Driggs Dart

The Driggs Dart was an American-built light sporting aircraft of the late 1920s.^[1]

Development

Ivan Driggs designed the Dart I single-seat high-wing monoplane in 1926. In 1927 he developed the design into the two-seat Dart II, which was a sesquiplane - a biplane whose lower wing area is less than 50% of the area of the upper wing.^[2]

Operational history

Three examples of the Dart I monoplane were constructed and the type won the 1926 Ford Air Tour category for light planes. One was tested by the U.S. Army Air Corps as an observation aircraft, but no orders were received.^[3]

The Dart II sesquiplane followed in 1927, at least four examples being built by Driggs and some further planes by amateur constructors from plans during the early 1930s.^[4] A Dart II is maintained in airworthy condition by the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum at Dauster Field Creve Coeur, Missouri near St Louis.^[5]

Variants

Dart I 

Single person open-cockpit high-wing monoplane. 35 h.p. Anzani engine. Span 26 ft 0 in. Length 17 ft 7 in. Load 192 lbs. Speeds : maximum 95 mph, cruising 80 mph, stall 42 mph.^[6]

Dart II 

Two-seat open-cockpit Sesquiplane - see Specifications

Specifications (Dart II)

Data from Aerofiles and Stix

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
• Wingspan: 28 ft 0 (upper wings) in (8.53 m)
• Empty weight: 380 lb (172 kg)
• Gross weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Salmson AD9 9-cylinder radial, 50 hp (37 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 90 mph (145 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 75 mph (121 km/h)
• Stall speed: 30 mph (48 km/h)
• Range: 350 miles (563 km)

References

Notes

Bibliography