Gee Bee Model R
The Granville Gee Bee R-1 was an aircraft of the existing five brothers from U.S. aircraft manufacturer Granville Brothers Aircraft, who brought out one after a whole series of racing aircraft.
History
The first flight of R-1 with Russell Boardman at the wheel was on 13 August 1932. He should also fly the machine at the National Air Races, but was injured in an accident with another Granville machine. For him, who later became legendary Jimmy Doolittle jumped. When he reached Shell Trophy with a Pratt & Whitney R -1340 as a drive source, a speed of 471.84 km / h, which was significantly higher than the existing world record for land planes. The official world record attempt took place on 3 September 1932. The machine was given to an enlarged rudder and a variable pitch Hamilton Standard. Thus equipped, could be set up with 476.830 km / h, a new world speed record. Doolittle won on 5 September 1932, the same machine and the Thompson Trophy.
The R-1 was then given a Pratt & Whitney R- 1690 and was reported in 1933 for the Bendix Trophy. The machine came immediately after the start in the supine position and crashed. Boardman died from the accident.
The similar Gee Bee R- 2 had again the less powerful Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior R -985 and a larger wing and was provided for participation in the race for the Bendix Trophy in 1932.
Construction
As with most aircraft of the Granville Brothers, it was in the R-1 is a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing monoplane with fixed abgestrebten faired tailwheel, which was specially designed for speed racing. Compared to the immediate predecessor, the Granville Gee Bee Z40, some changes were made. The result was the Gee Bee R-1 with a conditional by the used motor body diameter of 1.55 meters with a body length of only 4.11 meters. The fuselage was a welded steel tube truss, were inserted into the perforated plywood bulkheads. The planking consisted partly of Duralblech, partly out of plywood. The driver's seat was now directly in front of the vertical stabilizer. The tail and the areas with two spars of wood, and the balanced ailerons were also covered with plywood.