The Cessna GC-1 was an
air racer built to compete in the Cirrus All American Air Derby in 1930.
Design and development
Cessna built the GC-1 for Blackwell Aviation to compete for a $25,000 prize in the 1930 Cirrus All American Air Derby. Blackwell registered the Cessna GC-1 NR-144V.
The aircraft was a mid-wing open cockpit taildragger. The landing gear was attached by struts to both the fuselage, and the wing spar.
A more powerful version with a shortened fuselage was built as the GC-2, powered by a
Warner Scarab
The Warner Scarab is an American seven-cylinder radial aircraft engine, that was manufactured by the Warner Aircraft Corporation of Detroit, Michigan in 1928 through to the early 1940s. In military service the engine was designated R-420.
Va ...
7-cylinder radial engine.
Operational history
Stanley Stanton placed seventh in the 1930 Cirrus All American Air Derby with the GC-1. The press proclaimed the racer the "Winged Torpedo".
E.B Smith flew the aircraft in the 1930
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 ...
placing fourth with an average speed of 137.4 mph.
The GC-1 was destroyed in a landing accident, in collision with a mail plane at the
Kansas City Municipal Airport.
Variants
;GC-1:The sole GC-1, given the name ''Miss Blackwell'', was completed in 1929, powered by a
Cirrus Ensign
The ADC Cirrus is a series of British aero engines manufactured using
surplus Renault parts by the Aircraft Disposal Company (ADC) in the 1920s.
The engines were air-cooled, four-cylinder inline types. They were widely used for private and li ...
.
the GC-1 had two liveries, the first was Cessna Red with black registration numbers N144V the second was Cessna red with yellow registration numbers and the script "Miss Blackwell" added to the cowling.
;GC-2: A second aircraft almost identical to the GC-1, but powered by a
Warner Scarab
The Warner Scarab is an American seven-cylinder radial aircraft engine, that was manufactured by the Warner Aircraft Corporation of Detroit, Michigan in 1928 through to the early 1940s. In military service the engine was designated R-420.
Va ...
and fuselage length of .
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Specifications (Cessna GC-1)
See also
References
{{Cessna aircraft
Racing aircraft
Mid-wing aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
1930s United States sport aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1932