American training glider
The
Detroit G1 Gull
is an American
high wing
, cable-braced
primary glider
that was manufactured by the
Detroit Aircraft Corporation
during the
Great Depression
.
[1]
It first flew in 1925.
[2]
The aircraft's correct designation is not clear.
Soaring Magazine
calls it the Detroit Gull G1 Primary, while the two
Federal Aviation Administration
registered aircraft are simply Detroit Gulls.
Henley's ABC of Gliding and Sailflying
also calls it the Detroit Gull.
[1]
[3]
[4]
[5]
Design and development
[
edit
]
The Gull G1 was developed by Detroit Aircraft as an inexpensive aircraft for the Depression. Detroit Aircraft later sold the rights to
Stone Aircraft
, who sold plans for the aircraft for
amateur construction
.
[1]
The Gull is built from wood, with the tail and wing surfaces covered in doped
aircraft fabric
. The wing is cable braced from a
kingpost
. The
fuselage
consists of a simple structure to which the seat is attached. The pilot sits on the completely open seat, with no windshield. Controls are conventional three-axis. The landing gear consists of the bottom of the fuselage shaped into a long wooden skid . Sometimes two small wheels were attached.
[1]
The Gull was reportedly
type certified
, but no record of the type certificate is on file with the
Federal Aviation Administration
.
[1]
[6]
Operational history
[
edit
]
One Gull was started before the
Second World War
by Peter Eyrud of
Walla Walla, Washington
, but not completed. This aircraft was purchased by
Peter M. Bowers
who completed and flew it. Bowers documented the aircraft project in an article in the March/April 1957 edition of
Soaring Magazine
entitled
Don't Build a Primary
.
[1]
In 1983 two other Gulls were reported to be in storage awaiting restoration.
[1]
In May 2011 there were two G1 Gulls registered with the
Federal Aviation Administration
in the USA. One was in the
Kansas Aviation Museum
and the other was still registered to Peter M. Bowers, even though he died in April 2003. Soaring Magazine reports that this aircraft too is actually in an unnamed aviation museum.
[3]
[4]
In August, 2013 one was put on display at the W.L Zimmerman's Hardware Store,
Intercourse, Pennsylvania
. This glider has been preserved in original condition from 1931.
[
citation needed
]
G1 Glider on display
G1 Glider on display
Aircraft on display
[
edit
]
Specifications (G1)
[
edit
]
Data from
Soaring and Henley
[1]
[5]
General characteristics
- Crew:
one
- Length:
17.5 ft (5.3 m)
- Wingspan:
34.5 ft (10.5 m)
- Height:
7.0 ft (2.1 m)
- Wing area:
170 sq ft (16 m
2
)
- Aspect ratio
:
7:1
- Airfoil
:
USA 35
- Empty weight:
200 lb (91 kg)
- Gross weight:
400 lb (181 kg)
Performance
- Never exceed speed
:
103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio:
8:1 at 30 mph (48 km/h)
- Wing loading:
2.36 lb/sq ft (11.5 kg/m
2
)
See also
[
edit
]
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Said, Bob:
1983 Sailplane Directory,
Soaring Magazine
, page 40.
Soaring Society of America
November 1983. USPS 499-920
- ^
"J2mcL Planeurs - Fiche planeur n°"
.
www.j2mcl-planeurs.net
. Retrieved
June 15,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
Federal Aviation Administration
(May 2011).
"Make / Model Inquiry Results"
. Archived from
the original
on July 27, 2012
. Retrieved
May 7,
2011
.
- ^
a
b
Federal Aviation Administration
(May 2011).
"Make / Model Inquiry Results"
. Archived from
the original
on February 23, 2019
. Retrieved
May 7,
2011
.
- ^
a
b
Page, Major Victor W.:
Henley's ABC of gliding and sailflying
, page 123. 1931.
"Henley's ABC of Gliding and Sailflying"
(PDF)
.
- ^
Federal Aviation Administration
(May 2011).
"Type Certificate Data Sheets Inquiry Results"
. Archived from
the original
on October 16, 2015
. Retrieved
May 7,
2011
.
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