A Field Guide To Airplanes of North America

A Field Guide to
AIRPLANES
How to identify over 300 airplanes of North America:
illustrations, descriptions, and specifications.
M.R.Montgomery/Gerald Foster
Biplanes (pp. 2-13)
Agricultural Planes (pp. 14-21)
Low-Wing Singles (pp. 22-49)
FIXED GEAR
Tail-Draggers (pp. 22-25)
Tricycle (pp. 24-33, 38-39)
RETRACTABLE
Tricycle (pp. 28-47)

High-Wing Singles (pp. 50-81)
FIXED GEAR
Tail-Draggers (pp. 50-73]
Tricycle (pp. 70-81;
RETRACTABLE
Tricycle (pp. 76-81;
Amphibians (pp. 82-89)
Twins (pp. 90-135)
SMALL
Low- Wing (pp. 90-111;
High-Wing (pp. 110-113;
Continued on back endpapers

A Field Guide
to Airplanes
of North America
A Field Guide to
Airplanes
of North America
M. R. Montgomery
and Gerald L, Foster
Illustrated by Gerald L. Foster
Houghton Mifflin Company Boston

•
1984
Text copyright © 1984 by M. R. Montgomery
Illustrations copyright © 1984 by Gerald L. Foster
Silhouettes © 1984 by Pilot Press Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced

or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by
any information storage or retrieval system, except as
may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Aa
or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission
should be addressed in writing to Houghton Mifflin Company,
2 Park Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Montgomery, M. R.
A field guide to airplanes of North America.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Airplanes —
Recognition. I. Title
TL671.M58 1984 629.133'34 83-26438
ISBN 0-395-35313-0
Printed in the United States of America
M 10 987654321
Contents
Introduction vii
Biplanes 2
Agricultural Planes 14
Low- Wing Singles 22
High-Wing Singles SO
Amphibians 82
Twins 90
Four-Engine Prop 136
Business Jets 142
Jet Airliners 152
Military Aircraft 166
New Generation Pusher-Prop 194
Further Reading 199
Acknowledgments 200
Index 201
Introduction
The purpose of this book is simple: to allow anyone interested

in aviation to identify the factory-built, fixed-wing aircraft seen
in North America. It is a field guide, not an encyclopedia or a
history of aviation. The organizing principle is visual, and wt
have made every effort to ensure that airplanes that resemble
—
one another are grouped if not on the same page, then within
a page or two.
A few airplane identification books were published before
Houghton Mifflin decided to expand its Field Guide program
to include manmade objects, but we believe this book is
unique. Like the Peterson Field Guides, it is devoted to a spe-
cific geographical area —
North America, in this case. Although
nearly all the airplanes in this book can be seen anywhere in
the world, we have eliminated the foreign aircraft you're not
likely to encounter. Guides to "all the world" are forced to
eliminate many of the rarer and older planes, as they are
obliged to lump the many similar models of one manufacturer
;the PiperCherokee, for example) into a rather indistinct and
blurred composite airplane. We have tried, in these complex
families of airplanes, to make subtler distinctions. In the first
few pages, for example, four different models of the Waco bi-
plane are illustrated. In general, this is a book of native and
naturalized airplanes. Just as bird guides do not include exotic
birds found in zoological parks, this guide does not include
museum pieces.
No guide could cover every airplane that can be seen in
field
North America, for there still exist specimens, or newly manu-
factured replicas, of practically every plane built since, and in-
cluding, the Wright Brothers' Flyer. We used two principles in
selecting more than 300 airplanes for inclusion in the book.
First, we have included all airplanes for which 35 or more
specimens are currently flying. Second, we have tried to include
every passenger plane on which it is still possible, or will soon
be possible, to buy a ticket.
A single large class of fixed-wing aircraft not exhaustively
covered here is the "home-builts"; their variety is simply too
great and the confusion among them too likely. Almost all of
VIl
the homc-builts are easily recognized as such: They are quite
small, often seating only one person, and they look "experi-
mental.'" best source for information on home-builts, as on
The
many other subjects, is Jane's All the World's Aircraft. Issues of
Jane's have, for the past few years, included a separate section
on home-builts and other amateur experimental aircraft.
Nevertheless, our book, though almost entirely devoted to
commercially manufactured aircraft, does mention a few home-
built biplanes. There are literally hundreds of them, sometimes
thousands, and they closely resemble, and are often patterned
after, production biplanes of the 1930s. We hope their inclu-
sion here will help clarify the difference between production
and home-built biplanes.
Rutan
Long-Ez
One other class of home-built aircraft deserves to be men-

tioned here. Two manufacturers have sold thousands of kits for
aircraft that have a small wing forward and a larger wing to
the rear: the canard wing (from the French word for duck, so
called because the rear placement of the larger wing gives the
canard aircraft a long-necked look). This is hardly a new de-
sign; the Wright Flyer had a smaller wmg forward of its large
biplane wings. The two most common canard wings are the
Rutan Long-Ez, wqth its pusher propeller, and the slightly more
conventional-looking Quickie (also designed by Burt Rutan),
with its puller propeller. Each is capable of cruising at 180
mph (290 km/h). The combination of pusher propeller(s) and
double lifting surfaces has moved from the home-built personal
aircraft to the business market with several new aircraft under
development as this book goes to press. They are included in
the chapter titled "New Generation Pusher-Props."
vui
Quickie
How to Use This Book

The airplanes grouped by type and appearance. Conven-
are
tional aircraft are grouped by their physical similarit}'. All the
conventional biplanes are together, followed by agricultural bi-
planes, followed by single-wing agricultural planes. (All planes
built specifically for crop dusting and spraying are easily recog-
nized by their roll-bar-protected cockpit.)
Single-engine propeller-driven planes are grouped by such
quickly visible field marks as whether they have wings mounted
on the top of the fuselage or on the bottom and whether their
landing gear is the fixed, tail-dragging type, the type with a
fixed tricycle gear with a nose wheel, or the retractable t\'pe.
Several manufacturers made airplanes that are identical except
for having two or more types of landing gear; these airplanes
will be found in the transitional pages between one group and
the next.
Both the twin-propeller and the multijet airplanes are sepa-
rated into different groups by their size. Any rigid plan keep- —
ing all twin, fuselage-mounted, swept-wing jets together regard-
less of size, for example —would have put something as large as
a stretched DC9 next to a much smaller, not at all similar. Fal-
con 20 business jet that seats eight.
Chapter 10, ''Military Aircraft," illustrates special-purpose
aircraft in U.S. and Canadian service. With the exception of a
few basic trainers, their shapes are all so unusual as to be
quickly distinguished from commercial and general aviation
planes. The order is from single-engine propeller through multi-
engine, and then single jet engines through multijet aircraft.
"Level flight" speeds indicate official information on the plane's
maximum speed, excluding dives; it is probably underesti-
mated. Mach numbers are decimal proportions of the speed of
sound at the altitude where the airspeed of the plane has been
measured. Current usage is to drop the hyphen between the
manufacturer's acronym and the model number. We have fol-
lowed that for civilian aircraft (e.g., DC9 refers to Douglas Air-
craft model number 9), but we've kept the hyphen for military
designations, providing a quick visual distinction in the text
and index.
ix
Note, however, that the military services of both countries
acquire, from time to time, various civihan airplanes for non-
combat purposes, especially for transporting VIPs in more than
ordinary military comfort. Conventional-looking aircraft with
military insignia should be looked for in other sections of this
book, according to the general principles of arrangement.
Several commercial airliners have been acquired by the mili-
tary, including: the Boeing 737-200 (page 158), flown as the
T-43A navigation trainer; the Boeing 707 (page 160), as a VIP
transport (of which the best known is Air Force 1) and as in-
flight refueling tankers in the U.S. and as a utility transport in
Canada; the Boeing 747 (page 162) as the E-4A "Airborne
Command Post" by the U.S. Strategic Air Command. Douglas
DClOs (page 156) are flown as KC-lOA Extender air-to-air re-
fueling craft in the U.S., and the DC9 (page 154) is in service
as a flying ambulance/hospital as the C-9A Nightingale, in a
VIP transport role as the VC-9A.
Smaller civilian jets in military service are the Lockheed Jet-
star (page 148) (the C-140 North American
in U.S. service), the
Rockwell Sabreliner (page 146) (as the CT-39 VIP transport),
and the French-built Falcon 20 (page 146) (as the HU-25
search plane in the U.S. Coast Guard and as the CC-117 trans-
port in Canada).
Dash 7
Propeller planes in service include the de Havilland
(page 136) Canada as the CC-132 troop transport); the
(in
DC3 (in Canada, the C-47 Dakota); the Convair 540 (page
126) (used in the U.S. Coast Guard as the C-131 Samaritan
and in Canada as the CC-109 Cosmopolitan); and the de Hav-
illand Twin Otter (page 112) and single-engine Otters (page
50) (in government departments in both countries as
several
transport, observation, and search-and-rescue planes).
Both countries use standard civilian aircraft as primary flight
trainers, the high-wing Cessna 172s (page 76) in the U.S. and
the low-wing Beech Musketeer (page 28) in Canada.
We have avoided, as much as possible, any technical lan-
guage. There are, however, trwo useful field marks on airplanes
that do have their own special words. The best way to describe
a wing that is the same width along its entire length is to refer
to its "constant chord" (from the word used in geometry to de-
drawn across the underside of a curve).
scribe a straight line
Airplane wings are typically curved over the top and relatively
flaton the bottom, where the "chord" measurement is made.
The other necessary technical word is "dihedral," which de-
scribes wings, or tail planes, that are bent upward so that the
wing tip is higher than the root of the wing as it leaves the
fuselage. Even very slight dihedrals are quite noticeable and
make good marks. The Martin 404 airlmer, for example,
field
is recognizable at a considerable distance because it is unique,
among all the twin-prop airliners, in having a dihedral in both

the wing and the tail plane.
In place of the more technical "vertical stabilizer" and "hori-
zontal stabilizer," we have used "tail fin" and "tailplane." The
httle mudguard fenders on fixed-gear wheels we simply call
"wheel pants" (the more accurate British slang for them is
"wheel spats"). The word "fairmg," which appears often, is an
old word from ship architecture that simply means a smoothed-
out or streamlined connection between parts of the airplane.
Fairings are typical at the leading edges of wings and tail sur-
faces, and where engines are mounted on wings. Streamlined
engine housings are called "nacelles" (from an old French word
meaning "little boat," which captures their general tapering
shape quite accurately).
Identifying a particular aircraft usually requires noting a
combination of two or more field marks. For some of the most
similar models (and American manufacturers turn out a dizzy-
ing number of nearly identical aircraft), you may be reduced to
observing the number and shape of passenger windows or to
trying to catch a glimpse of other field marks equally difficult
to see when the plane is high overhead. The best place to iden-
tif\' airplanes is at an airport. Watch them as they taxi on the
runway, make the identification, and then watch closely as they

disappear into the distance. Once you have seen the plane,
learned its name, and watched it fly a few times, many of our
field marks will become irrelevant. Almost all planes have a
—
unique "presence" "gestalt," in psychological jargon which —
is more important than the smaller field marks once you're fa-
miliar with the plane. Just as you can recognize people you
know far beyond the distance at which you can see the color of
their eyes or the shape of their nose —
any of their personal field
—
marks so it is w^th many aircraft. The first time or two you
may have to count the windows or the passenger doors to sep-
arate a "stretched" DCS from another four-jet airliner. But
once you know that plane, with its long, skinny fuselage
perched on improbably small wings, it will be recognizable at
several miles.
There is no rigid order for using the field marks. We suggest
you thumb through the sections of high-wing or low-wing sin-
gle-engine aircraft and note the kinds of field marks; then learn
to look for them all at once. This will work better than some
sort of litany of "wing, tail, landing gear, windows." Familiar-
itv with this book is the best svstem.
XI
A Field Guide
to Airplanes
of North America
Beech BE17 Staggerwing
(Navy GB-1, Air Force C-43)
Length: 26'9" (8.13 m)
201 mph (323 km/h)
Wingspan: W (9.76 m) Cruising speed:
Rare. Large; reversed staggerwing (lower wing forward of up-

per); enclosed cabin; solid wing struts.
The Rolls-Royce of biplanes. Performance data is for the most
powerful versions, with 450-horsepower engines. First flown m
1932 with fixed landing gear; never seen today without the electri-
cally operated retractable gear. Various models have slight dimen-
sional changes, but all are clearly Staggerwings. Once a popular
float and ski plane. A few postwar models, last produced in 1948,
have leather upholstery and other comforts.
Note: Any cabin biplane that is not a Beech 17 (reversed stag-
gerwing) is a Waco.
Any cabin biplane with an upper wing much longer and deeper
than the bottom wing is a late-model Waco C (custom) biplane.
All other cabin biplanes, with wings of equal width and normal
stagger are Waco S (standard) or very early C (custom) planes.
Waco Late C Series

