Culver Model V

Model V
General information
Type	Two-seat cabin monoplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Culver Aircraft Company
History
First flight	1946

The Culver Model V is a two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Culver Aircraft Company.

Design and development

Based on the pre-World War II Cadet and using the wartime experience with radio-controlled aircraft the company designed a two-seat cabin monoplane. The Model V had a low-set cantilever wing with the outer panels having a pronounced dihedral. It had a tricycle retractable landing gear and an enclosed cabin with side by side seating for two.

It was unique in that it had a system called Simpli-Fly Control where the aircraft was automatically trimmed for takeoff, landing and cruise, and flaps simultaneously adjusted, by turning a small metal wheel between the two seats and lining up two arrows with the mode of flying the aircraft. Interconnecting controls then adjusted both the flap setting and elevator-trim according to the arrow settings. ^{[1] [2]}

In 1956 the Superior Aircraft Company bought the assets of Culver and put the Model V back into production as the Superior Satellite. The main difference was the use of a 95 hp Continental engine which increased the cruise speed to 130 mph (209 km/h). Only a prototype and five production aircraft were built.

Variants

V-1

Initial production variant.^{[ citation needed ]}

V-2

Improved variant.^{[ citation needed ]}

Superior Satellite

1956 variant with a 95hp Continental engine.

TD4C

USN radio-controlled target version of the V-2

UC

The utility version of the TD4C, also converted to target drone as the UC-1K.

Specifications (V-1)

Data from ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: one (pilot)
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 20 ft 8.5 in (6.31 m)
• Wingspan: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
• Height: 6 ft 9.5 in (2.07 m)
• Wing area: 125.9 sq ft (11.70 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,070 lb (485 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,600 lb (726 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine , 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance

• Cruise speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)
• Range: 338 mi (544 km, 294 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 13,200 ft (4,025 m)

References

Notes

1. Bowers, Peter: "Yesterday's Wings: The Culver V," October 1977, AOPA Pilot, photocoped by Aero Resources, Inc., retrieved January 11, 2025
2. "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science bottom page 30
3. Orbis 1985, page 1215

Bibliography

• Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN   0-904597-22-9.
• Juptner, Joseph P. (1980). U.S. Civil Aircraft Vol. 8 (ATC 701 – ATC 800). Fallbrook, California, US: Aero Publishers, Inc. ISBN   0-8168-9178-8.
• Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN   1-85310-194-X.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.

External links

• Photo at aerofiles.com
• "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science large pull out color photo