Freel Flying Wing
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The Freel Flying Wing was the creation of Charles Lewis Freel (b. 1916). As a student of San Diego High School, in San Diego, California, Freel learned about aerodynamics under the instruction of LeTain Kittredge, in the aircraft rigging/woodshop class. Before his graduation, Free designed a 36-inch experimental free flight model of a flying wing glider. The model flew well enough that in 1933, construction began on a full-scale flying wing glider at the San Diego High School woodshop. This aircraft was completed in 1937 and licensed with identification mark 18131. A unique worm-drive was used to control elevons on the trailing surface. The glider suffered from poor directional control and several flights were made in the 52 foot wingspan glider by Kittredge and Freel as pilots in hillsides near San Diego. After graduation, Freel worked for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation and held the title of "junior engineer."
[edit] Further reading
- Parade of Youth, July 25, 1937.
- Hilbert, C.L. Consolidator, 1937.
- Fogel, Gary "Wind and Wings: The History of Soaring in San Diego," Rock Reef Pub. Co., 2001, pp. 145-149.
