcairn Aircraft Inc., Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania Dates: 1927–1928 Number Built: Approximately 30 Original Cost: $10,000
Power Plant	Wright Whirlwind J-5 220-horsepower, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 21 feet, 10 1/2 inches Height: 9 feet, 3 inches Wing Span: Upper 33 feet; Lower 30 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,612 pounds Useful Load: 1,008 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 2,620 pounds Fuel Capacity: 56 gallons Oil Capacity: 6 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 130 mph Cruise Speed: 110 mph Landing Speed: 50 mph Rate of Climb: 1,100 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 18,000 feet Cruising Range: 600 miles

1927 Travel Air 2000

"Old Elephant Ears"

Travel Air 2000 was inspired by the team of Lloyd Stearman, Walter Beech, Clyde Cessna and Walter Innes who formed the Travel Air Manufacturing Company in 1924. A classic aircraft of the late 1920s, the Travel Air 2000 was one of several planes that replaced the aging Curtiss Jenny and Standard J-1 on the barnstorming circuit. With a range of 425 miles, barnstormers could hop passengers in and out of small fields all day. The versatile Travel Air 2000 was also favored by early, fixed-base operators because it was reliable, easy to maintain and a delight to fly.

The Travel Air 2000s nickname, Old Elephant Ears, came from its large balance horns on the ailerons. Also known as the Wichita Fokker, the Travel Air 2000 has a passing resemblance to the famous World War I German Fokker D VII fighter. Many were used as Fokker D VIIs in movies about World War I.

The fuselage is built of welded steel and wood fairing strips while the wings are made of solid spruce spars and spruce and plywood ribs. The tail-group is a welded-steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The entire aircraft is covered in fabric except for the aluminum engine cowling. The front cockpit seats two side-by-side passengers, while a single pilot occupied the rear cockpit.

Shannon Collection Serial No. 721

Specifications

General	Type: 3-place biplane Manufacturer: Travel Air Manufacturing Company, Wichita, Kan. Dates: 1925–1930 Number Built: Approximately 600 Original Cost: $2,195–$3,500
Power plant	Curtiss OX-5 engine, 90-horsepower at 1450 rpm, V-8 water-cooled engine
Dimensions	Length: 24 feet, 2 inches Height: 8 feet, 11 inches Wingspan: Upper 36 feet; Lower 28 feet, 8 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,335 pounds Useful Load: 845 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 2,180 pounds Fuel Capacity: 42 gallons
Performance	Max Speed: 100 mph Cruise Speed: 85 mph Landing Speed: 40 mph Rate of Climb: 550 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 10,000 feet Cruising Range: 425 miles

1927 Fairchild FC-2W2

Antarctic Research Aircraft

Virginia's Adm. Richard E. Byrd used this airplane on his legendary expeditions to the Antarctic. On Jan. 15, 1929, the Stars and Stripes became the first American aircraft to fly over the Antarctic. In 1930 the Stars and Stripes was stored in a hangar of snow blocks until, in late 1934, she was dug out and resumed service during Byrd’s second expedition. After returning to the United States in 1935, the Stars and Stripes was used for barnstorming, crop dusting and aerial photography. In 1957 Fairchild Aircraft Co. re-acquired the Stars and Stripes and, in 1961, donated the plane to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum where it was restored to its original condition.

The FC-2W2 was a larger version of the standard Fairchild FC-2W and was powered by a 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine. The FC-2W2 was a rugged work plane with excellent short field and climb characteristics and a large cargo capacity. FC-2W2s were used to transport people and cargo in the world's most rugged terrain. The FC-2W2 has Fairchild's unique fold-back wings, and was available with skis or metal pontoons.

The fuselage is built of welded steel tubing and wooden fairing strips. The wings are made of spruce spars, and spruce and plywood ribs. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is fabric-covered.

On loan from the National Air and Space Museum
Serial No. 140

Specifications

General	Type: 5- to 7-seat utility aircraft Manufacturer: Fairchild Aircraft Co., Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y. Date: 1928 Number Built: 31 Cost: Unknown
Power Plant	Pratt & Whitney Wasp, 450-horsepower, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 33 feet, 2 inches Height: 9 feet, 6 inches Wingspan: 50 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 2,732 pounds Useful Load: 2,768 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 5,500 pounds Fuel Capacity: 148 gallons (Stars and Stripes: 300 gallons) Oil Capacity: 12 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 134 mph Cruise Speed: 108 mph Landing Speed: 55 mph Rate of Climb: 875 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 15,000 feet Cruising Range: 750 miles (Stars and Stripes: 1,500 miles)

1928 Heath Super Parasol

Classic, Home-Built Light Plane

In the late 1920s, Edward B. Heath of Chicago began designing and selling Heath Parasol kits and plans. At the time, Heath Parasols were the lowest-priced approved airplanes in the country and the only kit-built airplane eligible for government license. Two major versions were available: the standard Heath Parasol with 31-foot wings and the Heath Super Parasol with 25-foot wings.