Length: 27'7" (8.42 m) Wingspan: upper, 34'9" (10.57 m); lower,
24'6" (7.47 m) Cruising speed: 155 mph (249 km/h)
Rare. A cabin biplane with a noticeably shorter and narrower

lower wing (compare with Waco S series, below); fixed landing
gear; N wing struts, plus a heavy brace from the base of the N
strut to the upper wing.
One of four basic types of Waco biplanes, the late C (custom
cabin) series is the only one with the very small, normally stag-
gered lower wing. Built throughout the 1930s. The fixed gear is
usually seen with streamlined wheel pants. Proper restoration in-
cludes the straight-line striping from the engine cowling to the tail
plane. A few were in U.S. and foreign military service, but for the
famous WWII basic trainer see PT-14, next page .
Waco S Series, Early C Series

Length: 25'3" (7.71 m) Wingspan: upper, 3^3" (10.15 m); lower,
28 '3" (8.62 m) Cruising speed: 133 mph (214 km/h)
Rare. Cabin biplane with slightly shorter lower wing; wings of

equal width (chord); N
struts, plus solid brace.
The S (standard) and early C (custom) Waco biplanes are hand-
some, symmetrical, and remarkable for their lack of unusual fea-
tures. They have very similar upper and lower wings, typical struts,
and a conventional cabin. Usually restored with the Waco signa-
ture stripe from cowling to tail. Both wings have a matching, very
slight dihedral. Although they were not supplied with streamlined
wheel pants, like the C series, you may see one that's been modi-
fied. Concentrate on the wings.
BIPLANES
X Beech Staggerwing
Waco Late C Series

—
Boeing/Stearman Kaydet
(military PT-13, PT-17, PT-18)
Length: 24' 10" (7.58 m) Wmgspan: upper, 32'2" (9.82 m); lower,
r shorter overall Cruising speed: 103 mph (166 km/h)
Fairly common. The normally staggered wings of almost equal
length, combined with the unbraced heavy landmg gear and the N
struts without an aileron connector, separate the Kaydet from the
somewhat similar biplanes of the 1930s and 1940s. Compare the
three aircraft that follow below.
More than 10,000 Stearmans were built from the early 1930s
through WWII; model designators indicate engines of different
horsepower. A jointly procured trainer for the Navy and the Army
Air Corps, many are seen restored to their WWII paint scheme
Air Force blue fuselage and Navy yellow wings with service mark-
ings. Note that although the cockpits are large and deep, there is
no turtleback behind the rear cockpit.
Naval Aircraft Factory N3N1, N3N3

Length: 25'11" (7.96 m) Wmgspan: 34' (10.38 m) Cruising
speed: 92 mph (148 km/h)
Rare. Normally staggered wings identical in length and width
(chord); Nstruts with aileron connector; skinny braced landing
gear without wheel pants; no engine cowling.
Once used extensively as agricultural aircraft, the government-
built N3Ns are collectors' items. A proper restoration is all yellow
with Navy insignia. The last biplane in U.S. service, until 1958, as
a float plane at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis. All midship-
men had to spend ten hours flying in the "Yellow Peril" whether
—
they were aviators or not for many, an experience that was
equaled only by submarine escape training for sheer terror.
Waco UPF7, YPF7 (military trainer PT-14),

Model D
Length: 23'1" (7.06 m) Wingspan: upper, 30' (9.14 m); lower,
Fairly common. Lower wing noticeably shorter; look for the

large rectangular cutout in the upper wing; designed for easier ac-
cess to the forward cockpit; longer nosed than the early F series;
may or may not have engine cowling.
Although a military trainer in WWII, not as common as the
Stearman Kaydets or the Naval Factory N3N series. Very popular
primary trainer with the WWII government Civilian Pilot Training
Program. A sports type (Waco model D) was built with stream-
lined wheel pants and lighter construction materials.
BIPLANES
Boeing/Stearman Kaydet
Naval Aircraft
Factory N3N3
Waco UPF7, PT-14

Waco Early F Series
Length: 20'9" (6.31 m) Wingspan: 29'6" (9 m) Cruising speed:
90mph (145 km/h)
Rare. May be confused with the Waco UPF7 or the naval air-
craft trainer, but very stubby nosed; wings of equal length; N
brace with aileron connector; small circular cutout in top wing for
access to front cockpit; distinct turtleback behind rear cockpit.
Compare Waco old F above.
A popular sportster and trainer from the early 1930s, the early F
series is popular with restorers, but much less common than the
Waco LIPF7 military trainers, which it slightly resembles. Built with
and without engine cowlings, some with ring cowlings, some with
streamlined cowling, but typically with exposed radial engine cylin-
der heads. Landing gear usually bare.
Travel Air 4000

Length: 24'2" (7.35 m) Wingspan: 34'8" (10.53 m) Cruising
Rare. Looks distinctly antique; almost always shows the ele-

phant-ear upper wing tip and tail fin; N bracing, plus aileron con-
trol transfer bar; some built with conventional speed wings, but
these show tail; a few with conventionally
the elephant-ear
rounded tails, but these always show the upper wing elephant ear,
which is an extension of the aileron; both wings straight, lower
wing noticeably shorter and slightly narrower.
The Travel Air was built in a variety of versions, including pas-
senger carriers, with a two-man forward cockpit. All originals and
accurate restorations have either radial (in the more numerous
4000 series) or in-line (in the very rare 2000 series) water-cooled
engines. A small radiator extends below the fuselage, just forward
of the cockpit area. The high, quickly rising turtleback is unique.
Fleet Finch Trainer

Length: 21'8" (7.1 m) Wingspan: both, 28' (8.53 m) Cruising
Rare. Very stubby nosed; straight wings of equal length; lower
wing with noticeable dihedral; N
bracing; no aileron control trans-
fer bar. Early models, built in the U.S., have elephant-ear tails.
Made in the U.S. in the early 1930s, then in Canada, where
more than 600 were built from 1938 to 1941 for RCAF flight
training. Many restored Canadian-built WWII trainers have a sin-
gle sliding canopy that covers both cockpits; other models have
simple, flat-glass, three-sided windshields. Once a popular ski and
float plane.
BIPLANES
Waco Early F Series QCF2
Fleet Finch
Trainer
Meyers OTW
Length: ll'H" (6.91 m) Wingspan: both, 30' (9.14 m) Cruising
Rare. Combines all-aluminum fuselage with fabric wings; wings

are identical, with sHght dihedral; the landing gear strut shock-ab-
sorbing piston, which extends up to the forward cockpit, is diag-
nostic.
Only 102 "Out to Wins" were built during WWII, all for the
Civilian Pilot Training Program, and half of them are still regis-
tered — some being restored. Their use as crop
flying, the others
dusters after WWII contributed to the loss of many of the aircraft.
Manufactured in Romulus, Michigan, from 1940 to 1944 by peo-
ple who had never before, and never afterward, built airplanes.
de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth

Fairly common for an antique biplane. Swept wings of equal
length; stout double-bar wing connectors (not N); the entire plane
gives a distinct impression of slimness, including the in-line engine
and the fancifully tapered tail fin and tail planes. Compare with the
chubbier Bucker Jungmeister.
The Tiger Moth, a 130-horsepower version of the 1920s Gipsy
Moth, first flew in 1932 and was produced through WWII, totaling
more than 8000 planes. The standard RAF and Royal Navy pri-
mary trainer; a few hundred in USAAF, designated PT-24. Surplus
Moths were the backbone of private aviation in Great Britain and
Canada after WÎI. The bulky apparatus over the cockpit that
connects the left and right wings is the fuel tank, and another good
way of distinguishing the Moths from the Jungmeister.
Bucker Jungmann, Jungmeister

Jungmann specifications: Length: 21 '8" (6.60 m) Wingspan: 24'3"
(7.40 m) Cruising speed: 106 mph (171 km/h)
There are single- (Jungmeister) and dual-control (Jungmann)

craft, but all share these field marks: strongly swept wings of equal
length, with double wing struts. Compare tail plane and fin with
Tiger Moth. Single-seaters have radial engines, two-seaters have in-
lines. Concentrate on the wing and tail combination. The much
smaller, similarly shaped Pitts Special has a single wing strut.
First built in the mid-1930s, the Jungmeister and Jungmann
trained Hitler's Luftwaffe; built in several countries before WWII,
and re-created by several companies after the war; a few in Japa-
nese Air Force during WWII; the most maneuverable and acrobatic
of all the pre-W^WII biplanes: War surplus models dominated acro-
batic flying in the 1950s. There are also a few home-built 8/10
scale models in service.
BIPLANES
Meyers OTW
de Havilland
Tiger Moth
Bucker Jungmann
Bucker Jungmeister
Great Lakes Sport Trainer, Baby Lakes
Great Lakes specifications: Length: 20'4" (6.2 m) Wingspan:
26'8" (8.13 m) Cruising speed: 110 mph (177 km/h). Baby Lakes
specifications: Length: 13'9" (4.10 m) Wingspan: 16'8" (5.08 m)
Cruising speeds: various, depending on optional engines
The between 1929 and 1932, and the

original Great Lakes, built
revival, builtbetween 1974 and 1978, were tandem dual controls;
the Baby Lakes is 6/10 their size and is either single or dual. They
share the identifying combination: top wing swept, over straight
bottom wing and N struts. Owners can modify struts to a single
one, thereby possibly causing confusion with the Pitts Special (next
entry). Call it a Pitts/Lake, especially if the wheel struts on the
Great Lakes have been covered with streamlining sheet metal.
Original Great Lakes had ailerons on the lower wing only; some
have been modified and show the aileron transfer control bar next
to the N brace.
Although only 200 of the original Great Lakes trainers were
built, they dominated acrobatics and closed-course racing in the
U.S. in the 1930s. The company was revived and several versions,
of greatly varying horsepower, were built. You may even see a one-
seat, full-size Great Lakes. Concentrate on the wing and wing strut
combination. It's unique.
Pitts S-1, S-2 Special

S-l specifications: Length: 15'5" (4.7 m) Wingspan: 17'4"
Usually seen in the S-l (single-seat) version. A chunky little
plane. The unique combination is top wing swept and slightly
longer than straight lower wing; single wing strut plus aileron con-
trol transfer bar. Optional fuselage/upper wing bracing may origi-
nate from two points on the wing rather than the typical N
bracing. The turtleback is high and distinctive.
The is unique in that it is available as a factory-
single-seat S-l
built and plane or as plans or kits for the home builder.
certified
The S-2 dual control is only available through the factory. They
have been flown with all manner of engines, up to 450 horse-
power; supplanted the Jungmeister as the premier aerobatic air-
plane in the 1960s. Home-built Pitts Specials may show additional
bracing and wiring, probably out of a deep sense of insecurity on
the part of the builder.
Christen Eagle I, II
Eagle II (two-seater) specifications: Length: IS' 6" (5.64 m)

