Metal Aircraft Corporation Flamingo

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]

Variants

Specifications (Flamingo G2W)

Data from Skyways, Air and Space

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. ^ "Cincinnati Aviation Heritage Soc." CAHS Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2010. <http://cahslunken.org/lukhistory/lukhistory.htm>.
  2. ^ Rusty McClure, David Stern, Michael A. Banks. Crosley: two brothers and a business empire that transformed the nation. 
  3. ^ S. Low, Marston & company, ltd.. All the world's aircraft, Volume 18, Part 1928. 
  4. ^ Skyways. July 1999. 
  5. ^ Rusty McClure, David Stern, Michael A. Banks. Crosley: two brothers and a business empire that transformed the nation. 
  6. ^ "Metal Aircraft Corporation". http://cahslunken.org/flamingo.htm. Retrieved 31 October 2011.