Throughout the 1930s, more than 1,000 of these popular, home-built aircraft, in several models, were built with countless personal modifications and variations. Heath Parasols were powered by a variety of 25- to 65-horsepower engines. After World War II, Heath Aircraft Co., which produced the kits and a few complete aircraft, became Heath Electronics of Heathkit fame.

This fabric-covered airplane is unusually small and lightweight. The fuselage and tail group are made of welded steel tube, and the wing is constructed of two spruce spars and built-up ribs — each rib weighs only 2.75 ounces! The airplane has a joystick and rudder pedals and no brakes. The horizontal stabilizer is adjustable only on the ground.

Donated by Dr. E. C. Garber
Serial No. 31919

Specifications

General	Type: Single-seat home-built sport plane Manufacturer: Heath Aircraft Co., Chicago Date: Late 1920s to present Numbers: More than 1,000 Original Cost: Ready-to-fly aircraft: $925 –$1,074. Do-it-yourself kits without engine: as little as $199. Plans: $5.
Power Plant	Heath B4, 25-horsepower at 2,800 rpm 4-cylinder air-cooled engine
Dimensions	Length: 16 feet, 9 inches Height: 5 feet, 10 inches Wingspan: 31 feet, 3 inches (Super Parasol: 25 feet)
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 260–450 pounds Useful Load: 250–300 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 560–700 pounds Fuel Capacity: 9–10 gallons Oil Capacity: 3 quarts
Performance	Maximum Speed: 80 mph Cruise Speed: 62–70 mph Landing Speed: 28–32 mph Rate of Climb: 350 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 9,000 feet Cruising Range: 200 miles

1928 Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket

The One Lindbergh Really Wanted

Famous for their aerodynamic efficiency, Bellancas featured airfoil-shaped wing struts and an airfoil-contoured fuselage. The Skyrocket model, favored by executives and sports-pilots, featured a stronger airframe and a larger engine than earlier Bellancas. Because of their short take-off, steep climb-out and load carrying capabilities, Skyrockets were used in the wilds of Canada and Alaska.

A Bellanca, the Columbia, missed being the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Clarence Chamberlin and Charles Levine made a trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Eisleben, Germany in the Columbia only days after Charles A. Lindbergh’s historic flight in 1927. Miss Veedol, a CH-400 piloted by Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Berndon, was the first aircraft to fly non-stop across the Pacific Ocean — 4,500 miles from Samishiro, Japan to Wenatchee, Wa. in 1931.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Bellanca (NX237) was built in 1928 as a CH-300 Pacemaker. In 1964 it was salvaged from an Alaskan glacier by Preston Synder and, in 1976, converted to a CH-400 Skyrocket. The exterior logo is that of the Columbia, which was destroyed in a hangar fire.

The fuselage is built of welded steel tubing. The wings are made of solid spruce spars with spruce and truss-type wing ribs. The tail-group is a combination of wood and steel tubing, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is covered with fabric.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. 187

Specifications

General	Type: 6-seat light transport Manufacturer: Bellanca Aircraft Corp., New Castle, Del. Date: 1930 Number Built: 32 Original Cost: $17,800–$20,000
Power Plant	Pratt & Whitney Wasp, 420- or 450-horsepower, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 27 feet, 10 inches Height: 8 feet, 4 inches Wingspan: 46 feet, 4 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 2,592 pounds Useful Load: 2,008 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 4,600 pounds Fuel Capacity: 120 gallons Oil Capacity: 8 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 172 mph Cruise Speed: 150 mph Landing Speed: 55 mph Rate of Climb: 1,250 fpm first minute at sea level Service Ceiling: 20,000 feet Cruising Range: 670 miles at 22 gallons per hour

1928 Pietenpol Air Camper and Sky Scout

Ford-Powered Homebuilt

The Pietenpol is one of the best-known homebuilt airplanes ever designed. Bernard H. Pietenpol of Cherry Grove, Minn. developed the 2-seat Air Camper and single-seat Air Scout Pietenpols in the late 1920s and early '30s. Considered the father of the homebuilt aircraft, Pietenpol designed the Air Camper to be "everyman’s airplane" and based it on the inexpensive and plentiful Model A Ford engine. In the early 1930s, complete plans were available for $7.50 from Modern Mechanics and Inventions, and Flying and Glider Manual magazines and can be purchased today through several sources.

More than 30 types of engines power Pietenpols, the most popular being the 40-horsepower Ford Model A, Corvair and 65- to 85-horsepower Continental or Lycoming engines. The water-cooled Model A engine was mounted backward, with the propeller bolted to the flywheel flange.

The fabric-covered aircraft is built almost entirely of spruce and plywood (although some fuselages are built of welded steel tube). The wing, which weighs only 95 pounds, is constructed from two spruce spars and 28 equal size, built-up ribs. Most of the fittings are steel and simple to make. The airplane has a joystick, rudder pedals and no brakes.

