Commercial C-1 Sunbeam

C-1 Sunbeam
General information
Type	Biplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Commercial Aircraft Corp
History
Manufactured	1929

The Commercial C-1 Sunbeam was a long-range biplane used in record-setting flights of the 1920s. ^[1]

Design

The conventional landing gear-equipped biplane featured a two-seat open cockpit and a four-passenger enclosed cabin. The fuselage is constructed with welded steel tubing with fabric covering. The wheels were covered with large streamlined wheel pants.

Operational history

On November 27, 1929, Elinor Smith and Bobbie Trout set a 42-hour endurance record over Los Angeles flying a C-1 Sunbeam refueled three times from a Curtiss Carrier Pigeon mail plane. Although the Sunbeam was performing well, the Carrier Pigeon support plane had mechanical difficulties after the third day. 672 gallons of fuel were used in the attempt, making Smith and Trout the first women to refuel in the air. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Variants

Commercial Sunbeam C-102

X-564M used a 300 hp (224 kW) Wright J-6 radial engine for the endurance flights of 1929 and 1931. ^[5]

Specifications (Commercial C-1 Sunbeam)

Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

• Capacity: 6
• Length: 27 ft (8.2 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft (10 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss Wright J-5 Whirlwind Radial, 220 hp (160 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 109 kn (125 mph, 201 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 96 kn (110 mph, 180 km/h)
• Stall speed: 40 kn (46 mph, 74 km/h)
• Range: 430 nmi (500 mi, 800 km)

References

1. Munson, Kenneth (1982). U.S. Commercial Aircraft . London, UK: Jane's Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 35. ISBN   0710601204 . Retrieved November 9, 2024.
2. Charles R. Mitchell, Kirk W. House. Flying High: Pioneer Women in American Aviation.
3. "Commercial Sunbeam". Skyways: The Journal of the Airplane 1920-1940 (50). Poughkeepsie, NY. July 1999.
4. "Bobbie Trout". Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
5. Voca, Donna; Mazzio, Skip (1987). Just Plane Crazy: Biography of Bobbi Trout. Santa Clara, CA: Osborne Publisher. p. 138. ISBN   0940997010 . Retrieved November 9, 2024.