Wingspan: 19' 11" (6.07 m) Cruising speed: 158 mph (254 km/h)
A kit-builder's plane. The one-seat Eagle I, introduced in late
1982, has both wings swept, single strut, and bubble canopy. It's
almost always seen with Eagle paint job, long-nosed, large propel-
ler spinner.
10
BIPLANES
Great Lakes
Sport Trainer
Baby Lakes
^^ Pitts S-2 Special
Christen Eagle II
Stolp Starduster, Acroduster
Starduster 100 specifications: Length: 16'6" (5.03 m) Wingspan:
upper, 19' (5.79 m); lower, 18' (5.49 m) Cruising speed:
132 mph (212 km/h)
A family of home-builts. The Stardusters and the more strongly
constructed aerobatic Acrodusters have unequal span wings. Only
the upper wing is swept; single interplane strut and aileron transfer
control bar, fully rounded wing tips. Also seen in two-seaters; sep-
arates from same-sized Christen Eagles by the asymmetry of the
wings. See the similar Steen Skybolt (next entry) and note its less
rounded wing tips.
Steen Skybolt
Length: 19' (5.79 m) Wingspan: upper, 24' (7.32 m); lower, 23'
Always a two-seater. Upper wing swept, lower straight; very

long-nosed, large rounded tail fin. Wing braces over the fuselage
radiate from two points on the wing. Compare the more conven-
tional combination N
braces on a Stolp Starduster. Sold as plans,
with wing and fuselage kits available. More than 2500 kits have
been sold.
Smith Miniplane
Length: 15 '3" (4.65 m) Wingspan: upper, 17' (5.18 m); lower,
Properly called "mini." Small size; wings not swept; lower wing
conventional
slightly shorter; N bracing. The first models were
known as DSA-1 (for Darn Small Airplane). Compare with the
very similar EAA Biplane (next entry). EAAs tend to have a more
streamlined engine cowling and a more upright tail fin.
EAA Biplane
Length: 17' (5.18 m) Wingspan: both, 20' (6.10 m) Cruising
A small, single-seat with unswept, equal-length wings and con-
ventional Nstruts. A subtle difference between the EAA Biplane
and the Smith Miniplane is the way the lower wing appears to
come out of the EAA fuselage; in the Smith Mini the fuselage ap-
pears to sit on top of the wing. The Smith Mini has a noticeably
shorter lower wing.
EAA Acro-Sport, Acro-Sport II
Acro-Sport (single-seater) specifications: Length: 17'6" (5.33 m)

Wingspan: upper, 19'7" (5.97 m); lower, 19'1" (5.82 m)
Cruising speed: 105 mph (169 km/h)
The only biplane illustrated here with unswept wings of nearly

equal length and a single streamlined strut, plus aileron control
transfer bar. Designed to be built from plans and construction
manuals. More than 800 have been built and flown.
12
BIPLANES
Stolp
Starduster
Steen
Skybolt
Smith
Miniplane
EAA Acro-Sport
Eagle Aircraft Eagle 220, 300
Length: 27'6" (8.38 m) Wtngspan: 55' (16.76 m) Working
speed: 65-115 mph (105-185 km/h)
Not common. A 1981 introduction: A biplane with extremely
The typical agplane cockpit sits amid a maze of
long, thin wings.
wires, struts, and braces; large tail fin.
A revival from the era when biplanes dominated the agricultural
spraying industry, this Bellanca-designed agplane has an aspect to-
tally different from the old biplanes converted to spraying: The
wings are based on sailplane designs, long, thin, and tapering.
More than 90 were produced by mid- 1983. Earliest versions (not
illustrated) used a radial engine, and the total length was only 26
feet (7.92 m). Current models are in-line pistons; model numbers
(220, 300) indicate horsepower.
Schweitzer (Grumman) Ag-Cat

Length: 25'7" (7.80 m) Wingspan: 42'3" (12.88 m) Working
Separate this biplane-agplane from older biplanes converted to
crop use by its massive, high tail fin; all-metal skin; modern roll-
bar cockpit; and trimmed speed-wing wing tips.
The original Ag-Cat was designed by Grumman but never manu-
factured until Schweitzer, a family-run designer of sailplanes,
started manufacturing them under license from Grumman in 1957.
Since 1981, Schweitzer has been the sole owner of the design, now
marketing an Ag-Cat B with a standard 600-horsepower radial en-
gine. When one considers this class of agricultural planes —
many
(like the Schweitzer) with pressurized cockpits to keep aerial sprays
and dusts away from the pilot, air conditioning, and airframes
meant to collapse slowly around a rigid cockpit in the case of a
crash —one ceases to wonder why there are very few old, bold crop
dusters. Compare these planes with the Call-Air A2 (next entry)
where the pilot simply put a barrel of pesticide in the passenger's
seat and took off.
14
AGRICULTURAL PLANES
Eagle Aircraft
Eagle 300
Schweitzer Ag-Cat
Call-Air A2, A5
Length: 23'5" (7.25 m) Wingspan: 36' (11.11 m) Cruising
Extremely rare, and probably permanently parked in a quiet part
of the airfield. The only production passenger aircraft with a low,
braced wing. Wing is constant chord (width) with rounded tips;
three-strut landing gear usually has two struts covered with speed
pants. Compare with the Intermountain Call-Air A9 agricultural
plane (next entry).
Fewer than 50 built as passenger planes, a few more as Call-Air
A5 and A6 crop dusters, with spray material carried inside the A2-
style cabin; included here because its use of the constant-chord
wing with high-lift qualities was unique when the plane was de-
signed in 1939. Built in Wyoming at an airfield with an elevation
of 6200 feet, the Call-Air was perfectly at home in "high and hot"
thin air.
Intermountain Mfg. Co. Call-Air A9

Aero Commander Sparrow, Quail, Snipe
AAM Thrush Commander
Length: 24' (7.32 m) Wingspan: 35' (10.67 m) Working speed:
100 mph (161 km/h)
Not common as some agricultural planes, but still being pro-
so
duced Mexico by Aeronautica Agricola Mexicana. Typical ag-
in
plane shape, low wing braced with three struts, equal-chord
(width) wings, light wire braces on tail planes, triple braces to for-
ward wheels, somewhat old-fashioned curved tail fin and tail
planes. A rare Snipe model has a radial engine.
Agplane fans will see the family history of the Call-Air A9 in the
triple wing braces and triple wheel struts, picked up from the origi-
nal Call-Air A2 monoplane (above) and the now very rare Call-Air
A5 and A6 agplanes. A Wyoming company developed the Call-Air
A9 and manufactured a few hundred from 1963 to 1965. That de-
sign was sold to Aero Commander (a division of Rockwell later. —
North American Rockwell). The A9 design survives today in the
triple braces to the front wheels in the Thrush agplanes, which
have a modern unbraced wing. Rockwell sold off the braced-wing
design to Aeronautica Agricola Mexicana, which has continuously
produced them at the rate of about two a month since 1978 and
which has designated them AAM Thrush Commander and Sparrow
Commander, A few of the earliest Call-Air A9s did not have win-
dows in the roof of the cockpit. Close at hand, note the distinct
droop to the leading edge of the wing, giving the plane a very short
takeoff roll (1200 feet) when fully loaded.
16
AGRICULTURAL PLANES
Call-Air A9
Aero Commander
Quail
Piper PA25 Pawnee
Length: 24' (7.32 m) Wingspan: 36'2" (1 1.02 m) Working
A small, old-fashioned-looking agplane is cither a Pawnee or one
of the Sparrow Commander/Call-Air A9 types; compare with them
before deciding. Low wing has a pair of braces on top, tail planes
with paired braces top and bottom, wings are fabric over rib, and
it usually shows up clearly, rounded wing tips, rounded tail
geometry.
One of the pure agplanes; built between 1959 and 1982;
first
early replacement for the old biplane dusters. The high placement
of the pilot, the rear cockpit windows, and the extra-long nose for
progressive collapse if crashed, plus interior safety features, were
designed in on the advice of Cornell University agricultural and
mechanical engineering studies.
Cessna Ag Truck, Ag Wagon,

Ag Pickup, Ag Husky
Length: 25'3" (7.70 m) Wmgspan: 40'4" (12.30 m) Working
speed: variable, about 100 mph (161 km/h)
Quite variable window

configurations, but always with these
constants: Wing braced by a single, streamlined strut that is
is
faired into the wing; unbraced tail planes; single, spring-steel struts
to front wheels; very sharp (9 -degree) dihedral that begins after the
wing leaves the fuselage horizontally.
Developed in 1965, the Cessna Ag series has a number of names
signifymg nothing more than varieties of engines, load-carrying ca-
pacity, and variations in windows —
many early models before 1969
lacked the rear and top cockpit windows. A few models beginning
in 1971 had high-lift drooped wing tips. All models (and other
Cessna singles) since 1980 have the conical camber wing tips.
Piper PA36 Brave, Pawnee Brave

WTA New Brave
Length: 27'6" (8.38 m) Wmgspan: 38'9" (1 1.83 m) Working
Typical agricultural low-wing monoplane. Unbraced wings (com-

pare Thrush and Air Tractor, next entries); wings of equal chord
(after fairing at wing root); unbraced tail plane; forward landing
gear struts are streamlined; shock absorbing; squared-off shape to
wing tips, and tail planes.
tail fin,
Developed by Piper in 1972, now manufactured by WTA, Inc., a
Texas company that also continues production of the Piper PA 18
Super Cub. The extra-long nose of the Brave is so designed to
collapse progressively in case of a crash. Not manufactured with
radial engines or in two-seat models (compare the Thrush and Air
Tractor),
AGRICULTURAL PLANES
Cessna Ag
Truck
Piper PA36 Brave J^^

Ayres Thrush, Bull Thrush, Turbo Thrush
Rockwell-Commander Thrush
Length: 29'5" (8.96 m) Wingspan: 44'5" (13.54 m) Working
speed: llOmph (177km/h)
Typical agricultural low-wing monoplane with unbraced wings,
compare the Air Tractor (next entry) before deciding; fixed gear;
three struts for each forward wheel; pair of thin wire braces above
and below tail planes; equal-chord (width) wings, with trapezoidal
tips.
Developed by Rockwell-Commander in 1965, manufactured by
the Ayres Corporation since then. Comes in a variety of configura-
tions, but all have the same field marks. The original models came
with radial engines; recently with in-line turboprop engines (top
picture). A
two-seat cabin is standard on the 1200-horsepower ra-
Thrush (bottom sketch), but is also available on the tur-
dial Bull
boprop airframe. Bull Thrush carries up to 510 gallons of liquid
spray.
Air Tractor
Length: 27' (8.23 m) Wingspan: 45'1" (13.75 m) Working
Typical low-wing agricultural plane. Unbraced wing, compare
the Thrush (previous entry) before deciding; fixed gear; single,
spring-steel strut carries each wheel; wing of equal chord (depth),
with straight squared-off wing tips; pair of light braces on the un-
derside only of the tail plane.
Manufactured in various models since 1972. The field marks are
consistent, although the plane is equipped with radial engines
(model 301, lower sketch) or turboprop engines (model 302, 400,
main drawing); designed by Leland Snow, who also designed the
Snow S2 agplanes, which became the Rockwell Thrush, now the
Ayres Thrush. It is not manufactured in a two-seater (compare the
Thrush).
Weatherly 620, 620TP, 201

Length: ll'Y (8.30 m) Wingspan: 41' (12.5 m) Working speed:
105 mph (169 km/h)
Not common, and quite variable. All models have low, unbraced
wing of constant chord (width); very strong dihedral begins a few
feet out from fuselage; top of triangular tail fin is clipped. An op-
tion is detachable vanes that extend the sprav path by about 8 feet
(2.47 m).
Weatherly Aviation began by converting Fairchild M62 aircraft
to crop sprayers, and continued with their own modifications of
that design. Except for the radial engines on some models (bottom
sketch) the plane has an air of angularity about it that is unique,
including the constant-chord wings, the delta tail fin, and the trape-
zoidal tail planes. Even the tapers in the fuselage section appear to
be flat sections.
20
AGRICULTURAL PLANES
Ayres
Bull Thrush
r^^rr-X Ayres
is lurbo Inrush
620 TP
Weatherly 620, 201

Ryan ST3 (PT-21, PT-22 NR-1), Ryan ST
Length: 12'5" {6.H.^m) Wingspan: ^0'\" {9AH m) Cruising
Quite rare. Constant-chord (width); low wing; rounded tips;
both the wings and tail planes are braced, top and bottom, with
wire; cylinder heads of the standard engine project through cowl-
ing; distinct, abrupt turtleback to rear cockpit.
0{ the thousands built, more than 500 PT-21s survived WWII
training duties and entered the civilian market. Although slow, the
plane was more than strong enough for acrobatics (the point of the
noisy wire bracing). The plane had a fairly high stall speed,
64 mph (103 km/h), and sank like a rock without power. The civil
version (ST) had an in-line engine and wheel pants (see sketch); the
military five-banger was easier to work on, and the wheel pants
were dropped in deference to the abuse landing gears took from
student pilots.
Fairchild PT-19 (M62)

