Rearwin Cloudster

Last updated
Cloudster
Rearwin 8135 (N44533).jpg
Rearwin 8135
RoleUtility aircraft
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Rearwin
DesignerRobert Rummell
First flight1939
Produced1939-1942
Number built125

The Rearwin Cloudster was a two or three-seat civil utility aircraft produced by the Rearwin Aircraft & Engines Company of Kansas City, Missouri beginning in 1939. [1] It was a strut-braced, high-wing monoplane of conventional design with an enclosed cabin and fixed, taildragger undercarriage. [2] One specialized version was produced as a trainer for Pan American Airways. [1]

Contents

Development

Rearwin Aircraft began developing the Cloudster in 1938, while still selling the older Speedster and Sportster. The goal was to develop an aircraft with side-by-side seating, using as much tooling and existing equipment as possible. [3] :162–163 Widening either the Speedster or Sportster was considered, [4] but by the time the design was completed, the strut geometry, landing gear, fuselage structure, engine installation, and cabin had to be changed. [3] :162–163 Development of the prototype took 6 months. [3] :164

Originally the plane was dubbed the "Rearwin Coupe," a name which changed to "Cloudster" after a month. The 90hp prototype (Model 8090) was never developed for production, instead the basic Model 8125 used a 120hp Ken-Royce 7F engine also made by Rearwin. In 1940, the Model 8135 added a third, sideways-facing, seat to the Model 8125. [3] :164–165

Pan American Airways founder Juan Trippe, who personally owned a Rearwin Sportster, approached the company in 1941 to develop an instrument trainer. The existing Model 8135 was redesigned and certified in four months as the 8135T. Pan Am bought 5 of the design, while another 20 went to various operators. [3] :173–175

Design

The Cloudster was a two- or three-seat aircraft of high-wing design and conventional landing gear arrangement. [1] [2] Designed to seat two side-by-side, the Model 8135 introduced a third seat behind the front row which could be accessed by folding the right-hand seat forward. The last model, Model 8135T, sat two in tandem. [3]

All versions used Ken-Royce radial engines of 90-120hp, as the engines were produced by a division of the Rearwin Aircraft & Engines Company and the company was experienced building airplanes with small radial engines. Beginning in late 1941, the Cloudster used a NACA cowling hinged along the top for engine access. [3]

The interior of the Cloudster (or at least the prototype) used surplus cloth from Cadillac and a simulated woodgrain panel. A baggage compartment held 50lbs. [3]

The tandem seating Model 8135T introduced jettisonable doors for both the instructor and student pilot, dual controls, and seats with removable cushions to accommodate backpack or seat parachutes. The student sat in the rear seat with their own controls and a removable instrument panel. The 8135T included fittings for a blackout curtain surrounding the student for instrument training, while allowing the instructor to maintain normal visibility. [3] :173–175

Operational history

In 1941, 25 Model 8125 Cloudsters were exported to the Aero Club of Iran. The aircraft remained in service as of 1945, with a .30 caliber machine gun mounted on the left wing strut outside the propeller arc. [3] :169–170

From August 1941 to July 1942, 25 Model 8135T trainers were sold to various operators. How long they served is unknown. [3]

Variants

8135 Cloudster at New England Air Museum, Bradley Locks, CT Rearwin 8135 Cloudster 9.6.05R.jpg
8135 Cloudster at New England Air Museum, Bradley Locks, CT
Cloudster 8090
Version with Ken-Royce 5F 90 h.p. engine with two seats side-by-side.
Cloudster 8125
Version with Ken-Royce 7F 120 h.p. engine with two seats side-by-side.
Cloudster 8135
Version with Ken-Royce 7G 120 h.p engine with two front row seats side-by-side and a third, side-facing seat in a second row.
8135T with second instrument panel removed at the Mid-America Air Museum, Liberal, KS Rearwin Cloudster 8135T Interior.jpg
8135T with second instrument panel removed at the Mid-America Air Museum, Liberal, KS
Cloudster 8135T
Version of Cloudster 8135 converted to two seats in tandem, with provisions for pilot training and instrument flying training designed originally for Pan Am. 25 built.
Rearwin C-102
A Cloudster 8135 impressed by the US Army Air Force as the UC-102A.

