The flight test programme centred on investigating stability and control characteristics of the unusual configuration.
In the wake of World War II, America’s lethargic general aviation market was ripe for a plane that was fast, comfortable and above all, affordable. Walter H. Beech and his “Beech Boys” answered that call with the all-metal Model 35 Bonanza.
After suffering through the war, the American general aviation market exploded with demand for new aircraft. The market seemed unlimited, and sales of planes built by Cessna Piper, Taylorcraft, and other airframe manufacturers skyrocketed.
Walter Beech knew that to compete, his company would need a game-changing plane. He put Ralph Harmon in charge of a group dedicated to bringing the project to fruition by 1945. As the plane’s design evolved, automotive stylist Wayne Porter joined the team to make the new Beechcraft attractive inside and out.
Throughout the design process, the engineering team had made every effort to reduce drag, and a V-tail arrangement was favoured over the conventional configuration. The reason for that choice centred not only on drag reduction and weight (two surfaces instead of three), but also because a V-tail could be located higher on the fuselage to avoid turbulent airflow coming off the wing.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av SA Flyer Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av SA Flyer Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Iris - her early years: IRIS FLIES ACROSS SUDAN
Laura McDermid continues her stories about Iris McCallum's early years in East Africa and the Sudan. In part 1 of this story she recounts how she had to fly a bunch of Belgian Missionaries to Aweil, a city in northwestern South Sudan, from Wilson in Nairobi in her old mate 'ARN', the Piper Aztec 5Y-ARN.
UGLY IS PRETTY: LEAR 25 VS PILATUS PC-6
When you go to a party where you don't know anybody, you should always go for the 'Ugly' girl, because she will be happy that you chose to spend time with her.
CIRRUS G7 LAUNCHED IN AFRICA
What makes one aircraft better than another? Range, Speed, or carrying capacity, short field performance, operating costs, high wing, low wing, side stick, traditional control yoke?
PRESIDENT'S TROPHY AIR RACE 2024
The annual Presidents Trophy Air Race (PTAR) is the highlight of the year for many competitive general aviation pilots.
THE ABSA LOWVELD AIRSHOW 2024
This year marked the thirtieth edition of the Lowveld airshow – and it was widely acclaimed as the best ever.
PREVIEW: AFRICAN AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE EXPO(AAD)
Guy Leitch finds out from AAD Exhibition Director, Ms Nakedi Phasha, how the buildup to this year's biennial expo is going, and what visitors and exhibitors can expect.
APRIL 2023
April has been a very quiet month on the local aviation marketplace with only nine new registration allocations and three deletions, according to the officially-supplied register review.
PIPISTREL PANTHERA FINALLY HERE
One of the world's most eagerly awaited piston single engine aircraft designs has finally arrived in South Africa. ZU-KTR is a long awaited Panthera, proudly owned by Bertus Kritzinger, a Free State trucker, and based at New Tempe in Bloemfontein, where the well-known Ferriera Aviation has assembled it.
STAGGERWING - ALREADY OLD WHEN NEW
The Staggerwing was the climax, and the end, of an era.
The Aim of Bombing
In modern warfare it's not the soldiers who die - it's the civilians. One of the best examples of this is carpet bombing.