Length: 27'8" (8.5 m) Wingspan: 35'1 1" (11 m) Cruising speed:
120 mph (193 km/h)
Rare old birds. Unbraced low wing; twin tandem cockpits
(which may be enclosed in a greenhouse, top sketch); fixed tail-
dragger landing gear without wheel pants.
Built by the thousands; a largely wood spar and plywood exte-
rior basic trainer flown by nearly a million WWII student pilots.
Faster and sturdier than most biplanes of that era. When fitted
—
with radial engines, know^n as the PT-23 a much less common
type than the PT-19. Greenhouse canopy supplied on Canadian Air
Force versions (the Cornell) and on the few civilian models, desig-
nated M62. All were remarkably durable (although the wood con-
struction has created problems after the passage of nearly 50 years)
and regarded as forgiving and easy to fly.
Consolidated Vultee Valiant, BT-13, BT-15, SNV-1

Length: 28'7" (8.65 m) Wingspan: 42' (12.8 m) Cruising speed:
170 mph (274 km/h)
Quite rare, although 10,000 built through WWII. An odd com-
bination: fully enclosed radial engine and large fixed tail-dragging
gear (the somewhat similar T-6 is a retractable tail dragger, page
47). Tall, narrow tail fin.
Vultee developed the basic trainer BT-13 before merging with
Consolidated and built them through WWII; they were still m mih-
tary service as late as 1950. Known to a generation of pilots as
"the Vibrator" — more a reference to what it did to airport win-
dows than what it did to the pilots. Of the thousands that w^nt on
the war surplus market, most were cannibalized —the Valiant's
Wasp Junior radial engine fit the Stearman Kaydet, a popular
sportster and crop duster.
22
LOW-WING SINGLES
Ryan PT-21
Fairchild
PT-19B Cornell
Consolidated
Vultee Valiant,
BT-13
—
de Havilland DHCl Chipmunk
Length: 15' 5" (7.75 m) Wmgspan: 34'4" (10.46 m) Cruising
Rare in the U.S., more common in Canada. Unbraced low wing;
fixed tail-dragging gear. Compared to the Fairchild PT-19 Cornell,
the Chipmunk has a short, two-pane greenhouse canopy that sits
much farther back than the Fairchild's. A large air intake sits under
the propeller spinner and is offset sharply to the port side of the
aircraft.
Created in Canada to replace the biplane DH82 Tiger Moth as a
primary trainer, the Chipmunk was built from 1946 to 1953 in
Canada and Great Britain. It is the most antique looking of all the
post- WWII all-metal construction aircraft. If you have a chance to
see one near a Gipsy Moth or a Tiger Moth, note the similarity in
the slimness of the fuselage and the shape of the engine cowling
the Chipmunk is very much a one-winged Moth.
Varga Kachina
Length: IVT (6.45 m) Wingspan: 30' (9.14 m) Cruising speed:
127 mph (204 km/h)
A small, low-wing single, of modern all-metal construction, but
with an old-fashioned-looking "fighter^' cockpit canopy that covers
tandem seating; near constant-chord (width) wings with rounded
tips; upright tail fin.
A design created in wood and fabric construction by William
Morrisey, a Douglas test pilot, after WWII. Known then as the
Morrisey Nifty. Redesigned in all metal in the 1960s. Many sold
with tail-dragging gear, to appeal to the owner who wants to in-
crease the illusion that he's flying a WWII fighter plane. Built
standard with dual controls; a popular sport and training aircraft,
particularly for the weekend rental market.
Gulfstream American Yankee,

T-Cat, Lynx, AA-1, AA-5
A series of fairly common unbraced low-wing, fixed tricycle gear
two-seaters. The constant-chord (width) wings have a strong dihe-
dral, and small fillet-fairings on both edges at the wing root; bub-
ble canopy plus small side window.
Created by noted small-plane designer Jim Bede using modern
honeycomb and metal-to-metai bonded construction. Built by Bede
Aviation in 1972; then American Aviation; then by Grumman
American; finally by Gulfstream American, until 1978. The model
illustrated is the Lynx, with wheel pants. There were models built
with standard dual controls for primary training. Lower drawing
of four-place Gulfstream American Cheetah, a stretched Lynx with
a conventional cockpit canopy.
24
LOW-WING SINGLES
de Havilland
Chipmunk
Grumman
American Lynx
Gulfstream
American Cheetah
Beech Skipper 11
Length: 24' (7.32 m) Wingspan: 30' (9.14 m) Cruising speed:
112mph (180km/h)
Increasingly common fixed-gear trainer. Compare with Piper
Tomahawk before deciding. Skipper has Hershey-har wing (with
fillet-fairing to leadmg edge) and tail plane, true T-tail; trapezoidal
sidewindow in each door; shorter and wider wings than the Piper
Tomahawk. Skipper main landing gear is spraddle-legged, leaning
back and out, giving the plane a very wide stance on the runway.
In use by 1979, a year after the competitive Tomahawk. The
primary trainer for company-franchised Beech Aero Centers. Origi-
nally planned as a conventional-tail aircraft and so flown as a pro-
totype in 1978; the T-tail was apparendy triggered by the success
of the Tomahawk in 1978.
Piper PA38 Tomahawk

Length: 23' 1" (7.03 m)Wingspan: 34' (10.36 m) Cruising
speed: IHmph (183 km/h)
Very common trainer. Pure Hersehy-bar wing and tail plane
without any fillets or fairings. Wing is visibly longer and slimmer
than on comparable Beech Skipper; not quite a T-tail (a cross-tail);
rectangular window in each door.
Piper's very successful entrant into the modern trainer market,
more than 1000 ordered year (1978). Achieves the same
in the first
wide stance as the Tomahawk (for better runway control) but
without the spraddle-legged look. Tomahawk's 4-foot 9-inch
wheelbase was achieved by wing-mounting the main gear; Skip-
per's 5-foot 2-inch wheelbase requires longer wheel struts since it
arises at the root of the wing and fuselage.
Ercoupe (Alon Aircoupe, Mooney MIO Cadet)

110 mph (177 km/h)
Increasingly rare. Distinctive twin fin tail is unique on single-
engine aircraft; strong dihedral in constant-chord (width) wings;
rounded wing tips.
Designed and first built just before WWII, the Ercoupe was in-
tended as a plane for Sunday drivers, and survived until 1970
(Mooney MIO Cadet). Used a conventional steering wheel that
moved the ailerons and rudder simultaneously for turning; angle of
climb and descent governed normally, by pushing or pulling on the
"steering column" stick. It's designed to be spin and stall proof, if
not idiot proof. Ercoupe also introduced the tricycle landing gear
to the private pilot, making it astonishingly easy to fly off the run-
way. The lack of foot pedals also made flying accessible to many
handicapped pilots. (It looked so easy that the author's father
talked of buying one —
until the author's mother overheard him.)
26
LOW-WING SINGLES
Beech
Skipper
Piper
Tomahawk
!«PSS^ Ercoupe
Beech Sierra (retractable),
Sundowner, Sport, Musketeer
Length: IS'T (7.85 m) Wingspan: 32'9" (9.98 m) Cruising
Allmodels quite common. Top drawing: Sierra. Retractable gear
folds outward; wheels remain visible under wing; long, thin, rec-
tangular tail plane; perfectly rectangular wings enter fuselage with-
out any fairing. A distinct field mark, when you have other simi-
compare with it, is the high cockpit ceiling.
larly sized airplanes to
Alltwo-window versions seat three; those with three or four side
windows seat five, including the pilot.
Developed in 1969 as a retractable-gear Musketeer; marketed
since 1971 as the Sierra. Early versions were regarded as slow and
klutzy. Major changes included increased engine power (from 170
to 200 hp) and aerodynamic fairmgs underwing to shield the re-
tracted wheels —
the so-called speed bumps. Still not a high-per-
formance aircraft, but it's roomy inside, with unusually good pilot
visibility.
Middle drawing: Musketeer II. No longer manufactured. Wings
and tail surfaces are identical to Sierra, but with fixed gear. Oldest
models of Musketeer have two side windows.
Bottom drawing: Sundowner. In production. Distinguish from
other fixed-gear Musketeer types by the larger side windows (note
rear window in particular) and the longer propeller spinner and
slighdy more streamlined engine cowling. A two-window version,
with same large spinner and streamlined cowling, is the Sport.
Aerospatiale (SOCATA) Rallye

Length: 23'9" (7.24 m) Wingspan: 31 '6" (9.61 m) Cruising
A low-wing with fixed tricycle gear; large one-piece side window
on glass canopy; wing and tail plane are constant chord (width).
When in view, note the substantial bullet-shaped "close-out" fair-
ing at the tail end of the fuselage.
A variable series of small planes with two-, three-, and four-seat
versions, built in France since 1958. Various names for different
—
models Sport, Tourisme, Club, and Miner\a. It's been imported
into the U.S.and Canada since 1974; the most common model is
the 225-horsepower Minerva. The Hershey-bar wing and tail plane
resembles certain Piper models, and, curiously. Piper was the U.S.
importer in the 1970s.
28
LOW-WING SINGLES
Beech
Sierra
Musketeer II
Sundowner
SOCATA
Rallye
isIbi
PiperPA28-180R Cherokee Arrow,
Arrow II, Arrow III
162 mph (261 km/h)
Less common than the nonretractablc Cherokee series. Identical
to the fixed-gear Cherokees (see the Piper PA28 Cherokee and
Cherokee Warrior field notes, below). For simplicity's sake: The
Arrow II (illustrated) has three side windows and constant-chord
wings; a two-window Arrow is a I. The Arrow III has the new,
tapered Piper wing and is identical to the Cherokee Warrior II with
tapered wings, except for its retractable gear. There are a few Ar-
row Ills with turbocharged engines (see bottom sketch next to Ar-
row IV, page 33, showing the turbocharger air scoop). On the
flight line with wheels down, an Arrow is a Cherokee without
wheel pants. On the air traffic controller's radio, they're all just
plain Cherokees.
Piper PA28 Cherokee 140, 150, 160

Length: 23' 3" (7.08 m) Wingspan: 30' (9.14 m) Cruising speed:
with 180-horsepower engine, 130 mph (209 km/h)
Common. Small four-seater, candy-bar wing, fixed tricycle gear

with wheel pants.
Introduced in 1961, superseded by the Cherokee Warrior in
1974, when it received the multi-angled "new Piper" wing. Engines
built with 140 to 235 horsepower. The plane was eventually desig-
nated Charger. When stretched to hold six, it became the Cherokee
SIX (page 32). The 150-horsepower version, designated Flite-Liner,
was a popular club plane and trainer in the 1970s. The origmal
Cherokee introduced considerable use of simple curves and fiber-
glass and plastic construction to the small-plane market.
Piper PA28 Cherokee Warrior, Warrior II

Common. Fixed tricycle gear; always with wheel pants; note

streamlining on main wheel gear, compared to nose; dihedral in
wing, none in tail; three side windows. Wing is of complicated
geometry: leaves fuselage with fairing to leading edge; short equal-
span section; leading and trailing edges taper to tip at unequal
angles. Tail plane a pure Hershey-bar rectangle.
Flown since 1974, the first Piper to abandon their trademark of
constant-chord (width) wing plans. Sold under various names with
slight differences, including engine horsepower: Cherokee Warrior,
renamed Warrior II (160 hp), Dakota (235 hp). Archer II (180 hp).
All versions seat four, including the pilot.
30
LOW-WING SINGLES
PiperPA28-180R
'™' '
Cherokee Arrow II
Piper PA28
Cherokee 150
Piper PA28-161
Warrior II
—
PA32 Cherokee SIX, PA32R-300
Piper Lance,
PA32RT-300 Lance II
Length: 27'9" (8.45 m) Wtngspan: 32'9" (V.V5 m) Cruising
A common, large, fixed-gear airplane. Typical early Piper wing
a Hershey-bar rectangle with fairing to leading edge; an oversized
Cherokee with four side windows. The earliest models had four
squared windows, not the variable geometrical shapes seen in the
sketch. A retractable Cherokee SIX, with Hershey-bar wings, is a
Lance, of which a few models had T-tails (upper sketch).
Carrying six, including the pilot, for many years (1964-1979) it
was Piper's largest single-engine and the largest fixed-gear single in
the private aviation field. When equipped with an optional 300-
horsepower engine, it's suitable for use on skis or floats. Occasion-
ally used as an air ambulance or short-haul freighter; then
equipped with a single large door at the rear of the cabin that folds
up. Last produced in 1979, when Piper replaced it with the non-
retractable PA32 Saratoga, using the longer, tapered, "new Piper"
wing plan.
Piper PA32R-301 Saratoga

