GeeBee C-8 Eightster

GeeBee C-8 "Eightster"
Role
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Granville Brothers Aircraft
Status	Prototype only
Number built	1 (not completed)
Developed from	Gee Bee C Sportster

The C-8 Eightster was a single-engine airliner developed by Granville Brothers Aircraft that did not go into production.

Design and development

The C-8 was an uncompleted design for a single-engine airliner, a wire-braced low-wing monoplane with conventional landing gear and a radial engine. Entry was from a small left rear door in the fuselage. Passenger visibility came from three semi-circular windows along each side. The main landing gear was faired similar to the Gee-Bee racers.

The Granville brothers also designed a series of sportster derivatives, including the C-4 Fourster and C-6 Sixster. The C-8 was the only one to be constructed, being partially completed by the time the company went into liquidation.

Variants

Gee Bee C Sportster

Single-seat sport / racing aircraft; basis for the C family.

C-4 Fourster

Four-seater powered by a 400 hp (300 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior, not built.

C-6 Sixster

Six-seater, not built.

C-8 Eightster

Eight-seater, to have been powered by either a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet or a 700 hp (520 kW) Wright R-1820. The prototype was partially complete at the time of Granville Brothers bankruptcy.

Specifications (C-8)

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: eight
• Length: 32 ft 11 in (10.03 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 9 in (14.55 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 700 hp (520 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed variable pitch metal propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 255 mph (410 km/h, 222 kn)
• Cruise speed: 190 mph (310 km/h, 170 kn)
• Range: 870 mi (1,400 km, 760 nmi)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Lockheed Vega