Bird Wing Imperial
Bird Wing Commercial Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1927 · light aircraft
The Bird Wing, later the Bird Wing Imperial, was a light sport biplane of the 1920s and 1930s. The prototype first flew on 15 July 1927 and six were built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Welded steel tube fuselage with fabric covering |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Light biplane
- Welded steel tube fuselage with fabric covering
- Spruce wood spar wings with ailerons
Look for a small open-cockpit biplane with a closely cowled engine and a welded steel tube fuselage.
Specifications
- The Bird Wing Imperial has a length of 7.16 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.55 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first Bird Wing took R. T. McCrum and his assistants 63 days to build. It was powered by a 90 hp Curtiss OX-5, and the prototype flew over 5,000 passengers in 15 months.
Variants
Later aircraft were powered by a Wright-Hisso, Wright J5 Whirlwind or Wright R-540 engine, and the fifth reached 125 mph. The second aircraft had upper and lower ailerons.
Where you'll see it
Charles Lindbergh flew the prototype during his 1927 tour, and Hap Arnold also flew a Bird Wing. The US Army ordered 50 Imperials as trainers but the order was cancelled at the start of the Depression.
Related aircraft
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