Culver TD2C-1
NAS Pensacola 1949
The aircraft designer Al Moomey developed an improved version of the Culver Dart, it was designed to provide improved performance with a smaller engine. Originally designated the Culver Model L the prototype first flew on 2 December 1939. The aircraft was named the Culver Cadet, although similar to the previous Dart the Cadet had a semi-monocoque fuselage instead of welded-steel-tube and a retractable tail-wheel undercarriage. The first variant (the Cadet LCA) was powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Continental A75-8 flat-four piston engine.
The 1941 version (the Cadet LFA) introduced a number of refinements and more equipment, it could be fitted with either a Continental or Franklin engine. Production was brought to the end when the United States entered the Second World War but the Cadet had found a new role. In late 1941 the United States Navy acquired a PQ-8A for evaluation and then ordered 200 in 1941 as the TDC-2. An enlarged and improved version was later built as the Culver PQ-14.
General characteristics Crew: 2 Length: 17 ft 8 in (5.38 m) Wingspan: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m) Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Wing area: 120 ft² (11.15 m²) Empty weight: 806 lb (366 kg)Max takeoff weight: 1,305 lb (592 kg) Powerplant: 1× Franklin 4AC-176-F3 flat-four piston, 80 hp (60 kw) Maximum speed: 142 mph (229 km/h) Range: 500 miles (805 km) Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5180 m)
USN89 René Hieronymus Scale 1:72 Building time: approx. 26 hrs.
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