Chester Swee' Pea
| Chester Swee' Pea | |
|---|---|
| Role | Racing aircraft |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Designer | Art Chester |
| First flight | 20 July 1947 |
| Number built | 3 |
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The Swee' Pea was a series of three midget aircraft racers designed by Art Chester.[1]
Design and development
The Swee' Pea was a racing aircraft to compete in the new midget racing class championed by race pilot Art Chester. The aircraft was the third design from Chester with a Popeye comic name.
The midget racer was required to have an engine less than 190 cubic inches in displacement at the time. The Swee' Pea shared a similar short, mid-wing taildragger configuration with other midget racers. The aircraft was unique in that it used a V tail configuration and a single cooling air intake through a large hole in the center of the spinner.[2] The Fuselage is welded tube steel with plywood covered wings.
Operational history
The Swee' Pea was introduced at the 1947 National Air Races, but the V-Tail performed poorly at takeoff speed, and was replaced by a conventional tail for the 1948 Miami races. The top speed was reduced with a conventional tail, so the V-Tail was re-installed.
Variants
- Swee' Pea
- Later Renamed "Sky Baby" - one built
- Swee' Pea II
- Modified with a Y-tail (similar to the Sonex Waiex). Art Chester died in a crash in this plane at the San Diego Air Races on 24 April 1949. - one built
- Wimpy
- The Swee' Pea modified with the main gear farther back. This aircraft crashed on 25 July 1948 at Rosemead airfield, due to blanking of the v-tail during a slow manoeuvre. - one built
Specifications (Chester Swee' Pea)
Data from Sport Aviation
General characteristics
- Length: 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
- Wingspan: 16 ft 9 in (5.11 m)
- Wing area: 71.3 sq ft (6.62 m2)
- Empty weight: 590 lb (268 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 , 85 hp (63 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 156 kn; 290 km/h (180 mph)
See also
- Related development
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chester aircraft. |