Eastman E-2 Sea Rover

E-2 Sea Rover
Role Seaplane
National origin America
Manufacturer Eastman Aircraft Corporation
Designer Thomas Towle
First flight 1928
Number built 18
Unit cost
$6750 in 1928

The Eastman E-2 Sea Rover, also called the Beasley-Eastman E-2 Sea Rover, was a light seaplane built in the late 1920s for business and shuttle use.

Development

The E-2 was designed by former Ford engineer Thomas Towle for industrialist Jim Eastman of Eastman Laboratories. Towle was in the process of starting his own company, the Towle Marine Aircraft Engineering to produce his twin-engine amphibian design, the Towle WC. Eastman founded the Eastman Aircraft Corporation of Detroit to build the E-2 [1]

The prototype E-2 was flown with a single 90 hp (67 kW) Anzani engine. The production model was outfitted with a 120 hp (89 kW) Warner Scarab. The E-2 received type certificate #338 on 17 July 1930 [2] By the end of 1929 Eastman Aircraft had been merged into the Detroit Aircraft Corporation.

Design

The E-2 used a wooden hull with aluminum cladding. The aircraft used a parasol wing supported by large V-struts with secondary lower shoulder wings with tip floats at the ends. The single engine was mounted in the center of the wing root of the upper wing with a rear teardrop fairing.[3]

Variants

E-2 Sea Rover
90 hp (67 kW), and 120hp single engine seaplanes.
E-2A Sea Pirate
185 hp (138 kW) Curtiss Challenger amphibian model.
E-2D Sea Pirate
225,400 hp (168,081 kW) Packard diesel radial amphibian model.

Operators

Aircraft on display

An E-2 is on display at the British Columbia Aviation Museum.[5]

Specifications (Eastman E-2 Sea Rover)

Data from American flying boats and amphibious aircraft

General characteristics

Performance


References

  1. Robert F. Pauley. Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers. p. 68.
  2. Joseph P. Juptner. U.S. civil aircraft, Volume 4.
  3. E. R. Johnson. American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history.
  4. E. R. Johnson. American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history.
  5. Tricia Timmermans. British Columbia Off the Beaten Path, 5th.

External links

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