Wedell-Williams Model 44

The Wedell -Williams 44 was an aircraft of the U.S. manufacturer Wedell -Williams Air Service Corp.. based in Patterson (Louisiana ).

It was a single-engine, single-seat, low-wing monoplane with fixed abgestrebten clad tailwheel, which had been specially built for speed races. The aircraft was based on a design from 1930, which had participated with a Wright J6 -7 as a drive on the race for the Thompson Trophy. After a thorough revision came in the same year out an improved design. A total of four other machines were built from 1931 by Wedell - Williams. They wore the identifiers NR61Y, NR238V, NR536V and NR278V. The wings made ​​of wood with a thickness of only 5 % had a V- position of 3 ° and were attached to short stubs the group consisting of welded steel cell. The hull was planked in the front part with Duralblech. The rear part was how well the tail made ​​of steel tubing, covered with fabric. The arranged just behind the wing trailing edge driver's seat was covered with a hood. The engine had a NACA hood as a disguise.

The by a Pratt & Whitney R -985 driven NR278V took second place in the 1931 Thompson Trophy race. The machine was doing the starting number 44, which then led to the type designation Wedell -Williams 44. In 1932, aircraft of this design achieved victory at the Bendix Trophy and a second place in the Thompson Trophy. Mary Haizlip undertook with such a machine on September 5, 1932 in Cleveland ( Ohio) a record attempt and presented with 405.92 km / h a new world speed record for women. She performed as follows in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart. 1933 was the Thompson Trophy to be won. After installation of a Pratt & Whiney R -1340 - engine with 800 hp presented on September 4, 1933 James Wedell in Chicago with 490.080 km / h a new world speed record for land planes on. In the Bendix Trophy in 1933 succeeded even a double victory, and also 1934, the Bendix Trophy was again equipped with an even more powerful Pratt & Whitney R- 1690, a Wedell -Williams 44, 1935 was again a second place finish at the Bendix Trophy to be won. The aircraft was no longer competitive with more modern types. Wendell constructed on the basis of the model 44 nor the Wedell -Williams 45 with retractable landing gear, which was already in February 1934 at the American Air Races in New Orleans at the start, but was largely unsuccessful.

Technical data (race version)

  • Wingspan: 7.97 m
  • Length: 6.48 m
  • Empty weight: 685 kg
  • Takeoff weight: 1006 kg
  • Engine: Pratt & Whitney R -985 with 550 hp

Source

  • Erich H. Heimann, the fastest aircraft in the world, engine book publishing house 1978, ISBN 3-87943-540-5
  • World record of the FAI

Weblink

  • Photos of the Wedell -Williams 44 - Louisiana State Museum
  • Images, Racing History, specifications ( English )
  • Civilian aircraft type
NACA cowling
815437
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