McDonnell Doodlebug
J.S. McDonnell Jr. & Associates · United States · first flew 1929 · light aircraft
The McDonnell Doodlebug was a light aircraft built to win the Guggenheim Safe Aircraft Competition in 1929 by McDonnell Aircraft founder James Smith McDonnell.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tandem-seat low-wing monoplane with a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem-seat low-wing monoplane with a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage
- Full-length leading-edge slats on the wings
- Widely spaced main wheels on a tailwheel undercarriage
Look for a tandem-seat low-wing taildragger with a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage, widely spaced main wheels and full-length leading-edge slats on the wings.
Specifications
- The McDonnell Doodlebug has a length of 6.5 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built in response to a 1927 safety contest sponsored by the Daniel Guggenheim Fund, with a prize of
Variants
Only one Doodlebug was built, so there were no variants.
Where you'll see it
It was produced too late to compete but was granted an exemption. After a forced landing caused by engine failure it missed the chance to be judged, and in 1931 it was sold to the NACA as a demonstrator for leading-edge slats.
Related aircraft
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