Built and donated by Charles F. Duff
Serial No. 410

Specifications

General	Type: Homebuilt sport aircraft Manufacturer: Bernard H. Pietenpol, Cherry Grove, Minn. Dates: Late 1920s–present Number Built: Hundreds Cost: Plans cost $7.50 in 1930
Power Plant	40-horsepower Ford Model A and more than 30 other 30- to 85-horsepower engines
Dimensions	Length: 17 feet, 8 inches Height: 6 feet, 6 inches Wingspan: 28 feet, 2 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 625 pounds Useful Load: 385 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 1,010 pounds Fuel Capacity: 10–18 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 90 mph Cruise Speed: 60–75 mph Landing Speed: 40 mph Rate of Climb: 200–500 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: N/A Cruising Range: 200–330 miles

1929 Brunner-Winkle Bird, BK

Gentle, Honest and Trustworthy

The Brunner-Winkle Bird is a general-purpose biplane with straightforward flying characteristics. Charles A. Lindbergh was so captivated by the Bird he bought one for his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The Bird has outstanding slow-speed performance with quick, short takeoffs and unbelievably short landings. The Kinner K5 radial engine-powered Bird replaced the older Curtiss OX-5-powered Birds when those engines became scarce.

The fuselage is built of welded steel tubing, faired to shape with wooden formers and fairing strips. The wings were made of solid spruce spars with spruce and plywood truss-type ribs. The leading edges are covered with metal sheets. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is covered with fabric, except for the cowling and the top section of the fuselage, which are aluminum. Brakes were optional.

On loan from Dolph Overton
Serial No. 2025

Specifications

General	Type: 3-seat light biplane Manufacturer: Brunner-Winkle Aircraft Corporation, Glendale, N.Y. Dates: 1929–1930 Number Built: 84 Original Cost: $3,895–$4,995
Power Plant	Kinner K5, 100-horsepower, 5-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 23 feet Height: 8 feet, 8 inches Wingspan: Upper, 34 feet; Lower, 25 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,199 pounds Useful Load: 781 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 1,980 pounds Fuel Capacity: 37 gallons Oil Capacity: 2.5 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 110 mph Cruise Speed: 92 mph Landing Speed: 35 mph Rate of Climb: 650 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 14,000 feet Cruising Range: 500 miles at 6 gallons per hour

1929 Curtiss Robin J-1D

Rugged Record-Setter

The Curtiss-Robertson Robin J-1 model was a newer version of the popular Robin and featured a Wright J-6 radial engine rated at 165 horsepower. Other models were powered by 170-horsepower Curtiss Challenger and 90-horsepower OX-5 engines. The Robin Model J-1 was surprisingly maneuverable and easy to maintain. The pilot sat in front and the two passengers sat in wicker seats in the back of the cabin. It was an immediate success with executives and operators of general-purpose flight operations.

In 1935 in Meridian Miss., brothers Al and Fred Key set a world record in a Curtiss-Robertson Robin: they remained aloft for 27 continuous days! In 1938 Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan flew a Robin on his infamous flight across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Ireland — he was supposed to fly from New York to California!

The Robin's fuselage is built of welded steel tubing, spruce formers and fairing strips. The wings are solid spruce spars with stamped metal ribs. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is fabric-covered. Robin J-1s were available as seaplanes on Edo Type 3300 twin-floats.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Robin (NC532N) was built in October 1929 and completely restored to its present condition by Francis Clore in 1969.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. 733

Specifications

General	Type: 3-seat light aircraft Manufacturer: Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Mfg. Co., Anglum (St. Louis), Mo. Dates: 1929–1930 Number Built: 60 Original Cost: $5,995–$7,000
Power Plant	Wright Whirlwind J-6, 165-horsepower, 5-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 25 feet, 6 inches Height: 8 feet Wingspan: 41 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,625 pounds Useful Load: 898 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 2,523 pounds Fuel Capacity: 50 gallons Oil Capacity: 5 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 118 mph Cruise Speed: 90–100 mph Landing Speed: 45 mph Rate of Climb: 640 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 13,000 feet Cruising Range: 438 miles at 9 gallons per hour

1930 Fleet Model 1

Military Basic Trainer

The Fleet Model 1 was developed from the Consolidated Husky Junior and was powered by the smooth-running Warner Scarab radial engine. The Fleet is a brawny ship with stout wings — enough to hold the weight of two full-size elephants or 13,125 pounds! The Fleet is quick, nimble and capable of a complete aerobatic routine. In 1930 Paul Mantz set a record of 46 outside loops in a Fleet 2 (like a Fleet 1, but with a 100-horsepower Kinner K5 radial engine). An experimental Fleet (XN2Y-2) was built for the U.S. Navy for testing hook-on pick-ups onto a trapeze affair that projected below a dirigible. Virginia Polytechnic Institute used several Fleet aircraft in the civilian pilot training program before World War II.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Fleet 1 (N766V) was built in August 1930. In 1933 it was fitted with a more powerful 125-horsepower Warner engine. Through the years, N766V passed through several owners in New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. She was completely recovered in 1969 and was operated by the Barnstormers Airshows of Hanover Airport in the 1970s.

