| Screaming Wiener | |
|---|---|
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | Irv Culver |
| Introduction | 1946 |
| Status | no longer in production |
| Number built | One |
| Developed from | Culver Dingbat |
| Variants | Culver Rigid Midget |
The Culver Screaming Wiener is an American mid-wing, single-seat glider that was designed by Irv Culver in 1938.[1][2][3]
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Irv Culver designed the Screaming Wiener with help from Wallace Neugent and Walter Burke in 1938 as an improved version of the Dingbat. The aircraft is made from wood, with the fuselage a wooden monocoque structure and the wings and tail surfaces wooden structures covered in doped aircraft fabric covering.[1][2]
The aircraft's dimensions were determined by the building space available. The wings were limited to a 36 ft (11.0 m) span by the length of the garage they were built in. The resulting aircraft was small, but had good penetration and maneuverability, with a glide ratio of 21:1.[2]
Only one Screaming Wiener was built.[1][2]
The aircraft was flown by Ray Parker in the 1946 US Nationals, coming in second. Parker then sold the aircraft to Paul MacCready who also flew it to second place in the 1947 US Nationals, beating Parker that year, who placed third in the Culver Rigid Midget. MacCready also set a world out and return record at the competition.[2]
The Wiener was then sold to Wally Wiberg who carried out an aerodynamic clean-up on it and renamed it Li'l Dogie. After Wiberg died the aircraft was donated to a museum, who later sold it. MacCready then bought it and was reported in 1983 by Soaring Magazine as planning a complete restoration of the aircraft.[2]
In June 2011 the Wiener was still on the US Federal Aviation Administration registry and owned by Douglas Fronius of Poway, California. The aircraft is officially registered as a Crown City Robertson and is in the Experimental - Certification compliance category.[3]
Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring[1][2]
General characteristics
Performance
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