Wedell-Williams Model 45

Model 45
NR62Y, Miss Patterson.
General information
Type	Racing aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation
Designer	Jimmy Wedell
Status	Donated to Louisiana State University 1936. Fate unknown.
Primary user	Wedell-Williams Air Service Corp.
Number built	1
History
Manufactured	1933–1934
Introduction date	February 1934, New Orleans Shushan Airport [1]
First flight	28 June 1933 [1]
Retired	1934 Thompson Trophy Race
Developed from	Wedell-Williams Model 44
Developed into	Wedell-Williams XP-34

The Wedell-Williams Model 45 was a racing aircraft built in the United States in 1933.

Design and development

The Model 45 was a development of designer James Wedell's earlier Model 44 and was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with tailwheel undercarriage, the main units of which were retractable. ^[2]

Operational history

The Model 45 flew for the first time on June 28, 1933 ^[2] and showed promising performance achieving an average speed of 264.703 mph on a 100 km closed course.

Wedell-Williams pilot, John Worthen flew the 45 to a second place in the 1934 Bendix Trophy race and if not for a navigation error would have demolished the 44's first place time by at least 50 minutes. ^{[2] [3]}

On June 24, 1934, Jimmy Wedell died in an accident while piloting a Gypsy Moth on a flying lesson. ^[2] Development of the 45 was delayed following the loss of its creator. Even so, the 45 was entered in the 1934 Thompson Trophy Race. In a preliminary event, the Shell Speed Dash Unlimited, Worthen placed first with an average speed of 302.13 mph. ^{[2] [4]} He then qualified the 45 with a speed of 292.14 mph, third behind the 44 and Turner's racer in the main event. ^[2] However the 45 was still suffering from development problems and was withdrawn due to instability.

During the Thompson race Doug Davis crashed the 44 and was killed instantly. ^[2] Devastated, the Wedell-Williams team dismantled and trucked the 45 to Patterson. It never flew again. ^[2]

In rapid succession, the remaining Wedell-Williams principals were killed in air crashes: Walter Wedell, Jimmy's brother, was killed in a crash on July 18, 1935. ^[2] Company co-founder Harry Palmerston Williams and chief test pilot, John Worthen were both killed on May 19, 1936 in a crash. ^[2]

After the death of Williams, the Model 45 was donated to Louisiana State University, where it eventually disappeared, its final fate unknown. ^[2]

A full-scale replica Model 45, constructed by Jim B. Clevenger of Kissimmee, Florida, is on display at the Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum in Patterson, Louisiana. ^[2]

Specifications (Model 45)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 23 ft 11 in (7.29 m)
• Wingspan: 26 ft 9 in (8.16 m)
• Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340 , 500 hp (597 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 320 mph (515 km/h, 278 kn)

See also

Related development

• Wedell-Williams Model 44
• Wedell-Williams XP-34

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Model 44

References

Notes

1. Hirsch and Schultz 2001, p. 40.
2. Pearce, William (31 July 2015). "Wedell-Williams Model 45 Racer". oldmachinepress.com. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
3. Hirsch and Schultz 2001, p. 74.
4. Schmid and Weaver 1983, p. 291.

Bibliography

• Foxworth, Thomas G. The Speed Seekers. New York: Doubleday, 1976. ISBN   0-385-06050-5.
• Hirsch, Robert S. and Barbara H. Schultz. Wedell-Williams Air Service. Lancaster, California: Little Buttes Publishing, 2001. ISBN   978-0-9652181-1-5.
• Schmid, Sylvester H. and Truman C. Weaver. The Golden Age of Air Racing: 1927–1933. Oshkosh, Wisconsin: EAA Aviation Foundation, 1983. ISBN   978-0-8168-7816-1.

External links

• Photos of the Model 45 Racer