Gee Bee Model A
Granville Brothers Aircraft · USA · first flew 1929 · light aircraft
The Gee Bee Model A was an American two-seat open-cockpit single-bay biplane built by the Granville Brothers as a sport and training aircraft. It first flew in 1929.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.27 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay open-cockpit biplane with the upper wing slightly longer in span than the lower
- Five-cylinder Kinner K-5 radial in the nose
- Two open cockpits and a fixed conventional undercarriage
A conventional biplane with an upper span of about 8.9 m and a lower span of about 8.0 m. It is not the stubby Gee Bee racer monoplane.
Specifications
- The Gee Bee Model A has a length of 6.27 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.89 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 174 km/h (108 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + 1 passenger.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Zantford Granville, the Model A first flew on 3 May 1929 with a 118 hp Kinner K-5 radial. Nine were built between 1929 and 1930. The barrel-shaped racers that made the Gee Bee name came later.
Variants
The Model A was followed by the Model B and other Granville types; it is not the single-seat racer line.
Where you'll see it
Sold to private owners for sport flying and training.
Related aircraft
- Gee Bee Model Y Senior Sportster
- Granville Gee Bee Model Z Super Sportster
- Gee Bee Model R Super Sportster
- Gee Bee Model R-1 Super Sportster
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- Adcox Student Prince
- Aero A.34 Kos
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