The Detroit G1 Gull is an American

high wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft A fixed-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft, such as an airplane, which is capable of flight using aerodynamic lift. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft (in which a r ...

, cable-braced

primary glider Primary glider aircraft, gliders are a category of aircraft that enjoyed worldwide popularity during the 1920s and 1930s as people strove for simple and inexpensive ways to learn to fly.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring ...

that was manufactured by the

Detroit Aircraft Corporation The Detroit Aircraft Corporation was incorporated in Detroit, Michigan on July 10, 1922, as the Aircraft Development Corporation. The name was changed in 1929. The Detroit corporation owned the entire capital stock of the Ryan Aircraft Corp., Air ...

during 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 ...

.Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory,

Soaring Magazine ''SOARING'' is a magazine published monthly as a membership benefit of the Soaring Society of America. It was first published in 1937. The headquarters is in Hobbs, New Mexico. The magazine's article topics include safety issues and accounts of i ...

'', page 40.

Soaring Society of America The Soaring Society of America (SSA) was founded at the instigation of Warren E. Eaton to promote the sport of soaring in the USA and internationally. The first meeting was held in New York City in the McGraw–Hill Building on February 20, 193 ...

November 1983. USPS 499-920 It first flew in 1925. The aircraft's correct designation is not clear.

calls it the Detroit Gull G1 Primary, while the two

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...

registered aircraft are simply Detroit Gulls. ''Henley's ABC of Gliding and Sailflying'' also calls it the Detroit Gull.

Design and development

The Gull G1 was developed by Detroit Aircraft as an inexpensive aircraft for the Depression. Detroit Aircraft later sold the rights to Stone Aircraft, who sold plans for the aircraft for amateur construction. The Gull is built from wood, with the tail and wing surfaces covered in doped

aircraft fabric 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 ...

. The wing is cable braced from a kingpost. The

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...

consists of a simple structure to which the seat is attached. The pilot sits on the completely open seat, with no windshield. Controls are conventional three-axis. The landing gear consists of the bottom of the fuselage shaped into a long wooden skid . Sometimes two small wheels were attached. The Gull was reportedly

type certified A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). Certification confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production is in compliance w ...

, but no record of the type certificate is on file with the

Operational history

One Gull was started before the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

by Peter Eyrud of

Walla Walla, Washington Walla Walla ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. It had a population of 34,060 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, estimated to have decreased to 33,339 as of 2023. The combined populat ...

, but not completed. This aircraft was purchased by Peter M. Bowers who completed and flew it. Bowers documented the aircraft project in an article in the March/April 1957 edition of

entitled ''Don't Build a Primary''. In 1983 two other Gulls were reported to be in storage awaiting restoration. In May 2011 there were two G1 Gulls registered with the

in the USA. One was in the

Kansas Aviation Museum The Kansas Aviation Museum is a museum located in Wichita, Kansas, near 31st South and George Washington Blvd. The building, designed by Glen H. Thomas, served as Wichita Municipal Airport's terminal from 1935 to 1954. In February of 2024, the ...

and the other was still registered to Peter M. Bowers, even though he died in April 2003. Soaring Magazine reports that this aircraft too is actually in an unnamed aviation museum. In August, 2013 one was put on display at the W.L Zimmerman's Hardware Store,

Intercourse, Pennsylvania Intercourse is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Leacock Township, Lancaster County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, east of Lancaster on Pennsylvania Route 340. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1, ...

. This glider has been preserved in original condition from 1931. Detroit G-1 Gull primary glider on display

Aircraft on display

* W.L Zimmerman and Sons Hardware Store,

Specifications (G1)

References

{{Detroit aircraft 1930s United States sailplanes Detroit Aircraft Corporation aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1925 High-wing aircraft

Design and development

Operational history

Aircraft on display

Specifications (G1)

See also

References