Culver Model V

Model V
Role Two-seat cabin monoplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Culver Aircraft Company
First flight 1946
Number built 378 (V-1)


The Culver Model V was a two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Culver Aircraft Company.

Design and development

Based on the pre-World War II Cadet and using the wartime experience with radio-controlled aircraft the company designed a two-seat cabin monoplane. The Model V had a low-set cantiliver wing with the outer panels having a pronounced dihederal. It had a tricycle retractable landing gear and an enclosed cabin with side by side seating for two. It was unique in that it had a system called Simpli-Fly Control where the aircraft was automatically trimmed for takeoff, landing and cruise, by turning a small metal wheel between the two seats and lining up two arrows with the mode of flying the aircraft. Interconnecting controls then adjusted the trim according to the arrow settings.[1] Simpli-Fly was not popular with pilots. Only a limited production run of 350 Model Vs was achieved before the company went bankrupt.

In 1956 the Superior Aircraft Company bought the assets of Culver and put the Model V back into production as the Superior Satellite. The main difference was the use of a 95 hp Continental engine which increased the cruise speed to 130 mph (209 km/h). Only a prototype and five production aircraft were built.

Variants

V-1
Initial production variant, 378 built (erroneous number, actual was closer to 90).
V-2
Improved variant, 15 built (Juptner reported 1 V-2 was built).
Superior Satellite
1956 variant with a 95hp Continental engine, six built.
TD4C
USN radio-controlled target version of the V-2
UC
The utility version of the TD4C, also converted to target drone as the UC-1K.

Specifications (V-1)

Data from [2]

General characteristics

Performance


References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science bottom page 30
  2. ↑ Oribis 1985, page 1215

Bibliography

  • Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9. 
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
  • Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-194-X. 
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