The fuselage is built of welded steel tubing and wood fairing strips. The wings are made of solid spruce spars and heavy gauge, stamped-out aluminum ribs. The tail-group is made of a steel tube spar, sheet steel ribs and formers. The aircraft is fabric-covered. The horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight.

Donated by Lennie Ellis
Serial No. 347

Specifications

General	Type: 2-seat sport-trainer biplane Manufacturer: Fleet Aircraft, a division of Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, Buffalo, N.Y. Dates: 1928–1930 Number Built: Approximately 90 Original Cost: $5,750
Power Plant	Warner Scarab, 110-horsepower, 7-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 20 feet, 9 inches Height: 7 feet, 10 inches Wingspan: 28 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,022 pounds Useful Load: 558 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 1,580 pounds Fuel Capacity: 24 gallons Oil Capacity: 2.5 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 113 mph Cruise Speed: 95 mph Landing Speed: 44 mph Rate of Climb: 780 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 14,300 feet Cruising Range: 360 miles

1932 Aeronca C-2

The Flying Bathtub

Designed by 1978 Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame inductee Jean A. Roche, the Aeronca C-2 was a first-production aircraft in a 22-year series of Aeroncas. The Aeronca's low purchase price, maintenance costs and comparatively good performance made it a popular aircraft and encouraged private flying during the economic hard times of the Great Depression.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Aeronca C-2 (N11417) was originally built as a C-1, clipped-wing Cadet. With a 7-foot shorter wingspan and powered by a 36-horsepower Aeronca E-113 engine, the clipped-wing Cadet was 15 mph faster than the standard C-2. In 1932 this plane was converted to a C-2-N — a deluxe sport version of the C-2 Scout. With standard 36-foot wings, the C-2-N flies and climbs a little faster than the standard C-2. In 1962 this aircraft was rebuilt entirely.

The fuselage is built of welded steel and wood fairing strips. The wire-braced wings are made of solid spruce spars and spruce truss-type ribs with aluminum ailerons. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable only on the ground. The fabric-covered aircraft has a joystick, rudder bar and no brakes. The Aeronca was also available as a PC-2 seaplane on APC model A-1680 twin-floats.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. A151

Specifications for Standard C-2
[Bracketed information is for C-2-N model.]

General	Type: Single-seat light aircraft Manufacturer: Aeronautical Corporation of America, Lunken Airport, Cincinnati Dates: 1930 and 1931 Number Built: 167 [4] Original Cost: $1,245–$1,990
Power Plant	Aeronca E-107A, 26-horsepower 2-cylinder opposed air-cooled engine [36-horsepower Aeronca, E-113A engine]
Dimensions	Length: 20 feet Height: 7 feet, 6 inches Wingspan: 36 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 398 [426] pounds Useful Load: 274 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 672 [700] pounds Fuel Capacity: 8 gallons Oil Capacity: 3 quarts
Performance	Maximum Speed: 80 [85] mph Cruise Speed: 65 [70] mph Landing Speed: 32 [36] mph Rate of Climb: 550 [650] fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 16,000 feet Cruising Range: 240 [270] miles at 2- to 2.5-gallons per hour

 

1932 Taylor E-2 Cub

Civilian Basic Trainer

Introduced by C. Gilbert Taylor and William T. Piper, the Taylor E-2 Cub had an enormous impact on civilian aviation. In the design lay the foundation for what eventually became the famous Piper Cub. The E-2 Cub was somewhat underpowered but fairly light on the controls with good response. The E-2 Cub was well behaved in all basic maneuvers and was very popular with small flying-school operators. The E-2 combined the fun of open-cockpit flying with good wind protection.

The fuselage is built of welded steel tubing and the wings are made of solid spruce spars, riveted drawn aluminum ribs and a dural metal-covered leading edge. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is fabric-covered and came equipped with a wooden propeller, dual controls but no brakes.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. 33

Specifications

General	Type: 2-seat light aircraft Manufacturer: Taylor Aircraft Co., Bradford, Pa. Dates: 1931–1936 Number Built: 351 Original Cost: $1,325–$1,425
Power Plant	Continental A-40, 37-horsepower, 4-cylinder air-cooled opposed engine
Dimensions	Length: 22 feet, 3 inches Height: 6 feet, 6 inches Wing Span: 35 feet, 3 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 525 pounds Useful Load: 440 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 925 pounds Fuel Capacity: 9 gallons Oil Capacity: 4 quarts
Performance	Maximum Speed: 78 mph Cruise Speed: 65 mph Landing Speed: 28–30 mph Rate of Climb: 450 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 12,000 feet Cruising Range: 220 miles at 2.5 gallons per hour

1935 Aeronca C-3

Rugged Affordability

In 1931 an Aeronca C-3 was the first light aircraft to complete the grueling 4,858-mile National Air Tour. At Richmond's Byrd Field, in the years before World War II, a C-3 called Little Joe was one of Eastern Airlines personnel's favorite planes.

