Culver Model V
| Model V | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Two-seat cabin monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Culver Aircraft Company |
| First flight | 1946 |
| Number built | 378 (V-1) |
The Culver Model V was a two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Culver Aircraft Company.
Design and development
Based on the pre-World War II Cadet and using the wartime experience with radio-controlled aircraft the company designed a two-seat cabin monoplane. The Model V had a low-set cantiliver wing with the outer panels having a pronounced dihederal. It had a tricycle retractable landing gear and an enclosed cabin with side by side seating for two. It was unique in that it had a system called Simpli-Fly Control where the aircraft was automatically trimmed for takeoff, landing and cruise, by turning a small metal wheel between the two seats and lining up two arrows with the mode of flying the aircraft. Interconnecting controls then adjusted the trim according to the arrow settings.[1] Simpli-Fly was not popular with pilots. Only a limited production run of 350 Model Vs was achieved before the company went bankrupt.
In 1956 the Superior Aircraft Company bought the assets of Culver and put the Model V back into production as the Superior Satellite. The main difference was the use of a 95 hp Continental engine which increased the cruise speed to 130 mph (209 km/h). Only a prototype and five production aircraft were built.
Variants
- V-1
- Initial production variant, 378 built (erroneous number, actual was closer to 90).
- V-2
- Improved variant, 15 built (Juptner reported 1 V-2 was built).
- Superior Satellite
- 1956 variant with a 95hp Continental engine, six built.
- TD4C
- USN radio-controlled target version of the V-2
- UC
- The utility version of the TD4C, also converted to target drone as the UC-1K.
Specifications (V-1)
Data from [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one (pilot)
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 20 ft 8½ in (6.31 m)
- Wingspan: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
- Height: 6 ft 9½ in (2.07 m)
- Wing area: 125.9 ft2 (11.70 m2)
- Empty weight: 1070 lb (485 kg)
- Gross weight: 1600 lb (726 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 85 hp (63 kW)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 125 mph (201 km/h)
- Range: 338 miles (544 km)
- Service ceiling: 13,200 ft (4025 m)
References
Notes
- ↑ "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science bottom page 30
- ↑ Oribis 1985, page 1215
Bibliography
- Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-194-X.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Culver Model V. |
- Photo at aerofiles.com
- "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science large pull out color photo