Length: 28'4" (8.64 m) Wingspan: 36'2" (1 1.02 m) Cruising
What we have here is a Cherokee SIX with the new, tapered
Piper wing. If you can't get a look at the wing, call it a Cherokee.
The Saratoga is a six-passenger addition, usually sold with re-
tractable gear, many with turbocharged engines (see sketch under
main drawing). The Saratoga basically replaced the Cherokee SIX
and the T-tailed Lance; it has been in production since 1979. The
name change signifies mostly the wing change, plus more horse-
power.
Piper PA28RT Arrow IV

Length: 27' (8.23 m) Wingspan: 35'5" (10.80 m) Cruising
Not especially common. What we have here is a Cherokee War-
rior II with a Has the tapered wings of the Warrior series
T-tail.
(page 30). A much larger plane than the little T-tailed Beech Skip-
per; fully retractable gear.
If was ever any proof that the T-tail had some sales advan-
there
tages, as opposed to utilitarian purpose, it was sticking one on the
old reliable Cherokee Warrior II/Archer airframes in 1977. The
T-tail Arrow IV comes in conventional and turbocharged models,
as does the Arrow III (see bottom sketch showing air intake).
32
/ LOW-WING SINGLES
Piper
Lance II
Piper PA32
Cherokee SIX
Piper PA32R-301
Saratoga
Piper PA32R-301T
Turbo Saratoga
PiperPA28RT-201
Arrow IV
Piper PA28RT-201T
Turbo Arrow IV
Beechcraft Bonanza 35, 33
Length: 16' 5" {H. 05 m) Wmgspan: ^y6" {\0.1\ m) Cruising
Anything with a V-tail is a Bonanza 35. Confusion is generated
by two conventional-tail aircraft, the Bonanza 36 (next entry) and
the Bonanza 33, which is identical to the Bonanza 35 except that it
has a conventional tail. (See the Bonanza 36 entry for details.)
Built from 1947 to date, more than 10,000 are flying in North
America. About 1200 were built with only two side windows, be-
fore 1961; however, some owners have added the third side win-
dow to their own pre- 1961 aircraft. It comes with a variety of en-
gines, including turbocharging. Early models had a smaller tail
surface, less steeply angled, but after-market modifications have
been made to most of those. Of all-metal construction since its in-
ception.
Beechcraft Bonanza 36
Commonest of the large, single-engine, retractable-gear planes.
Fairing from fuselage to wing's leading edge; four side windows;
large doors on starboard side. If you take the Beech 35, above, and
put a Beech 36 conventional tail on it, you have the Beech Bonanza
33 (once known as the Debonair).
Built since 1968, it seats six, including the pilot; for many years,
the only six-passenger, retractable-gear single. Turbocharged model
(illustrated) shows intake and cooling louvers on engine cowling.
The smaller Debonair/Bonanza 33 has three side windows and
seats four, including the pilot. Since 1982, the turbocharged model
has a 37-foot 6-inch (11.43-m) wingspan.
North American Rockwell

Commander 111, 112, 114
Length: 15' (7.62 m) Wingspan: 32' 11" (10.04 m) Cruising
Not common. Best field mark for this low-wing single is the tail
plane,mounted midway up the tail fin. Overhead, the wing leading
edge is straight, at right angles to the centerline, except for the
noticeable fairing from fuselage to leading edge; strong (7-degree)

dihedral in wing, none in tail plane; a wide, chubby look to the
cabin area.
Built since 1971, it's a high-performance, four-seat single. The
unusual design caused some difficulty at first, including the loss

tail
of a prototype, and the requirement to redesign the rear fuselage
and tail assembly. The interior cabin space is unusually wide for a
four-passenger single and gives the aircraft its look of being bulky
forward and over the wing.
34
LOW-WING SINGLES
Beechcraft
Bonanza 35
Beechcraft
Bonanza 36
North American
Rockwell
Commander 112
Piper PA46 Malibu
speed: estimated, 230 mph (370 km/h)
New in 1983. Marked by a heavy look to the fuselage; long,

thin wings.
The Malibu, which is turbocharged and pressurized, can operate
to 25,000 feet. The cabin is unusually large for a single (4 feet by 4
feet, interiordimensions) and does not taper from the forward to
the rear seats —
note the field mark of a rotund fuselage. The wing
design is quite unusual for a commercial aircraft: The ratio of wing
length to width (chord) is 1 1 to 1 (most business-style aircraft ra-
tios are about 7 to 1). It seats six, including the crew.
Beechcraft Lightning 38P

Length: 29' 10" (9.09 m) Wmgspan: 37' 10" (1 1.53 m) Cruising
New to the market in 1984. The best field mark will be the un-
usual sound of turbopropeller whine in a single-engine plane; two
large exhausts below engine; airscoop under propeller spinner, not
unlike a P-51's; very long-nosed.
Beech has the first turboprop single intended for the business
market. (Their T-34 Navy trainer is a small aerobatic plane.) The
fuselage and tail are identical to the twin-engine Beech Baron; the
wing, except without engines, is also. The plane will be pressur-
ized, with a ceiling of approximately 25,000 feet.
Piper PA24 Comanche

Length: 15' (7.62 m) Wmgspan: 36' (10.98 m) Cruising speed:
182 mph (293 km/h)
Chunky fuselage; commonly, two side windows, last models had
three; retractable gear is visible, tucked in against fuselage; Beech
Bonanza-type wing, fairing to a straight leading edge, tapered
trailing edge.
Piper's first low-wing was also its first The wing ap-
retractable.
pears to be a Beech borrow, but is in fact a U.S.government de-
sign — several thousand were built before production ended in
1972. For the few years, the plane stretched the cabin to seat
last
five or six and added the third window, at which point Piper
shifted to the Arrow series (page 30) as the standard six-passenger
retractable.
36
LOW-WING SINGLES
Piper PA46 Malibu
Beechcraft
Lightning
PiperPA24
Comanche
Mooney Aircraft Corporation (briefly, Aerostar)
A series of four-place, tricycle-gear aircraft with common field
marks. All leading edges — wing, tail fin, and tail plane — are
straight lines, at right angles to the centerline of the airplane. All
trailing surfaces angle forward; gives the planes the image of lean-
ing forward into the air. Compare the small, tail-dragging Mooney
Mite (page 44).
Mooney 201 (top drawing), 231

Length: 24'8" (7.52 m) Wingspan: 36' 1" (11m) Cruising speed:
167mph (269km/h)
One of the models currently being built. Difficult to separate
from other Mooneys, but has longer, rectangular side windows
compared to the M20 Chapparal types (center drawing).
The 231 is identical to the Mooney 201, except with turbo-
charged engine in slightly longer (9-inch) engine cowling.
Mooney M20 Chapparal

Length: 23 '2" (7.06 m) Wingspan: 35' (10.67 m) Cruising
A series of very similar Mooneys, various engines and names, in-
cluding Executive 21, Chapparal, and Super 21. There are some
aerodynamically important streamlining details, but none really vis-
ible. The most recent version, the Ranger (not illustrated), has fully
covered wheel wells and lacks the dorsal fin fairing to the tail fin.
All windows a bit smaller than on the Mooney 201, 231.
When Mooney was owned by Buder Aviation (1969-1972) pro-
duction airplanes (Super 21, Executive, and Ranger) carried the
odd buttonhook tail design (see sketch next to the Chapparal
drawing).
Mooney M22 Mustang

Rare, built only from 1967 to 1969. Pressurized, which shows in

the —
window design; four small side windows three square, trailing
window round. A very high performance single, with a 24,000-foot
operating ceiling.
Mooney M20D Master, and Mark 21

Length: lyi" (7.06 m) Wingspan: 35' (10.67 m) Cruising
speeds: 130-150 mph {109-1A\ km/h)
The original production all-metal Mooneys. The Mooney M20D
Master has fixed tricycle gear, but lacks typical dorsal fin fairing to
The Mooney Master, with retractable gear, grew up into the
tail.
Mooney Ranger.
The Mooney M20C (last drawing), with retractable gear, would
grow into the Mark 21 and be the parent of the Chapparal, Mark
201, and Mark 231 Mooneys. It has the dorsal fin. Both these
early four-place Mooneys show a distinct air-intake "chin" below
the propeller spinner.
38
LOW-WING SINGLES
Mooney M20
Chapparal
Mooney M22
Mustang
Mooney M20D
Master
Mooney M20C
Navion Rangemaster
Length: 27'6" (8.38 m) Wmgspan: 34'9" (10.59 m) Cruising
A rare, odd bird: a low-wing single with tip-tanks. It's essentially
similar in wing and configuration to the Ryan Navion, but
tail
with a built-up five-passenger cabin a.id automobile-type door on

the port side of the aircraft.
A Texas aircraft parts manufacturer picked up the old Ryan
Navion design, spare parts, and tools lo manufacture the Range-
master — quite similar except for the cabin, and supplied with a
all
variety of engines. Like the prototype, it comes standard with dual

controls.
Ryan Navion (L-17),

North American Aviation Navion
Rare. A low-wing single with a bulbous cockpit canopy and
slender rear fuselage. Nose wheel is visible when tricycle gear is
retracted. Could easily be confused with the even rarer Aero
Commander 200 (next entry): Navion s rear side window tapers
sharply; two-piece windshield with noticeable center strip, whereas
the Aero Commander has a much larger rear window that sweeps
up, and a one-piece windshield.
Manufactured in the late 1940s through 1951, it seats four, in-
cluding the pilot. Ryan built hundreds of low-wing trainers during
WWII, but purchased the Navion design from North American.
Came standard with dual controls and a bench seat for two more
passengers. Canopy slides back for access to cabin. Ryan added
landing gear doors and personal comfort items to the basic North
American design.
Aero Commander 200 (Meyers 200)

Length: 24'4" (7.42 m) "Wingspan: 30'6" (9.29 m) Cruising
Quite rare. A small retractable tricycle gear, distinguished by a
high cabin canopy, automobile-type door on starboard side of the
cabin. Appearance is short-winged, slim-fuselaged, aft of bulbous
canopy. Could be confused with the Ryan Navion.
Aero Commander took over the Meyers 200, buying a design
that put them in the high-performance, four-seat, retractable mar-
ket in 1965. Very few Meyers 200s and not many more (perhaps
100) Aero Commander 2d0s were built from 1965 to 1967. Built
with various engines, including one type with a turboprop, the
Interceptor 400, with cruising speeds near 300 mph. More fun to
fly than practical.
40
LOW-WING SINGLES
Navion
Rangemaster
Ryan Navion (L-17)
Aero Commander 200

Temco (Globe) Swift 125
Length: 20' 11" (6.38 m) Wmgspan: 29'4" (8.94 m) Cruising
Rare. A
small retractable, low-wing; cockpit and windows var-
ied, notgood field marks; strong (8-degree) dihedral in tail plane
—
and wings very unusual in small singles and a distinct field mark
at any altitude or attitude. Close at hand, a unique engine grill, like
something from a 1950s General Motors automobile.
A few hundred of these 1945-1951 airplanes survive. They came
standard with dual controls, some with all-Plexiglas canopy, some
with enclosed cabin. Along with the Mooney Mite, one of the first
post- WWII airplanes to take advantage of the wind-tunnel-tested
wing designs of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics
(NACA), precursor of NASA. Many fly today with much more
powerful engines than the original 125 horsepower.
Bellanca Viking (and Cruisemaster 14193C)

A small low-wing; large strongly swept tail fin; strut under tail
planes; dihedral in wing, none in tail plane; wraparound wind-
shield; two large side windows; nose wheel does not retract fully,
main gear carried in underwing fairings.
Bellanca essentially took the Cruisemaster (next entry), added a
tricycle gear, and dropped the outboard fins on the tail planes to
make the Cruisemaster 14193. The swept tail fin was added in
1958, the name changed to Viking m
1966. No longer manufac-
tured, although efforts are occasionally made to reintroduce it.
Constructed of fabric over plywood and tubing.
Bellanca Cruisemaster, Cruiseair