This Aeronca C-3 (NC14640) was donated to the museum by Ken Brugh in honor of William Bayne Grubb of Pulaski, Va. Mr. Grubb instructed many students in aviation in Southwestern Virginia, served as vice president of flight operations for Southern Airways and contributed greatly to the advancement of aviation in Southwestern Virginia.

The Aeronca's fuselage is built of welded steel and wood fairing strips. The wings are made of solid spruce spars and spruce truss-type ribs with aluminum ailerons. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable only on the ground. The airplane is covered with fabric, has a joystick, rudder bar and no brakes (1935 and later models had brakes). The Aeronca C-3 was the follow-on 2-seat version of the single-seat C-2 and was available as a PC-3 seaplane on Edo D-1070 or Warner A-1900 twin-floats.

Donated by Kenneth Brugh
Serial No. 426

Specifications

General	Type: 2-seat light airplane Manufacturer: Aeronautical Corporation of America, Lunken Airport, Cincinnati Dates: 1931–1937 Number Built: Approximately 439 Original Cost: $1,695–$1,895
Power Plant	Aeronca E-113, 36-horsepower, 2-cylinder opposed air-cooled engine
Dimensions	Length: 20 feet Height: 7 feet, 6 inches Wingspan: 36 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 466 pounds Useful Load: 409 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 875 pounds Fuel Capacity: 8 gallons Oil Capacity: 3 quarts
Performance	Maximum Speed: 80 mph Cruise Speed: 65 mph Landing Speed: 35 mph Rate of Climb: 500 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 14,000 feet Cruising Range: 200 miles at 2- to 2.5-gallons per hour

1935 WACO Model YOC

Superlative Business Aircraft

The WACO Model YOC is one of the most beautiful cabin airplanes ever built by WACO Aircraft. These custom-cabin WACOs were plush and generally owned by corporations and wealthy sports-pilots. The cabin is spacious, and the shortened elliptical-shaped lower wings give the YOC a look of speed. With several different engine choices, the YOC is a well-balanced combination of speed, comfort, safety and reliability. The 225-horsepower Jacobs L-4 engine powered the YOC, while the 285-horsepower Jacobs L-5 engine powered the YOC-1. The YOC can be modified to seaplane configuration with Edo twin-floats.

The fuselage is made of welded steel tubing, wooden formers and fairing strips. The wings are made of solid spruce spars with spruce and plywood truss-type ribs and leading edges covered with a dural metal sheet. The ailerons are metal, and the upper wings have vacuum-operated drag flaps on the underside. The tail group is a combination of aluminum and wood, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. Fabric covers the entire aircraft. The WACO Model YOC came with a Hartzell wooden or Hamilton-Standard controllable-pitch propeller and single or dual flight controls.

On loan from the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society
Serial No. 4279

Specifications for WACO, Model YOC
[Bracketed information is for YOC-1]

General	Type: 4- to 5- seat cabin sesquiplan Manufacturer: Waco Aircraft Co., Troy, Ohio Date: 1935 Number Built: more than 50 Original Cost: $6,895–$7,295 [$7,995]
Power Plant	Jacobs L-4 [L-5], 225-horsepower [285-horsepower], 7-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 25 feet, 6 inches [25 feet, 4 inches] Height: 8 feet, 3 inches Wingspan: Upper 35 feet; Lower 24 feet, 6 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,908 pounds [2,260 pounds] Useful Load: 1,192 pounds [1,090 pounds] Maximum Gross Weight: 3,100 pounds [3,350 pounds] Fuel Capacity: 50 gallons Oil Capacity: 4 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 155 mph [162 mph] Cruise Speed: 137 mph [132 mph] Landing Speed: 53 mph [57 mph] Rate of Climb: 760 fpm at sea level [920 fpm] Service Ceiling: 16,000 feet [16,500 feet] Cruising Range: 450 miles at 14 gallons per hour

1936 Curtiss-Wright Speedwing Model A-14D

Rare, Classic Aircraft

The Curtiss-Wright Speedwing Model A-14D was designed to take advantage of the low-drag, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics-designed radial engine cowling. Its speed and cruising range made it a favorite among sport-pilots. Although the front cockpit was designed for two passengers, the aircraft was most often used with the front cockpit covered to improve the airplane's speed. Earliest versions of the A-14D were lighter and called Sportsman Deluxe; later versions, called Speedwings, were heavier, better equipped and refined for more speed.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Curtiss-Wright A-14D (N12329) is the only known A-14D in existence. It was originally owned by the Curtiss-Wright Co., and flown by such notables as famous test pilot Jimmy Doolittle and New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. The crest on the logo on the fuselage is one of the Sportsman Pilot magazine personal crests of the 1930s. The W and the eagle are the owner’s personal identifiers.

The fuselage is built of welded steel tubing, formers and fairing strips. The wings are made of solid spruce spars and web-type spruce ribs spaced only eight inches apart. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is fabric-covered and equipped with brakes.

