Commercial C-1 Sunbeam

The Commercial C-1 Sunbeam was a long-range biplane used in record-setting flights of the 1920s.[1]

C-1 Sunbeam
Role Biplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp
Produced 1929

Design

The conventional landing gear-equipped biplane featured a two-seat open cockpit and a four-passenger enclosed cabin. The fuselage is constructed with welded steel tubing with fabric covering. The wheels were covered with large streamlined wheel pants.

Operational history

On 27 November 1929 Elinor Smith and Bobbie Trout set a 42-hour endurance record over Los Angeles flying a C-1 Sunbeam refueled three times from a Curtiss Carrier Pigeon mailpane. Although the Sunbeam was performing well, the Carrier Pigeon support plane had mechanical difficulties after the third day. 672 gallons of fuel were used in the attempt, making Smith and Trout the first women to refuel in the air.[2][3][4]

Variants
Commercial Sumbeam C-102
X-564M used a 300 hp (224 kW) Wright J-6 radial engine for the endurance flights of 1929 and 1931.[5]

Specifications (Commercial C-1 Sunbeam)

Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 6
  • Length: 27 ft (8.2 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft (10 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss Wright J-5 Whirlwind Radial, 220 hp (160 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 109 kn (125 mph, 201 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 96 kn (110 mph, 180 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 40 kn (46 mph, 74 km/h)
  • Range: 430 nmi (500 mi, 800 km)

References
  1. Kenneth Munson. U.S. commercial aircraft.
  2. Charles R. Mitchell, Kirk W. House. Flying High: Pioneer Women in American Aviation.
  3. Skyways. July 1999. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Bobbie Trout". Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  5. Donna Veca, Skip Mazzio. Just plane crazy: biography of Bobbi Trout.
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