Cruisemaster specifications: Length: 22'H" (7 m) Wingspan:
Rare. A stubby low-wing tail-dragger; main gear remains ex-

posed when retracted; triple-tailed; central tail fin much larger than
outboard fins; wire braces on tail plane; two side windows.
About 100 Cruisemasters and a few hundred very similar Cruise-
airs (smaller engines) werefrom 1946 to 1958. Plane com-
built
bined relatively high operating speeds with low landing speeds and
a stall speed of about 50 mph. Highly regarded for sport use. Seats
three, including the pilot. Construction is fabric over plywood.
42
LOW-WING SINGLES
Temco
Swift 125
Bellanca
Viking
Bellanca
Cruisemaster
—
Mooney Ml 8 Mite
Length: 18' (5.48 m) Wingspan: 26' 10" (8.20 m) Cruising
Rare. A classic Mooney design. Though tiny, a one-seater, it has
same wing and tail surface pattern as the four-seat Mooneys lead-
ing edges of wing and tail surfaces are a straight line at right angles
to the centerlineof the fuselage.
Built from 1947 to 1954, the Mooney Mite was a favorite sport
—
plane for ex-fighter pilots inexpensive to own, cheap to fly but —
it did not answer the needs of the family-oriented pilot. Originally
designed to use the old Crosley automobile engine, the last models
(M18) had a regulation 65-horsepower aircraft engine. Still avail-
able in kit form. The first post- WWII civilian aircraft to use a
NACA wing design.
Culver LCA Cadet

Length: 17'8" (5.3 m) Wingspan: 26'11" (8.1 m) Cruising speed:
120 mph (193 km/h)
Rare. Avery small low-wing retractable; dihedral in wings, none
in tail plane. Overhead, there is a semi-elliptical curve to both
edges of wings and tail plane. Plane has a distinct sculptured look
to it, with smooth curves everywhere, as though carved from a bar
of soap. Structure mainly wood, with early fiberglass reinforcement
and fuselage skin.
Built from 1939 through WWII, with a few bench-built copies
as late as 1960. Final design was by Al Mooney, creator of the
Mooney line of aircraft; the fastest and nimblest of pre- WWII pri-
vate aircraft. Used during the war as radio-controlled target drone,
and pilot-flown as "camera-gun" target for training Air Force gun-
ners and pilots. So acrobatic, it was a satisfactory imitation of the
hottest enemy fighter planes. It is one of the curiosities of life that
Al Mooney was never brought in to design U.S. fighter planes.
North American T-28 Trojan

Length: 32' (9.76 m) Wmgspan: 40' 1" (12.23 m) Cruising
Not common. In civilian colors; fat engine cowling houses large
radial engine; long, high, Plexiglas canopy sitsatop tandem-seating
dual controls; tall, sharply angular tail fin. Plane is heavy, chunky.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the common U.S. armed forces basic
trainer sank like a rock with engine failure. It was adapted, like
many trainers, to a counterinsurgency role with underwing bomb
and rocket mounts. A counterinsurgency role usually implies
enough power to carry bombs, but only against a lightly defended
target. There have been a few civilian conversions with cabins re-
placing the cockpit/canopy, but the general configuration is un-
changed. In use in Florida as primary aircraft carrier trainer by
U.S. Navv.
44
LOW-WING SINGLES
Mooney Ml 8 Mite
Culver
North American
X T-28 Trojan
North American T-6 Texan, Harvard II

A fairly common of WWII. Long greenhouse canopy over
relic
tandem dual controls; dihedral in wing begins a few feet out from
fuselage (a "reverse gull-wing," as in Corsair). Close at hand or
overhead, note the rounded bump where the leading edge of the
wing meets the fuselage; this is a fairing to hold the retracted main
gear wheels. Tail fin is quite triangular.
Built before 1941 and in service through the Korean conflict, the
Texan, purchased as military surplus, was a popular sport plane
for veteran pilots. More often seen parked than in the air. Atten-
tion-attracting noise, when flying. More than 15,000 produced be-
tween 1941 and 1951. Overhead, the wing is typical of pre- WWII
design: nearly straight trailing edge, tapering leading edge —
like a
single-engine DC3.
Beech T-34A, B Mentor

Length: 25'10" (7.80 m) Wingspan: 32'10" (10 m) Cruising
Not common. Large greenhouse canopy over tandem dual-
control cockpit; large, slablike, upright tail fin. The clear "trainer
look" combined with a nonradial engine separates the Mentor
from the Texan and the Trojan.
In civilian hands, a popular low-wing aerobatic aircraft. In mili-
tary service from 1954 to 1960 as a common USAF and Navy
basic trainer, replacing the T-6 Trojan. Flown by the Navy only
from 1960 to 1980. The Air Force moved to all-through jet train-
ing during the years from 1960 to 1964, when most of the civilian-
owned Mentors came on the market. Curiously, after all-through
jet training was deemed a failure by the Air Force, it turned
to Cessna's 172 Skyhawk (page 76), a slow, high-wing prop
plane, for the first 30 hours of training, designating it the T-41
Mescalero.
Grumman TBF-1 (TBM-1) Avenger,

"Borate Bomber"
Length: 40' (12.2 m) Wingspan: 54'2" (16.5 m) Cruising speed:
240 mph (386 km/h)
A very rare, large, single-engine military aircraft. Original green-
house cockpit canopy usually modified, but not in any standard
manner; lower fuselage (bomb bay) steps up to tail section; square-
cut tail surfaces.
Now museums, except for a few that are flying,
restricted to
particularly in Canada, as aerial forest-fire fighters, dropping "bo-
rated" or otherwise treated wâter on fires. Gawky, ungainly, but a
fairly successful torpedo bomber. Holds a crew of three: the pilot,
bombardier/navigator, and gunner. The TBM-1 was identical, man-
ufactured by General Motors under license from Grumman.
46
LOW-WING SINGLES
North American
T-6 Texan
Beech
T-34 Mentor
Grumman TBF
Avenger
Chance Vought F-4U Corsair
3
Length: 3 8 0. 26 m
' " Wingspan: 41'
( 1 ) (12.49m) Cruising
Unmistakable. A large, noisy, radial-engine warship with a one-
man cockpit set halfway back on the fuselage. Wings drop down
from fuselage, then show sharp dihedral to tip: 'Reverse gull-
wing." May be seen in hangars with the wmgs folded up.
More than 12,000 F-4Us were produced through WWII; saw
most service in 1944 and 1945. One of the most powerful
(2000-3000 horsepower, six .50-caliber machine guns, plus two
tons of bombs or rockets) fighter-bombers ever built. Nicknamed
"Whistling Death" by Japanese pilots. The subject of the only liter-
ary poem ever written about a U.S. warplane, "Ode to an F4U
Fighter" by Yvor Winters.
North American P-51 Mustang

Rare. Most often seen at air shows. Long, slim nose with mas-
sive propeller spinner. From the side or below, note that the radia-
tor air intake for the liquid-cooled engine is set well back under the
cockpit (visible in lower sketch). Tail arrangement is unusual; tail
planes set very high and well forward (to clear the full-length rud-
der on the tail fin).
Developed by North American in 1940 to meet a British specifi-
cation for a long-range fighter-escort for British bombers that
would operate over Europe from bases in England. Top drawing
shows the most common P-51D, with a bubble canopy for good
vision to the rear. Bottom sketch shows the turtleback style of the
P-51A-C types. Aircraft Company has built modern
The Cavalier
P-51-Ds with tip-tanks to be used as counterinsurgency planes by
U.S. allies. This design was acquired by Piper Aircraft, which con-
tinued to develop the aircraft as the "Enforcer" until 1984. Coun-
terinsurgency aircraft, as wt have noted, are best defined as easily
maintained fighter-bombers for use against lighdy defended persons
and dwellings.
48
LOW-WING SINGLES
Chance Vought
F-4U Corsair
North American
P-51D Mustang
P-51B Mustang
de Havilland (Canada) DHC3 Otter
Length: 4 1' 1
0" ( 1 2. SO m) Wingspan: 58 ' ( 1 7.69 m) Cruising
Fairly common in the Far West, Alaska, and Canada. Massive
single-braced high-wing tail-dragger, with huge radial engine;
nearly two-thirds the size of a DC3. If you've never seen a
de Havilland Beaver or Otter before, note the passenger windows
— Otters show six rectangular side windows behind a cockpit win-
dow configuration that's similar to the much smaller Beaver.
Built from 1952 to 1967, this late design carries the most mas-
sive, antique appearing tail assembly of any post- WWII aircraft.
Essentially an upscaled Beaver (the design project was called "King
Beaver"), it carries up to ten passengers. Single 600-horsepower ra-
dial engine proved quite reliable, even in the Arctic. Not uncom-
mon on floats, particularly with small Alaskan and Canadian air-
taxi operators.
de Havilland (Canada) DHC2 Beaver, U-6

speed: with radial, 135 mph (217 km/h); with turboprop, 157 mph
(253 km/h)
A common float plane; less common elsewhere. Massive single-

braced high wing, much more common with radial engine (top
drawing). Land versions with fixed one-rung ladder. Factory-
standard float planes with multirunged ladder and curved ventral
finlet under tail fin. Trapezoidal passenger window with trailing
''porthole" window is typical on all models.
Built from 1948 to 1969; seats up to eight, including the pilot.
All-metal construction. Numbers of them have crashed and been
totally rebuilt. The less common turboprop (built between 1964
and 1969) also introduced the swept tail fin of modern design, as it
did a fuselage-lengthening that put the cabin forward of the wing
(bottom sketch).
50
HIGH-WING SINGLES
de Havilland DHC3
Otter
de Havilland
Beaver
Cessna 190/195 Businessliner
Length: 17 'V (8.26 m) Wingspan: 36'2" (11 m) Cruising speed:
160 mph (257km/h)
Not common. A unique combination of a tail-dragger with
skinny spring-steel wheel struts; big radial engine in a bumpy cowl-
ing; all-metal skin; and unbraced high wing. Nothing else puts all
that together.
A four-place luxury plane built from 1947 to 1954, the largest,
fastest,roomiest, and easily the most expensive of the early post-
war private planes. Model numbers refer to type of engine. A fac-
tory-standard float plane incorporates a three-finned tail, instead of
the usual ventral fin, for lateral stability to overcome the wind drift
—
on the floats a tail like a miniature version of the Lockheed Con-
stellation.
Howard DGA15, Nightingale

Very rare. Everything about this plane is heavy, oversized: Large
radial in smooth cowling; big propeller spinner; heavy gear, always
with wheel pants; fixed two-rung ladder; tall tail fin; nearby, the
V-struts enter a distinct underwing fairing.
Developed from a long-distance racer design, the D(amn) G(ood)
A(irplane) 15 was produced from 1939 (50 civilian versions) to
1942 (500 military models). Exceptionally roomy, it was a flying
ambulance for the Navy (Nightingale) and a multipurpose trainer.
High-powered, not easy to fly, not particularly forgiving. It's print-
able nickname was "Ensign Eliminator."
Curtis s- Wright Robin