On loan from Allen H. Watkins
Serial No. 2009

Specifications

General	Type: 3-seat sport biplane Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Airplane Co., St. Louis Date: 1936 Number Built: 7 or 8 Original Cost: $8,750–$10,895
Power Plant	Wright J6-7 (R-760), 240-horsepower, 7-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 23 feet, 7 inches Height: 9 feet, 1 inch Wingspan: Upper, 31 feet; Lower, 23 feet, 7 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,772 pounds Useful Load: 1,098 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 2,870 pounds Fuel Capacity: 58 gallons Oil Capacity: 4.75 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 155 mph Cruise Speed: 135 mph Landing Speed: 60 mph Rate of Climb: 1,000 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 16,100 feet Cruising Range: 540 miles at 13 gallons per hour

1936 Vultee V-1AD Special

Luxury in the Sky

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Vultee V-1AD Special (NC16099) is the only known surviving V-1AD in the world. Powered by a 1,000-horsepower Wright Cyclone R-1820 radial engine that turns a three-bladed controllable-pitch propeller, the aircraft was custom-built for publisher William Randolph Hearst Sr. In 1939 the Vultee was sold to a Panamanian airline and during World War II served Central and South America for the American government. After the war, the Vultee passed through several owners until the 1960s when Harold W. Johnston discovered this sole remaining V-1A and, after five years of restoration, it flew again on April 30, 1971. Johnson sold this aircraft to Sid Shannon Jr. for display at the Shannon Air Museum in Fredericksburg, Va. Mr. Shannon named the aircraft the Lady Peace II to commemorate Capt. Dick Merrill and actor Harry Richman's 1936 roundtrip trans-Atlantic crossing.

The V-1A was built in 1934 as an airliner for American Airlines. When the CAA (the forerunner of the FAA) ruled airliners had to have at least two engines, the V-1As were taken out of commercial service and used as executive airplanes. Nine deluxe versions (V-1AD), outfitted with plush interiors and a larger engine, were produced and used as executive aircraft. In addition to the Merrill/Richman record-setting flight mentioned above, in 1935 Jimmy Doolittle used a V-1A to set a transcontinental time record. At least 16 V-As and ADs including the Lady Peace were sold to Spain in 1937 for use in the Spanish Civil War. The last V-1A was built in 1936 for the Soviet government and flown 10,000 miles from California to Moscow.

Except for the fabric-covered ailerons and elevator, the aircraft is built of aluminum and covered with Alcad metal sheets. The flaps and retractable landing gear are operated by a single electric motor. The executive version’s cabin was soundproof and featured plush reclining seats and a complete lavatory. All models were equipped with the latest radios and navigation aids of the time.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. 25

Specifications

General	Type: 2 pilots plus 8 passenger single-engine airliner and executive airplane Manufacturer: Airplane Development Corp. (later known as Vultee Aircraft Division), Glendale, Ca. Dates: 1934–1937 Number Built: 27 (V-1, V-1A, V-1AD, V-1AS) Original Cost: $35,000 (V-1A)
Power Plant	Wright Cyclone R-1820, 735- to 850-horsepower, air-cooled radial engine (V-1AD Special: 1,000 horsepower, at 40 in Hg and 2,200 rpm)
Dimensions	Length: 37 feet Height: 10 feet, 2 inches Wingspan: 50 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 5,382 pounds Useful Load: 3,118 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 8,500 pounds Fuel Capacity: 206 gallons (V-1AD Special: 306 gallons) Oil Capacity: 15 gallons (V-1AD Special: 19 gallons)
Performance	Maximum Speed: 225 mph Cruise Speed: 205 mph (V-1AD Special: 225 mph) Landing Speed: 65 mph (with flaps) Rate of Climb: 1,000 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 20,000 feet (V-1AD Special: 31,000 feet) Cruising Range: 1,200 miles at 70 percent power and 32 gallons per hour (V-1AD Special: 750 miles at 70 percent power and 70 gallons per hour)

1937 Fairchild 24 Model G

The Cadillac of Private Planes

The Fairchild Model 24-G was available in the standard 4-seat or deluxe 3-seat version and powered by a 145-horsepower Warner Super Scarab radial engine. The handsome Model 24-G appealed to both the sports-pilot, charter and pilot-training operator. Easy to fly, economical to operate and capable of carrying an ample load, the Model 24-G was available as a seaplane on Edo 44-2425 twin-floats.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Fairchild Model 24-G (N19123) was built in August 1937. After passing through several owners, this plane was restored to its current condition in 1984.

The fuselage is built of welded steel tubing, spruce formers and fairing strips. The flap-equipped wings are made of solid spruce spars, and spruce and mahogany plywood truss-type ribs. The tail-group is a wood and welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. Except for the aluminum engine cowling, the aircraft is fabric-covered. The aircraft came standard with dual flight controls and wheel brakes.

