Colonial C-1 Skimmer
Colonial Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1948 · light aircraft
The Colonial C-1 Skimmer was a small American light amphibian featuring a boat hull and a pusher engine mounted above the high wing, designed for private and utility use. It was one of the first post-war light amphibians to reach the market.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.16 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Light amphibious flying boat with pusher engine
- High-wing layout with boat hull for water operations
- Single pusher engine mounted above the wing
A distinctive high-wing pusher amphibian with a boat hull; the engine nacelle sits on a pylon above and behind the cockpit, giving a very clean forward view from the windshield.
Specifications
- The Colonial C-1 Skimmer has a length of 7.16 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.36 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 201 km/h (125 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in the late 1940s, the Skimmer went through certification and entered limited production. The Colonial Aircraft Corporation sought to fill a niche for affordable light amphibians but production numbers remained small before the design was sold to Lake Aircraft, which further developed it into the Lake LA-4.
Variants
The Skimmer evolved into the improved C-2 and ultimately was the direct ancestor of the Lake LA-4 Buccaneer, which became commercially successful.
Where you'll see it
Sold to private operators in the United States; the Skimmer's significance lies mainly in being the origin of the Lake amphibian lineage rather than its own production numbers.
Related aircraft
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