85 mph (137 km/h)
One of the rarest high-wing planes illustrated. Enormous wing,
not only long, but with a 6-foot constant chord. Curious wing
braces are parallel with several auxiliary struts. Big wheels on the
main gear; squared-off trailing edge to tail fin is unusual in such an
antique aircraft.
Douglas "Wrong-Way" Corhgan, who had worked on Charles
Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, made the Curtiss-Wright Robin
forever immortal (accounting for the large interest in restoring and
recreating the 1928-1930
aircraft) by "accidentally" flying one
from Long Island, New
York, to Ireland in 1938 he always main- —
tained that he was trying to fly nonstop to Los Angeles, but his
compass reversed and he flew 180 degrees off course. Built to seat
three: the pilot followed by a pair of wicker seats that could be
offset to keep shoulders from rubbing. Corrigan flew his from a
rear seat, peering over an auxiliary gas tank in the front seat.
52
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Cessna
Businessliner
Howard DGA15
Curtiss-Wright
Robin
Stinson Reliant, AT-19 {^77)
Length: 27'10" (8.48 m) Wingspan: 41'! 1" (12.77 m) Cruising
Uncommon. A masssive braced high-wing, always with cowled
radial engine. Typical wing has a single strut; earliest models a pair
of almost parallel struts. Unique wing shape: swollen over strut
area, gives the illusion of a gull-wing. Earliest models also have a
"corrugated" cowling; typical surplus AT- 19s and all late models
have a smooth cowling.
The gull-wing Stinson Reliants appeared in 1935, continuing un-
til 1942 as the lend-lease trainer and transport designated AT-19,
used for radio and radar training in Great Britain. One of the earli-
est four- to five-seaters, it was not an uncommon short-haul air-
liner and company executive plane. A few battered models still
flying as bush planes.
Monocoupe 90
Length: 10' 6" {625 m) Wingspan: 32' (9.75 m) Cruising speed:
115 mph (185 km/h)
Quite rare. Something about this V-braced, high-winged, radial-
engined aircraft catches the eye. It is extremely short, but wide-
cabined, with very narrow rear fuselage; cowling bumps over
cylinder heads; very small propeller spinner.
Designed in Moline, Illinois, in the golden age of amateur enthu-
siasm. Built from 1930 to 1942. Extremely agile little plane, used
successfully in acrobatic and closed-course racing during the 1930s.
Once the most popular high-performance small plane, it sat two in
side-by-side comfort. Charles A. Lindbergh, who could fly anything
he wanted, owned a Monocoupe.
Fairchild 24, UC-61 Forwarder (Argus)

Length: iy9" (7.23 m) Wingspan: 36'4" (11.07 m) Cruising
No longer common. Roomy, high-backed fuselage gives the
impression of a small airliner; V-braced high wing has a return
strut to the wing root; notch (for visibility) in wing over wind-
shield is unique, so is the landing gear brace: one wheel brace from
fuselage, other from wing brace.
Built from 1932 to 1947, including several hundred wartime
UC-61s. About half the production was with a large radial engine,
but most of those still flying are the illustrated in-line types. How-
ever, the field marks are consistent. Unusually roomy interiors sat
four in military and post-1938 models. The sleek design was influ-
enced by Raymond Loewy, creator of the Coke bottle and the
Super Chief train.
54
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Stinson
Reliant (AT-19)
Monocoupe 90
Fairchild 24
UC-61
Rearwin Skyranger
Length: 21 '9" (6.6 m) Wingspan: 34' (10.36 m) Cruising speed:
100 mph (161 km/h)
Very rare. This small, fabric-covered, high-winged tail-dragger is
best singled out by a disproportionately large tail fin and single

sidewindow.
Never manufactured in large numbers (some 350 between 1940
and 1946), the little Skyranger was a comfortably furnished sport
plane that came on the market at the time that most manufacturers
were dedicating their efforts to the pre-^XÎI pilot training pro-
grams. Sat two, side by side, with standard dual controls, and, for
the time, an unusual "slotted" wing that gave aileron control at ex-
ceptionally low speeds. It has a landing speed of 48 mph.
Fleet Canuck
Length: ITS" (6.83 m) Wingspan: 34' (10.36 m) Cruising
Rare, except in Canada. Not just another V-braced constant-

chord (width) high-wing. A much jauntier look than the similarly
sized Piper Cub; more like the very similar Taylorcraft Model B
(page 64). Close by, note the rectangular side window with trailing
triangular quarter window. Compare windows and tail fin shape
with Taylorcraft before deciding.
Just over 200 built from 1946 to 1951. A popular light bush
—
plane and a common club and trainer for Canadians the least ex-
pensive plane available and built in Canada to boot. Somewhat over-
built for strength, it was not certified for aerobatics, but more than
one owner has looped it. Hard to stall or spin, with a leisurely
landing speed of 44 mph.
Stinson Sentinel, L-5

Rare. One of the few aircraft whose total impression is more dis-
tinct than individual field marks. The relatively massive, sweeping
tail, much like a B-17 tail fin; the upturned nose; and the sweeping
belly curve from nose to tail are distinctive. Close by, note the
unique cross-bracing of the side windows, making three triangular
panes. A very few of these have been converted by civilian owners
to normal-looking cockpit canopies.
From 1941 to 1944, 5000 were built. The "Flying Jeep" was the
second most common "grasshopper" in the U.S. armed forces,
right behind the Piper L-4. Sat two in tandem, but with a hinged
rear canopy it served as a flying stretcher-bearer. General George
Patton, among others, had an L-5 as a personal aircraft.
5G
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Rearwin
Skyranger
^^^t^'r^
J . i
iL
^
Fleet
Canuck
Stinson
Sentinel, L-5
Cessna L-19 or O-l Bird Dog, Ector Mountaineer
Length: 25' 10" (7.89 m) Wmgspan: W (10.9 m) Cruising
Not common. An uncomplicated little single-brace, high-wing
tail-dragger; almost vertical windshield; wraparound rear window;
curiously noncongruent side windows; noticeable (2.8-degree) wing
dihedral.
More than 3000 Bird Dogs were built from 1950 to 1958, many
in civilian use. The Ector Mountaineer is a 1980s revival, built
from off-the-shelf or reconditioned parts and more powerful en-
gines. Ector also builds the float brackets in as a standard item.
Whether Bird Dog or Ector, the odd windows and the all-metal
skin make it fairly easy to identify.
Maule Rocket, Strato-Rocket, Lunar Rocket

Length: IT (6.71 m) Wingspan: 29'8" (9.04 m) Cruising speed:
Lunar Rocket, 156 mph (251 km/h)
Not common. A chunky four-seater, V-braced, high-wing tail-
dragger. V-bracing simple, without return or supplementary
is
braces. Funny little close-out (drag-reducing) fairings behind

wheels, like Mercury's winged heels. Whether new (top drawing)
or old (partial sketch), an unusually large tail fin for such a short
aircraft. Allmodels with distinctly drooping wing tips. Engine na-
celles vary with the variety of engines supplied. Wings are short
and wide compared to other constant-chord types.
In production since 1963. More recent models have powerful en-
gines and outstanding short-field landing ability —
400-foot (122 m)
takeoff and landing rolls. The variance between maximum speed,
170 mph (273 km/li), and landing speed with flaps, 40 mph
(65 km/h), is as great as you will find in a civilian aircraft.
Champion/Bellanca Citabria, Scout, Decathlon

Length: 1T%" (6.91 m)Wingspan: 33'5" (10.19 m) Cruising
Of the small, V-braced, constant-chord, square-end winged
planes on this page, the Citabria is best distinguished by its fancy
wheel pants and squared-off tail fin.
Champion Aircraft was manufacturing the tail-dragging Cham-
pion Traveller before it shifted to this version in 1964, with its
more modern tail surfaces and wheel treatment, plus strengthening
that made it certifiable as an aerobatic plane (Citabria is Airbatic,
backward). One of the first planes capable of continued inverted
flight. From 1970 to 1980, Bellanca also built a nonaerobatic Scout
and a strengthened, fully aerobatic Decathlon.
58
HIGH-WING SINGLES
h
Cessna Bird Dog, L-19
^
Maule
Rocket
I^HHI
"r
Champion
Citabria
Arctic Tern, Interstate Cadet (L-6)
115 mph (185km/h)
Not common. Another of those darned constant-chord, V-hraced,
high-wing tail-draggers. A tandem-seat, slim plane whose most dis-
tinguishing feature is the tall, pointy tail fin, with noticeable trim-
tab showing at tail plane level. New versions (top drawing) have
squared-off wing tips; older Interstates and L-6s have round tips.
The 2 degrees of dihedral in the wing are, as usual, quite noticeable.
Very few of the originals survive, including the L-6 (not illus-
trated), which was an Interstate Cadet (bottom sketch) with a
greenhouse-type cockpit window. Interstate Cadets produced from
1937 to 1942 as trainers; L-6 until 1944. The design was revived
in 1969 in Alaska, where the Arctic Tern (top drawing) continues
to be bench-built, but with three visible changes: square wing tips,
angular rear passenger window, and tail wheel moved all the way
to the rear.
Funk (Akron) Model B to Model L

Length: 20' (6.1 m) Wingspan: 35' (10.7m) Cruising speed:
100 mph (161 km/h)
Quite rare. One of the two braced high-wing singles with a pair
of parallel braces (see the Porterfield Collegiate, page 62). Head on,
the Funk engine cowling is quite unique, showing round air intake
completely surrounding propeller spinner. Massive tail fin; squat,
chunky overall appearance.
Built from 1939 to WWII and agam from 1946 to 1948. A side-
by-side two-seater that was considered remarkably easy to fly, re-
sponsive, but stable (note the large high-lift wing and the substan-
tial stabilizing tail assembly).
Stinson lOA (Voyager 90), Voyager 108,

Voyager 108-1,2,3
Length: IT (6.71 m) Wingspan: 34' (10.37 m) Cruising speed:
108 mph (174 km/h).
Not common, and not just another braced high-wing tail-
dragger.Though the Voyager's general shape is unique, concentrate
on some fairly trivial field marks for positive identification. All the
Voyagers have a noticeable (2-degree) dihedral in the wing.
Voyager 90, model lOA (top drawing): The two-seat side-by-
side, with a possible third bench seat behind the pilot. The V-brace
to the wing is quite unusual in that it has no supplementary cross
or up-braces (contrast a typical Piper Cub). Tail plane is set ex-
tremely low. Although distinctly a fabric-covered plane, the general
effect is clean and neat, if stubby. Built from 1939 to 1942, when
it was replaced by the military L-5 (page 56).
Voyager 108 (bottom drawing): The four-seat Voyager, built

from 1946 to 1948, looks much sleeker and slimmer than the Voy-
ager 90 and has a longer engine cowling, housing an engine twice
as powerful as the pre-war Voyager's. Same simple V-brace with-
out any supplements.
Voyager 108-3 (bottom sketch): The last Voyager, with the
much larger, vertical-style tail. Seats four. A few of the 108-3s
were built by Piper until 1950.
60
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Interstate
Cadet, L-6
Funk
Model B
Voyager 108-3
Porterfield Collegiate
Length: 22'8" (6.9 m) Wingspan: 34'9" (11m) Cruising speed:
100 mph (161 km/h).
Quite rare. One of two high-wing singles with parallel double
struts. Compare with Funk (Akron) Model B (above), a much
chunkier, squatter aircraft with a larger tail fin. All fabric. If there
was nothing left of a Collegiate but the engine cowling, you could
identify it by the distinct cut-in for engine exhaust.
A tandem-seat trainer and sportster; only about 500 built before
WWII put Porterfield out of the airplane business and into manu-
facturing troop gliders in preparation for the invasion of Europe.
As a trainer, extremely popular with students; with hands off, it
would recover from spins or stalls and, for the nervous, could land
at speeds as low as 40 mph (64 km/h).
Aeronca Champ, Traveller, Tri-Traveller, L-16

Length: 21'6" {6.56 m) Wingspan: 35' (10.66 m) Cruising
Very similar to the Aeronca Tandem, and the Aeronca Chief;

separate from the Tandem by the Champ's smooth engine cowling,
from the Chief by the slimmer fuselage/cabin, indicating its tandem
seating.
Built from 1948 to 1964, the last dozen years by the Champion
Aircraft Company, which acquired
the design from Aeronca. MiH-
tary observation versions (L-16) had four large, square side win-
dows, otherwise identical. Champion Aircraft called it the Traveller
and also manufactured more than 1000 Tri-Travellers, a popular
flight instructionmodel. The Tri-Traveller sits on its tricycle gear
with its nose distinctly turned up, quite noticeable on the flight
line.
Aeronca Chief, Super Chief