Donated by Lyall O. Steger
Serial No. 2983

Specifications

General	Type: 3- or 4-seat cabin monoplane Manufacturer: Fairchild Engine & Airplane Corp, Hagerstown, Md. Date: 1937 Number Built: 100 Original Cost: $5,290–$5,890
Power Plant	Warner Super Scarab, 145-horsepower, 7-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 23 feet, 10 inches Height: 7 feet, 4 inches Wingspan: 36 feet, 4 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 1,475 pounds Useful Load: 925 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 2,400 pounds Fuel Capacity: 40 gallons Oil Capacity: 3 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 130 mph Cruise Speed: 118 mph Landing Speed: 48 mph Rate of Climb: 675 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 16,500 feet Cruising Range: 475 miles at 75 percent power and 9 gallons per hour

1938 Stinson Reliant SR-10G

Gull Wing Perfection

The Stinson Reliant SR-10 was the last model in s long line of Reliants, which were first introduced as the SR-1 in 1933. With its distinctive gull wing, the Stinson Reliant is considered a masterpiece of classic styling. Most of these graceful airplanes were sold to corporations and larger commercial operators and were used in a variety of roles from transporting executives to hauling supplies to wilderness camps. All-American Aviation used several Reliants from 1939 to 1948 to pick up mail at 165 locations a day using a hook instead of having to land at each location. Reliants were also available as seaplanes on Edo 39-4000 twin-floats.

The Virginia Aviation Museum’s Reliant (NC21135) was built for American Airlines and became one of American’s route survey planes and VIP transports. In 1942 this plane, along with 44 other civilian Reliants, was impressed into the USAAF as an UC-81. In 1946 it returned to civilian status for the Virginia Aerial Mapping and Photo Service. In March 1973 NC21135 was completely restored in American Airlines colors.

The fuselage is made of welded steel tubing. The wings are made of metal spars and ribs. The tail-group is a welded steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The aircraft is fabric-covered except the forward fuselage section, which aluminum-clad.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. 5903

Specifications

General	Type: 4- or 5-seat light aircraft Manufacturer: The Stinson Aircraft Company, Wayne, Mi. Dates: 1939–1941 Number Built: 71 (12 were SR-10Gs) Original Cost: $12,585
Power Plant	Lycoming R-680-E1, 300-horsepower, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 27 feet, 10 inches Height: 8 feet, 7 inches Wingspan: 41 feet, 11 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 2,610 pounds Useful Load: 1,390 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 3,900 pounds Fuel Capacity: 76–100 gallons Oil Capacity: 5–7 gallons
Performance	Maximum Speed: 160 mph Cruise Speed: 151 mph Landing Speed: 70–75 mph Rate of Climb: 920 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 15,000 feet Cruising Range: 600–800 miles at 16 gallons per hour

1941 Bücker 133-C Jungmeister

Aerobatic Prowess

Designed by Carl Bücker for the Luft Sports Bund, the Bu 133 featured excellent control effectiveness and light control pressure. A Bu 133 won the only Olympic aerobatic flying competition in the history of the games at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Until the end of World War II, the Luftwaffe (the German air force) used Bu 133s (including the one you see here) to train pilots for fighter aircraft. After the war, Bu 133s were sought-after as acrobatic aircraft and became one of the world’s premier competition aircraft.

After the war, the Virginia Aviation Museum’s Bücker Bu 133 was owned by Count Jose L. Aresti, the originator of the Aresti Aerobatic Shorthand Scoring System. In 1979 Sidney Shannon acquired the airplane and to honor Beverly “Bevo” Howard — one of the most talented acrobatic air-show pilots in America — painted it in its current colors.

The fuselage and tail are built of welded tubular steel. The wings are constructed of built-up wood spars and ribs and both wings have ailerons. The entire aircraft is fabric-covered, except for the aluminum engine cowling. The aircraft is equipped with wheel brakes and a steerable tail wheel.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. 251

Specifications

General	Type: Single-seat, advanced-training biplane Manufacturer: Bücker-Flugzeugbau (Germany), Dornier-Werke (Switzerland), CASA (Spain) Dates: 1930s and 1940s Number Built: Hundreds Original Cost: Unknown
Power Plant	Siemens Sh 14A-4, 160-horsepower, 7-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Dimensions	Length: 19 feet, 8 inches Height: 7 feet, 2 inches Wingspan: 21 feet, 8 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 925 pounds Useful Load: 365 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 1,290 pounds
Performance	Maximum Speed: 137 mph Cruise Speed: 124 mph Landing Speed: 54 mph Rate of Climb: 1,000+ fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 14,765 feet Cruising Range: 311 miles

1943 Piper J-3 Cub

The Classic Trainer Aircraft

The simple, inexpensive, easy to maintain and fly J-3 Cub is one of the most popular airplanes of all time. Civilian and military flight schools used Piper Cubs as trainers. It is estimated that nearly 75 percent of the pilots serving in World War II received their first training in a Piper Cub. Cubs also served the Army and Navy as liaison and observation aircraft. A special, engineless, 3-place training glider version (TG-8) of the Cub was produced to train new glider pilots for the U.S. Army. Piper Cubs were built with different engines ranging from 4-cylinder Continental A-40, A-50, A-65; Lycoming O-145; Franklin 4AC-150 or 176; and even a 3-cylinder Lenape “Papoose” radial engine. The Cub was also available as a seaplane on Edo D-1070 or 54-1140 twin-floats.

