G-2-W Flamingo | |
---|---|
El Rio Caroní | |
Role | Monoplane |
National origin | United States of America |
Manufacturer | Metal Aircraft Corp |
Designer | Ralph R. Graichen |
Status | On display |
Unit cost | $23,000 in 1929 |
The Metal Aircraft Corp G-2-W Flamingo was a small monoplane produced by the Metal Aircraft Corporation in the 1930s.[1] The company had purchased the design from the Halpin Development Co. and unveiled it at the 1929 National Air Races with Elinor Smith. [2] [3] The plane is best remembered for its role in the discovery of Angel Falls by Jimmy Angel in 1935. Although well known to the local indigenous population, the falls had only been glimpsed by European explorers until Jimmy Angel crash landed while attempting to land above the falls on Auyan-tepui during gold exploration.
The Metal Aircraft Corporation Flamingo that crashed above the falls was recovered by helicopter in the 1960s by the Venezuelan government and is on display at the entrance of the Ciudad Bolívar airport, in Venezuela. A replica was put in its place for visitors of the crash site.[4]
Other operators included the Mason & Dixon airline.[5]
Data from Skyways, Air and Space
General characteristics
Performance