Townsend Thunderbird

Last updated
Townsend Thunderbird
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States of America
DesignerGid Townsend
First flight1956
Number built1
Unit cost
$1800 in 1956
Developed from BT-13

The Townsend Thunderbird is a homebuilt design created by the experienced cropduster Gid Townsend and built in 1956 with assistance of Curtis Pitts. [1]

Contents

Design

The Thunderbird is powered by a 245 hp (183 kW) Jacobs radial engine with a constant speed propeller. The horizontal stabilizer and aluminum wings are the outer panels of a Vultee BT-13 trainer. The engine cowl is from a Cessna UC-78. The fuselage is welded tubing with fabric covering. The landing gear is from a Cessna 180. [2]

Operational history

By 1974 the prototype was unflyable. The aircraft was later metalized, the turtledeck was removed, and it was converted to use a Wright R-975 radial engine. [3]

Specifications (Townsend Thunderbird)

Data from Experimenter

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. experimenter. July 1957.Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Townsend sidebar" . Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  3. "AL HESSELGRAVE'S THUNDERBIRD A-1". Sport Aviation. September 1980.