"What Is It?" Contest Past Quizzes.

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Modified for NACA testing by Douglas.  This machine was used to test the maximum wing chord that could maintain laminar flow, the results of which were employed in the C-74. The propellers are to simulate propwash. The wing form achieved a fair amount of success (30% top- 60% bottom), but as in all similar designs before the "clean" wing form was not operationally viable.

This two-passenger, two-control system, similar to the Erocoupe, was developed in 1938-1938 by Otto Koppen of MIT. ATC 742 was issued in early 1941 and a total of approximately 16 aircraft were constructed.  Manufacturing was curtailed during WWII and never resumed.  Resumed for a short time after the war under the auspices of Mars Mfg. Co.

Circa 1935, the plane is a curiosity; could be a high-wing or a low-wing, depending on which way it was landed, as it sported two sets of landing gear, one set mounted on the underside for inverted landings, often atop a moving automobile rigged with a platform. A creation of exhibition pilot Murphy, it began life in 1935 as Taylor E-2, NC15354,  c/n 264.

[source Aerofiles]

A side-by-side open cockpit design that originally sold for  $4,115. About 10 of aircraft of this model were made.  A K-2-S piloted by Dick Myhres won the 1928 California Class-A Race (Los Angeles-San Francisco) in a field of 16 aircraft  with an average speed of 126 mph.

[source Areofiles]

Managment & Research, Inc./ Tuscar Metals, Inc

H-70, -71

Tailless design that was based on Stearman-Hammond Y, the aircraft appeared to be a handful to fly.  Crashed twice with only about 60 hours total time.

BROWN AIRCRAFT "Potato Bug,"  aka: SC Diamond Wing

PACKARD-BELLANCA PACEMAKER J-2,
NR782W, c/n 1101, 1931

       Specially modified Bellanca was powered by a 225 HP Packard Diesel engine. The goal being to set a world endurance record.
       On April 12th, 1931, the Packard-Diesel Bellanca took off with a gross load of 6,666 pounds including 458 gallons of fuel weighing seven pounds per gallon. The total cost of the fuel was $45.80. The attempt failed due to bad weather.  On the next attempt, they successfully established a new endurance record of 84 hours, 32 minutes. 

1931   2- place experimental aircraft of all metal construction shown here with its designer William Stout.

Dimensions & Performance Characteristics:
Span: 43'0"          Length: 24''0" 
Speed(max):  95 mph       Speed(cruise):  80 mph
Speed (stall):  35 mph             Range:  320 miles
[data source Aerofiles] 

1928  2-3 place aircraft (ATC 288).  Engine:  Curtis R-600 Challenger of 185-hp.  The aircraft had a metal-clad wooden hull and sold new in the range of $6,750 to $8,750 in 1931. A total of 18 were produced.

Dimensions & Performance Characteristics:
Span: 36'0"          Length: 26'3" 
Speed(max):  110 mph       Speed(cruise):  90 mph
Speed (stall):  50 mph             Range:  360 miles

[data source Aerofiles] 

1933 (ATC 504), Primary trainer developed from the Model 4 series.  A two seat biplane powered by a 420-hp P&W Wasp Jr.  Only a single aircraft , NC11720, was built with the enclosed rear cockpit added later.
Dimensions & Performance Characteristics:
span: 35'0"                 length: 25'1" 
useful load: 1064 lbs             Max speed:  175 mph
Cruise:   151 mph                           Stall:   58 mph
Range:   650 mi. 

[data source of Aerofiles]

Factory photo of the aircraft.

A seven place biplane airliner.  This one operated
by Seattle-Vancouver Airways, Inc. (whose "SVA" logo you can barely see on the side of the fuselage) apparently flew out of Boeing Field.  Three Z-6-Bs were built. The company was located in Orange County, CA and was a depression victim.

A two-place training/observation plane. The U. S. Army bought 23 of these before WW I and then another 112 during the war. Twenty-eight L-W-F Vs were purchased by the Czechoslovakia League, who was fighting the Red revolutionaries in Russia after WW I. Some of these planes were able to make it back to Czechoslovakia in 1920 and one still hangs in a Prague museum.

 A two-seater attempt at replacing single-float type scout aircraft with a flying-boat type design. Power was a Pratt & Whitney R-1340D1 engine of 550 HP.  Military serial no. A-8972.

[Company has been variously identified as Skylark Industries & Skycraft Industries]

 
An eight place design initially powered by 410hp P&W Wasp with a number converted to 450hp P&W Wasp SC.  The a/c had a range of 850 miles with a useful load of 2430 lbs.  Maximum speed of 135 mph, cruise of 115 mph, with stall at 60 mph.  A total of 21 a/c were manufactured at Lunken Field, Cincinnati, OH and initially sold for $21,000. 
[info courtesy of Aerofiles]

 
One of the company "Red Planes" it is likely that this aircraft was built from materials, parts and jigs left over from the FF-1 production.

Stinson Model M

 
NC12123, c/n 34000.  This five place all metal a/c is the single example of type and was built in 1932.