Model 45 | |
---|---|
NR62Y, Miss Patterson. | |
Role | Racing aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation |
Designer | Jimmy Wedell |
First flight | 28 June 1933 [1] |
Introduction | February 1934, New Orleans Shushan Airport [1] |
Retired | 1934 Thompson Trophy Race |
Status | Donated to Louisiana State University 1936. Fate unknown. |
Primary user | Wedell-Williams Air Service Corp. |
Produced | 1933–1934 |
Number built | 1 |
Unit cost | est. US$15,000 in 1936 [2] |
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.
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. [3]
The Model 45 flew for the first time on June 28, 1933 [3] 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. [3] [4]
On June 24, 1934, Jimmy Wedell died in an accident while piloting a Gypsy Moth on a flying lesson. [3] 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. [3] [5] He then qualified the 45 with a speed of 292.14 mph, third behind the 44 and Turner's racer in the main event. [3] However the 45 was still suffering from development problems and was withdrawn due to instability.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. [3] Devastated, the Wedell-Williams team dismantled and trucked the 45 to Patterson. It never flew again. [3]
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. [3] Company co-founder Harry Palmerston Williams and chief test pilot, John Worthen were both killed on May 19, 1936 in a crash. [3]
After the death of Williams, the Model 45 was donated to Louisiana State University, where it eventually disappeared, its final fate unknown. [3]
A full-scale replica Model 45, constructed by Jim B. Clevenger of Kissimmee, Florida, is on display at the Louisiana State Museum in Patterson, Louisiana. [3]
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General characteristics
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Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
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