Colonial Skimmer
| C-1 Skimmer | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | two/three-seat amphibian |
| Manufacturer | Colonial Aircraft Corporation |
| Designer | David Thurston |
| First flight | 1948 |
| Primary user | private owner pilots |
| Number built | 43 |
| Variants | Lake Buccaneer |
The Colonial Model C-1 Skimmer was an American small single-engined amphibian flying boat built by the Colonial Aircraft Corporation. It was the start of a line of very similar aircraft designed by David Thurston.
Development
In 1946 David Thurston established the Colonial Aircraft Corporation at Sanford Maine to build his design for a small amphibian flying boat, the Skimmer.
The resulting design was an all-metal shoulder-wing cantilever monoplane with a single-step hull and stabilizing floats fitted under each wing. A retractable tricycle landing gear allowed land operation. The Avco Lycoming engine with a pusher propeller was pylon-mounted above and aft of the enclosed cockpit.
The cabin had side-by-side seating for a pilot and passenger with room behind for another passenger.
History
The prototype XC-1 Skimmer first flew on July 17, 1948, powered by a 115 hp (86 kW) Lycoming O-235 engine, but was later re-engined with a 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290 engine.[1][2]
24 examples of the C-1 Skimmer were built and these were followed by 18 examples of the higher powered four-seat variant known as the C-2 Skimmer IV,[3] which through a succession of companies became the Lake Buccaneer.
Specifications (C-1)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–1957[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: two passengers
- Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
- Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
- Wing area: 150.6 sq ft (13.99 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,150 lb (975 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 30 US gal (110 L; 25 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 horizontally-opposed air-cooled four-cylinder piston engine , 150 hp (110 kW)
- Propellers: Hartzell constant-speed
- Propellers: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn) at 500 ft (150 m)
- Cruise speed: 112 mph (180 km/h, 97 kn)
- Stall speed: 50 mph (80 km/h, 43 kn)
- Range: 600 mi (970 km, 520 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
See also
Related lists
References
- ^ Bridgman 1951, p. 216c.
- ^ "American airplanes: Cl – Cr: Colonial". Aerofiles. Retrieved September 13, 2013..
- ^ Simpson, 2005, pp. 172–173
- ^ Bridgman 1956, pp. 252–253.
- Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
- Bridgman, Leonard (1956). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–57. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company.
- Simpson, Rod (2005). The General Aviation Handbook. Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-222-5.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
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