The fuselage is built up of welded-steel tubing. The wings are made of extruded aluminum spars (early model spars were solid spruce), stamped aluminum alloy ribs with leading edges covered in duralumin metal. The tail-group is a welded-steel tube structure, and the horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in flight. The entire aircraft is fabric-covered and painted in the familiar Cub yellow with black trim. The aircraft came equipped with a Sensenich wooden propeller and dual flight controls. Brakes were optional.

Shannon Collection
Serial No. 14812

Specifications

General	Type: 2-seat light aircraft Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft Corporation, Lock Haven, Pa. Date: 1937–1950 Number Built: 14,125 civilian Cubs; 5,703 military (L-4, L-14, O-59, and TG-8) Original Cost: $1,270–$1,598
Power Plant	Continental A-65, 65-horsepower, 4-cylinder opposed air-cooled engine
Dimensions	Length: 22 feet, 3 inches Height: 6 feet, 8 inches Wingspan: 35 feet, 3 inches
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 640 pounds Useful Load: 460 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 1,100 pounds Fuel Capacity: 12 gallons Oil Capacity: 4 quarts
Performance	Maximum Speed: 92 mph Cruise Speed: 82 mph Landing Speed: 35 mph Rate of Climb: 575 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 12,000 feet Cruising Range: 250 miles at 80 percent power and 4 gallons per hour

1946 Ercoupe Model 415

The Average Guy's Airplane

The unusual Ercoupe was a light aircraft popular after World War II. Designed for the amateur pilot by renowned National Advisory Committee for Aeronautic–-Langley engineer Fred Weick, the Ercoupe was a safe, docile flying machine. The Ercoupe was the first airplane to feature a steerable nose gear. To make Ercope stall- and spin-proof, it was built with limited elevator travel and rudders that coordinated with the ailerons. The Ercoupe was steered on the ground and in flight with a control wheel — there were no rudder pedals. Since the Ercoupe had to be landed in a crab for crosswind landings, rugged trailing-beam landing gear were used, which were successfully tested in crosswinds up to 40 mph! To counteract the torque effect on climbout without rudders, Weick split the tail into two halves (each outside the propeller blast) and canted the engine in its mounts. Mr. Weick took one of his last flights in the aircraft you see here.

Between 1945 and 1952, over 5,000 Ercoupes were built; many were sold through the menswear department at Macy's! Before the U.S. entry into World War II, the Army Air Corps used an Ercoupe in the first test of Jet Assisted Take Off, which led to the formation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

The aircraft structure was primarily aluminum. Although early Ercoupe wings were fabric-covered, most have since been re-covered with aluminum. Ercoupes came with dual controls, wheel brakes, no flaps and a horizontal stabilizer adjustable in flight.

Donated by Charles Drummond
Serial No. 1766

Specifications

General	Type: 2-seat light aircraft Manufacturer: The Engineering and Research Corporation, Riverdale, Md. Dates: 1939–1952 Number Built: 5,140 Note: Forney, Alon Inc. and Mooney Aircraft produced an additional 545 “Ercoupes” under different names from 1956 to 1970. Original Cost: $2,590–$4,090
Power Plant	Continental C-75 or C-85, 75- or 85-horsepower, 4-cylinder opposed air-cooled engine
Dimensions	Length: 20 feet, 9 inches Height: 5 feet, 11 inches Wingspan: 30 feet
Weights & Capacities	Empty Weight: 815 pounds Useful Load: 585 pounds Maximum Gross Weight: 1,400 pounds Fuel Capacity: 24 gallons Oil Capacity: 4 quarts
Performance	Maximum Speed: 117 mph Cruise Speed: 105 mph Landing Speed: 60 mph Rate of Climb: 550 fpm at sea level Service Ceiling: 13,000 feet Cruising Range: 450 miles at 80 percent power and 4.9 gallons per hour

1988 Quickie 200 Tri-Gear

The Quickie Q-200 is a two-place, high-performance, composite, homebuilt aircraft. The Q-200’s compact size and efficient design evolved from the original single seat Quickie (mid-1970s) and the Q-2 (early 1980s) kits produced by Quickie Aircraft Company. Q-200s requires between two and five years to build.

The Q-200’s high-lift canard (forward wing) is fitted with an elevator for pitch control and produces approximately 60% of the total lift. The rear wing is fitted with conventional ailerons for roll control and the tail has a conventional rudder for yaw control. The original Q-200s were designed as tail wheel type aircraft with the front wheels mounted on the tips of the canard. Some Q-200s were modified with a tri-gear arrangement.

The Q-200 is designed to be powered with a 100-hp Continental O-200 engine and other engines including Mazda, Subaru, Rotax, and Corvair engines in the same horsepower range. Several hundred Q-200 plans were sold with an unknown total of those actually being completed.

The Museum’s Quickie Q-200 Tri-Gear, N200XQ, was built and donated by Howard and Tom Burnette. In loving memory “Our Buckaroo” Tommy Burnette II, September 25, 1994 to September 19, 2002, from the Burnette brothers, Howard and Tom.