Cycloplane C-1
Cycloplane · United States · first flew 1931 · light aircraft
The Cycloplane C-1 was a motorised, open-frame primary glider built in the United States in the early 1930s. Six, including a single cleaned-up version, the C-2, were built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Open-frame flat truss fuselage, mostly uncovered and wire braced |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Open-frame flat truss fuselage, mostly uncovered and wire braced
- Rectangular wooden wings with blunted tips mounted on the upper frame tube
- Small flat-twin engine projecting forward from the underside of the wing leading edge
The wooden wings have truss-type ribs and are fabric covered, and the welded steel tube fuselage is flat and uncovered aft of the cockpit. The tail is conventional with triangular tailplane and fin, and a generous rudder reaching down to the lower fuselage member.
Specifications
- The Cycloplane C-1 has a length of 5.92 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.12 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 109 km/h (68 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built in 1931 to 1932 and provided the third and final stage in a three-aircraft progression for students to their first solo flight. All were powered variants of the high-wing open-frame primary gliders widely used for training in the early 1930s.
Variants
The C-2 was a cleaned-up version, of which one was built. The Champion B-2 was a similar version built by Champion, of which two were completed.
Where you'll see it
Six C-1s were completed, along with one C-2. Purchasers could choose between a small steerable tailwheel and a fixed skid to match their landing fields.
Related aircraft
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