Gee Bee Model Z

The Granville Gee Bee Z40 was a plane consisting of the five brothers, the U.S. aircraft manufacturer Granville Brothers Aircraft.

History

The plane flew on 22 August 1931, designer Robert Hall at the wheel for the first time. 1931, won the race for the Thompson Trophy.

This took the company an opportunity to take a now 700 -hp Pratt & Whitney R -1340 an attack on the world speed record. On November 30, 1931 were achieved 452 km / h, but this attempt was not recognized due to irregularities in the timing. In a new attempt on December 5, 1931 failed at low altitude, the wing structure. In the crash, the pilot Lowell Bayles lost his life. The cause of the crash could not be determined conclusively.

Construction

In the Z40, it was, as in the other Granville -built aircraft to a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing monoplane with fixed abgestrebten, faired tailwheel, which had been specially built for speed races. Fuselage and tail consisted of a welded tubular steel frame, while the wings were made ​​of wood. Striking was the plump appearing shape of the hull, which caused by the built-in motor diameter was 1.12 meters at only 4.57 meters in length. Then there was the far back to just before the vertical tail fin shifted cockpit. When driving a 535 hp Pratt & Whitney R -985 radial engine, which was covered with a NACA hood served.

Replica

In 1978, Bill Turner built a flyable replica of the Z40. Small changes to the fuselage and wings should improve the explosive flight behavior of otherwise faithful replica. 1991 Turner Z40 was used in the Disney film The Rocketeer. After a time it was exhibited at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying, she is currently in the possession of the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Specifications

277402
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