| Moreland M-1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Three-seat light sports and transport biplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Moreland Aircraft Inc. |
| First flight | 1929 |
| Number built | 4 |
The Moreland M-1 was a 1929 American three-seat civil aircraft. Only four were built.
The M-1 was the first aircraft built by Moreland aircraft, founded in 1928 and based at El Segundo, California. Led by G.E.Moreland and Orrin Moe, [1] the design also contained Ed Heinemann's first contributions. [2] It was a parasol wing aircraft with wings of rectangular plan apart from rounded tips and a central, trailing edge cut-out to enhance the pilot's field of view. They had wooden structures with spruce box-spars and ribs, were plywood-covered and braced to the fuselage by pairs of outward-leaning N-form struts between the mid- and lower longerons and the wing spars. These struts were quite short, reaching the wings at about 25% span. A cabane provided central wing support. [3]
The M-1's nine cylinder Wright J-5 Whirlwind radial engine was nose-mounted, flown with or without a ring type engine cowling. The fuselage of the M-1 had a welded chrome-molybdenum steel tube structure, like many designs of the time, and was fabric-covered. Zips provided easy access to the rear control connections. Two passengers sat side-by-side close to the wing underside at about mid-chord. They were protected by a large, V-shaped windscreen which projected forward of the leading edge to the engine mounting and rearwards to the hinge of a large access door. The pilot's well-instrumented cockpit was under the trailing edge cut-out, providing views both above and below the wing. [3]
The M-1's vertical rear control surfaces were rather straight and upright, though the balanced rudder was round-tipped. Its tailplane, mounted on top of the fuselage, was adjustable and wire-braced to the fin. [3]
The undercarriage was a split axle design, with the axles hinged from the fuselage central underside. Near-vertical Aerol shock absorber legs were fuselage-mounted at the base of the forward wing struts and drag struts reached rearwards to the lower fuselage. [3]
The M-1 first flew in 1929, though the exact date is not known, [1] and received its type certificate in September. [4] It featured at the Cleveland Air Show held in the autumn of 1929. [5] Only four were built. [1]
Data from Aero Digest (September 1929) [3] except where noted
General characteristics
Performance
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