Buhl CA-1 Airster
Buhl Aircraft Company · USA · first flew 1930 · light aircraft
The Buhl CA-1 Airster was an American sports aeroplane of 1930, a conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage and an open cockpit for the pilot.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing cantilever monoplane
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage
- Open cockpit for the pilot; the two-seat version adds a Townend ring and wheel spats
A small low-wing monoplane with an open cockpit and fixed tailwheel gear. On the two-seat CA-1WA, look for the second cockpit, the Townend ring around the engine and the spatted wheels.
Specifications
- The Buhl CA-1 Airster has a length of 7.5 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.9 m (36 ft).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In 1930 the Buhl Aircraft Company built two light multipurpose Airster aircraft. The first was intended for high-speed mail delivery and the second for sporting events and air racing.
Variants
The single-seat CA-1 used a 300 hp Wright J-6 engine. The two-seat CA-1WA used a 420 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp and had a second open cockpit in tandem with the pilot, a Townend ring and wheel spats.
Where you'll see it
Neither aircraft found customers and the type was not put into mass production. One CA-1WA was bought by a private individual and used until the mid-1930s.
Related aircraft
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