The Bullet Monoplane or Alexander Eaglerock Bullet was a

low wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing config ...

cabin

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...

that was a departure from traditional biplane aircraft of the era.

Design and development

The Bullet was built at the beginning of the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

. Company owner J Don Alexander said he was inspired by ducks tucking in their legs to build a retractable

landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for taxiing, takeoff or landing. For aircraft, it is generally needed for all three of these. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, s ...

-equipped aircraft. The aircraft experienced stability problems in

spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin quantum number, a number which defines the value of a particle's spin * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thr ...

testing, killing two pilots. Few orders were delivered. The Bullet was a low wing, cabin aircraft with retractable

conventional landing gear Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft Landing gear, undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the Center of gravity of an aircraft, center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail ...

. The fuselage was constructed with welded steel tubing and the wings were constructed with wooden spars and

ribs The rib cage or thoracic cage is an endoskeletal enclosure in the thorax of most vertebrates that comprises the ribs, vertebral column and sternum, which protect the vital organs of the thoracic cavity, such as the heart, lungs and great vessels ...

, both with

aircraft fabric covering Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...

Operational history

An Alexander Eaglerock Bullet competed in the 1929

National Air Races The National Air Races (also known as Pulitzer Trophy Races) are a series of pylon and cross-country races that have taken place in the United States since 1920. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew ...

. Female pilot Jessie "Chubbie" Keith-Miller won two transcontinental air races piloting an Alexander Eaglerock Bullet.

Variants

''Data from: Aerofiles'' ;Eaglerock Bullet C-1 :Powered by a Wright J-6 Whirlwind ;Eaglerock Bullet C-3 :Powered by a Kinner K-5 ;Eaglerock Bullet C-4 :Powered by a Wright J-6 5-cylinder radial (optional Comet 7-E or Axelson-Floco B) ;Eaglerock Bullet C-5 :Powered by a Wright J-6 5-cylinder radial (optional Comet 7-E or Axelson-Floco B) ;Eaglerock Bullet C-7 :Aerodynamically improved - ATC#318 issued on 6 May 1930.

Specifications (C-7 Bullet)

Alexander_Eaglerock_C-3_Bullet_3-view_Aero_Digest_May_1929

References

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External links

Bullet Project
{{Alexander aircraft Low-wing aircraft