Aircraft Quiz No. 112

What very first American designed fixed wing aircraft (not a helicopter nor a balloon) can fly as low a speed as 35 MPH and takeoff after a run of only 50 feet?

1. Name the aircraft.

2. Name the aircraft designer.:

Well, I am in a bit of a quandary here as I have no exact numbers of the Wright's first flight, not finding any measured exact speeds, etc., back in that time.

The test questions refer to a much later measured speed and distance using a novel wing structure shape and retractable landing gear in a novel "first". Please continue searching.

Evangel 4500

Carl Mortenson

Carl, I am not familiar with the Evangel 4500. What was the first year of its flight? My source for this quiz states the Quiz aircraft slow performance configuration was first dated in 1953. The FAA has a first registration of a 1968 Evangel 4500, so apparently

that is a substantially later aircraft than the Quiz aircraft.

With over 150 views this puppy stopped hunting, so here are the answers. Beginning in 1953 Willard Custer, an American aviation engineer experimented with his "channel wing" design for accelerated wing lift at low twin engine aircraft speeds

1.2. With 12 years of experiments with what he called the "channel wing", his inner panels of each low wing have a "U" shape with two strut-mounted engines turning pusher props are strut-mounted, one engine on each wing. The props draw air through the channel on each wing. This decreases pressure over the wing; increasing lift. Testing revealed lift off at aircraft speeds as low as 35 mph and takeoff after only a 50 foot run. The wings also housed retractable landing gear and had an external brace between the lower two channels..

Well, I conditioned the quiz-by asking for the VERY FIRST aircraft meeting the provided requirements, so that could be only one design meeting the quiz requirements.

Now, onward and upward to dream up another new quiz.