Operators

Model 8125

Model 8135T

Specifications (8135)

Rearwin Cloudster 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile February 1940 Rearwin Cloudster 3-view L'Aerophile February 1940.jpg
Rearwin Cloudster 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile February 1940

Data from "Rearwin Cloudster"

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

7G or 7-G can refer to:

Rearwin Airplanes was a series of US airplane-manufacturing businesses founded by Andrew ("Rae") Rearwin in 1928. Rae Rearwin was an American businessman who had developed several successful business ventures in the Salina, Kansas area in the early 20th century. Although he had no experience with aircraft manufacturing, he felt that he could succeed with his solid business acumen. With his two sons, Ken and Royce, he hired some engineers and built the Ken-Royce in a garage in Salina. The business moved to the Fairfax Airport in Kansas City, Kansas, and went through several variations before it was sold to Commonwealth Aircraft in 1942, which went bankrupt in 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeronca L</span>

The Aeronca L is a 1930s American cabin monoplane designed and built, in small numbers, by Aeronca Aircraft. It differed significantly from other Aeronca planes by the use of radial engines, streamlining, and a cantilever low wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeBlond radial engines</span> Radial engine brand

The LeBlond radial engines, later produced under the name Ken-Royce, were a family of 3-cylinder, 5-cylinder and 7-cylinder, air-cooled radial engines for aircraft, built in the 1930s by the LeBlond Aircraft Engine Corporation until the operation was sold to Rearwin Airplanes in 1937 and renamed Ken-Royce Engines.

The Kinner Sportster was a 1930s American light monoplane built by Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Skyranger</span> Type of aircraft

The Commonwealth Skyranger, first produced as the Rearwin Skyranger, was the last design of Rearwin Aircraft before the company was purchased by a new owner and renamed Commonwealth Aircraft. It was a side-by-side, two-seat, high-wing taildragger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dornier Do R Superwal</span> Type of aircraft

The Dornier Do R Superwal was a flying boat airliner designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Dornier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meyers OTW</span> Type of aircraft

The Meyers OTW was a 1930s United States training biplane designed by Allen Meyers and built by his Meyers Aircraft Company from 1936 to 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rearwin Sportster</span> Type of aircraft

The Rearwin Sportster is a 1930s American two-seat, high-winged, cabin monoplane designed and built by Rearwin Aircraft & Engines for sport/touring use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rearwin Junior</span> Type of aircraft

The Rearwin Junior was a 1930s two-seat high-winged ultra-light monoplane sport aircraft produced in the United States by Rearwin Airplanes Inc. It was part of a trend of extremely low-cost aircraft as manufacturers attempted to survive the Great Depression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rearwin Speedster</span> Type of aircraft

The Rearwin Speedster was a two-seat, high-wing, sport aircraft produced by Rearwin Airplanes Inc. in the United States in the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Eagle Eaglet</span> Type of aircraft

The Eaglet 31 is a United States two-seat tandem ultra-light high-winged monoplane of the early 1930s. Intended as a low-cost aircraft, its limited production run relegated it to a footnote in aviation history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeBlond Aircraft Engine Corporation</span>

LeBlond Aircraft Engine Corporation was a small engine manufacturer incorporated on April 11, 1928. It was located on the northwest corner of Madison and Edwards Roads in Norwood, Ohio It was a subsidiary of the R. K. LeBlond Machine Tool Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, a manufacturer of metal machining lathes.

The Pop's Props Cloudster is a single seat, open-cockpit, parasol wing, single-engine monoplane, that was first flown in 1995. The aircraft was produced by Pop's Props of Cooksville, Illinois and made available as plans or in kit form. The company is no longer in business and kit production has been transferred to Simplex Aeroplanes of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

The Pop's Props Zing is a single seat, open-cockpit, parasol wing, single-engine monoplane, first flown in 1996. The aircraft was designed by Scott Land and produced by Pop's Props of Cooksville, Illinois in the form of plans and an aircraft kit. The company is no longer in business and the aircraft kit is now available from Simplex Aeroplanes of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

The RagWing RW19 Stork is a family of two-seat, high wing, strut-braced, conventional landing gear, single-engine homebuilt aircraft designed by Roger Mann and sold as plans by RagWing Aircraft Designs for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denney Kitfox</span> Homebuilt aircraft family by Denney Aerocraft

The Denney Kitfox is a series of small side-by-side, two-seat, high-wing, single engine kit aircraft, designed and originally manufactured by Dan Denney and his company Denney Aerocraft of Boise, Idaho. The aircraft is amateur-built and not type-certified. Over 4500 kits have been delivered in 42 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spartan C2</span> Type of aircraft

The Spartan C2 is a light aircraft produced in the United States in the early 1930s as a low-cost sport machine that would sell during the Great Depression.

The Paramount Model 120 Sportster floatplane, also called the Paramount Model 120 Speedster for the landplane version, was an attempt to build a low production aircraft suitable for the small high-end market during the depression era economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rearwin Ken-Royce</span> Type of aircraft

The Rearwin Ken-Royce was an American three-seat sport/touring biplane built by Rearwin Airplanes first in Salina, Kansas then Kansas City. It was the first airplane built by the company.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 757.
  2. 1 2 Mondey, Dave (ed.). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing. p. 2792.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wright, Bill (1997). Rearwin: A Story of Men, Planes, and Aircraft Manufacturing During the Great Depression . Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press. ISBN   0-89745-207-0.
  4. Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. Ltd. p. 290.

Bibliography