Length: 21' {6.3 m) Wingspan: 36' (10.9 m) Cruising speed:
95 mph (153 km/h)
A pair of somewhat stubby, braced high-wing two-seaters. Like
so many WWII planes, it's of fabric construction, with constant-
chord (width) wings and rounded tips. Close at hand, Aeronca's
trailing edge of the tail fin shows a noticeable extrusion an ad-—
justable trim-tab. Once you've positively noted this, you'll find the
shape of the entire plane sufficiently distinctive for long-range iden-
tification. The Super Chief tail is much larger (bottom sketch). The
Champion is very similar; its slimmer fuselage indicates the
tandem- seating for two.
The original Chief was designed to take Continental's revolu-
tionary opposed four-cylinder engine; first flown in 1938. With
side-by-side seating for two, it was cosier than contemporary tan-
dems, including the popular Piper Cubs. The Chief production
ended in 1948. The Super Chief was built between 1946 and 1950.
62
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Porterfield
Collegiate
Aeronca
Champ
Aeronca
Chief
Super
Chief
Aeronca 15AC Sedan
Length: 25'3" (7.70 m) Wmgspan: 37'6" (1 1.43 m) Cruising
A rare high-wing tail-dragger: The single-wing brace attaches

much farther outboard than somewhat similar Cessna high-wings.
The distinctive tail fin appears to lean forward and shows the typi-
cal Aeronca bump.
Never common, the Sedan (close at hand, note the automobile-
style door and window configuration) was built from 1947 to
1950. Perhaps 120 are still flying, some on floats. A roomy four-
seater with good "high and hot" flying characteristics, it's capable
of taking off with less than 500 feet of ground roll at sea level.
Came standard with dual controls.
Taylorcraft Model B, Taylorcraft F19

and F21 Sportsman
Length:
speed: 115
1T\"
mph
(6.73 m)
(185 km/h).
Wmgspan: W (10.97 m) Cruising
A variety of airplanes, based on a pre- WWII design, but in pro-

duction as late as 1982. Large, upright tail fin with a distinct flat
spot on the rudder; long, slim fuselage appears to "pinch down" to
the tail assembly. Compare carefully with Taylorcraft Model D and
L-2 Grasshopper (next drawing). Lowest-priced Model Bs lacked
the rear quarter-window.
The classic Model B Taylorcrafts, built from 1938 to 1958,
lacked such niceties as wheel pants; so did the Taylorcraft F19
Sportsman, built by the revived company in 1968 (top drawing).
Most sat two side by side, but a few were built in the 1950s to
seat four. The revived Taylorcraft F19, and the last model, the
wheel-panted (or, as they say in Britain, the "spatted-wheel") F21,
returned to the two-seater format.
Taylorcraft Model D, L-2, 0-57

Fairly common. Compare closely to the Taylorcraft Model B,
noting that it has the same large tail with a flat spot on the rudder.
Always with exposed cylinder heads (but so were a few Model Bs).
If tandem seating is visible, that separates it from the Model Bs; so
does the A-shaped supplementary brace from the V-brace to the
wing (Model B and F19 and F21 have a rectangular supplementary
brace).
The L-2, with greenhouse canopy and cut-down fuselage (bot-
tom sketch), was a popular war-surplus purchase.
There was no advantage to retooling from the dual control
Model B trainers to the Model D Tandem trainer, except that it
was the general wisdom that instructors should ride behind, not
next to, the student. Several thousand Tandems and L-2s (also
known as 0-57) were built from 1941 to 1945.
64
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Aeronca
Sedan
Taylorcraft
Model B
Taylorcraft
Tandem
Model D
L-2 t
Aeronca Tandem 65T, L-3
Length: 22 '4" (6.8 m) Wingspan: 35' (10.6 m) Cruising speed:
80mph (130km/h)
Not common. Shares some field marks with early Piper Cubs.
Engine cylinders show through cowling (as on Piper J3) but Tan-
dem's cowUng looks pug-nosed. A small triangular brace was
added to main wing braces. Tail rounded (note flat spot on Piper
J3 Cub tail). The rear window shape is unique.
The Tandem was designed in 1940 for the pre- WWII Civilian
Pilot Training Program —
it's basically an Aeronca Chief with tan-
dem seating. The rear seat, in a useful invention, was suspended six
inches higher than the front seat, for visibility. The Army Air Force
ordered thousands of Tandems with extra windows (bottom
sketch) as the L-3, a liaison and observation airplane.
Piper J3 Cub Trainer, PAll Cub Special, J5 Cub

Cruiser, PAll Super Cruiser, J4 Cub Coupe
Length: 22'4" (6.80 m) Wingspan: ?>5'y (10.74 m) Cruising
speeds: J3, 80mph; Super Cruiser, 100 mph (129-161 km/h)
Not every constant-chord (width) high-wing, fabric tail-dragger
is a Cub; it just seems that way.
J3 (top drawing): Exposed cylinder heads (compare Aeronca
Tandem, L-3), V-brace, and distinct flat spot on tail. Some 5000
built before WWII. A popular tandem-seat, two-man trainer that
introduced nearly 75 percent of WWII aviators to flying, mostly
through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. More than 5000 built
for WWII observation-liaison as L-4.
PAll Cub Special, J5 Cub Cruiser, PA12 Super Cruiser (middle
sketch): In spite of a variety of engines and names, these are all
three-seaters (one pilot seat, and two passenger seats to the rear),
with fully enclosed engine. Several hundred still flying, particularly
the higher-powered Super Cruisers; many on floats. About 6000
built of the various three-seaters.
J4 Cub Coupe (bottom drawing): Rarest of all. Compare closely
to Super Cub (next entry) before deciding. Engine cowling shows a
distinct bump over cylinder heads (compare middle sketch and
Super Cub drawing), a pudgy, dumpy look caused by stuffing a
side-by-side two-person cockpit onto the slim J3 Cub fuselage,
which was designed for tandem seating. The J4 Cub Coupe tail is
more rounded than the J3, etc., making it quite similar to Super
Cub tail.
(^6
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Aeronca
Tandem
J4 Cub Coupe
Piper PA18 Super Cub, L-18
Length: ITT (6.88 m) Wingspan: 35'2" (10.73 m) Cruising
Common as crabgrass. Tail-dragging, all-fabric, rounded-tip,
constant-chord (width), braced high-wing, with smooth cowling
completely enclosing engine. Compare the J3 and Cub Cruiser (pre-
vious entry). Always something showing below propeller spinner —
a location Piper has used for a variety of engine air intakes, land-
ing lights, etc., all absent on the earlier Cubs.
First flown in 1949, kept in production (from inventory parts) as
late as 1982, although dropped from Piper's official list that year.
The success of the tandem two-seat Super Cub with standard dual
controls was unquestioned — more than 30,000 were sold in the
first 22 years of production. While the Super Cub endured, the var-
ious three- and four-seat Cubs were dropped in favor of new low-
wing designs. The Super Cub, with more sophisticated construction
methods (metal instead of wood wing spars, for example), is still
essentially a power upgrade of the old tandem, two-seat J3. Now
built by WTA, Inc., Lubbock, Texas.
Luscombe 8A-8F, Silvaire

105 mph (169 km/h)
Uncommon. A small all-metal plane, usually finished in plain
polished aluminum. Strong men refer to it as "dainty" and "beauti-
ful." Pre-war models had fabric-covered wings. Wings show slight
tapers toward the tip, separating it quickly from its constant-chord
cohort. A distinct notch in the trailing edge of the wing over the
cockpit is visible; it's similar to biplane upper wings. Compare the
Cessna 140 before being sure.
A pure sport and touring two-seater, designed in 1937 by Don
Luscombe, author of the Monocoupe light plane design. Only 1200
built before WWII, but more than 5000 built from 1945 to 1949
by Luscombe. A few more built by Temco, and some bench-built
by Silvaire as recently as 1960. Drawing shows the original 8 A to
8D models with V-strut; 8E onward had a single strut.
68
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Luscombe
Silvaire
Cessna 120, 140
Still common. A braced high-wing, tail-dragging single. Most
with two braces on a constant-chord (width) wing with rounded

tip. Deeply recurved tail planes, rounded tail fin. The model 120
was a stripped-down version, but the only visible difference is that
the 120 lacks the quarter-window behind passenger window. In
1949-1950, the 140D had the new all-metal Cessna wing and a
single brace —it looks exactly like the model 170 (lower drawing),
but with a smaller quarter-window behind the door, and no dorsal

fin fairing to the tail fin.
Introduced in 1946, the two-seat Cessna 120/140 was one of the
least expensive and highest-powered (85 hp) private airplanes you
could buy. The spraddling spring-steel landing gear was so bouncy
that the plane was actually more comfortable on grass strips than
paved runways, and it matched up nicely with the pasture pilots
and small grass airports that were typical of the late 1940s. Nearly
5000 built by 1950, when production ended.
Cessna 170
110 mph (177 km/h)
Still common. An all-metal, tail-dragging, braced high-wing sin-
gle with spring-steel landing gear. The rounded tail fin merging
into a long dorsal fin is unique (other planes with the dorsal fin
leading into the tail have more angular tail fins). A
few (less than
10 percent) are early models with constant-chord wing and two
wing struts, and without the dorsal fin: They resemble the 120/140
(previous entry) but are larger overall, with a much larger rear
quarter-window.
The 170 was essentially a trade-up to four seats from the ex-
tremely popular Cessna 140. After one year (1948) the company
introduced the all-metal tapered wing and subsequently sold nearly
5000 170s. It became the Cessna 172 after eight years of produc-
tion by the simple addition of a tricycle gear and an angular, less
romantic tail fin. Some 170s, meant for paved-only use, have wheel
pants on the main gear.
Cessna 208 Caravan

Length: 377" (11.46 m) Wingspan: 51'8" (15.75 m) Cruising
New in 1984. A monster single, comparable to the de Havilland
Otter in size; single Cessna-style brace to wing; five passenger win-
dows; angular tail surfaces.
The Caravan, with a single turbocharged 600-horsepower en-
gine, carrying up to 14 people, is an attempt to find a replacement
for the no-longer-manufactured de Havilland Otters and Beavers
and the many Cessna 180s and 185s. The tall fixed gear is meant
for unimproved airstrips. Sales to military services are expected, as
ambulance, parachute, and light transport. It can carry a ton and a
half of freight more than 1000 miles.
70
/ HIGH -WING SINGLES
Cessna 140
Cessna 170
Cessna
Caravan
Cessna 180/185 Skywagon, Carryall, Agwagon
A large tail-dragger, with braced high wing. Size, and the pres-
ence of three side windows, separates it from the 140/170 (page
70). Has a substantial tail —
slightly smaller on the model 180 than
—
on the 185 but this is difficult to determine the first time, unless
the planes are side by side. After you've seen them both, it's quite
noticeable.
In constant production, with minor changes (windows, engines,
and making the drooping wing tip standard on recent models)
since 1953. The big-tailed, six-seat 185, first produced in 1961, is a
very common float plane in the north woods. There are standard
spray-boom-equipped models for agricultural use; these show not
only the booms, but a 160-gallon spray tank that attaches to the
fuselage under the cockpit. The slight (less than 2-degree) dihedral
in the wing is quite noticeable.
Helio Courier, U-10

150 mph (241 km/h)
Not common. Unbraced high, constant-chord (width) wing; usu-
ally a tail-dragger; a veryfew with fixed tricycle gear. On tail-drag-
gers, the forward gear is on extremely long struts and is set well
forward of the wing. Very tall, upright tail fin.
Manufactured from 1955 to 1978, about half the small produc-
tion went to the U.S. Air Force as U-lOs, a common liaison, cargo,
and anti-insurgency plane in the Vietnam War. The only airplane
completely designed by Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of
Technology faculty members. Full-length leading-edge slotted flaps
and massive slotted trailing-edge flaps give it a bizarre short takeoff
and landing capability. Seats up to six. Whatever the gear or en-
gine type, the tail and wing configurations are consistent.
Piper PA20 Pacer, PA22 Tri-Pacer, PAIS Vagabond

Length: 20'4" (6.2 m) Wingspan: 19' 4" (8.9 m) Cruising speed:
130 mph (209 km/h)
A set of braced high-wing singles with two struts to wing (com-
pare similar Cessnas, with a single brace). Wings similar in shape,
but much stubbier than on the Piper Cub and Super Cub. The Tri-
Pacer (top drawing) also shows a large air scoop over the nose
gear.
Piper, which had been building the very successful tandem-seat
Cub decided to add another low-cost item in 1948 and
series,
1949, the fabric-winged PA15 Vagabonds, side-by-side two-seaters.
These quickly grew into the four-seat Pacers, with more powerful
engines than the Cubs. The much stubbier Pacer wing (about three-
quarters the total area of the Cub wing) did allow the Pacer to fly
about 20 mph faster than the comparable Cub. Because of the lack
of lift in the shorter wing, it climbed about two-thirds as fast as
the Cub.
72
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Cessna
Skywagon
Helio
Courier
Piper
Tri-Pacer
Pacer
Cessna 150, 152
Length: 24'1" (7.34 m) Wingspan: 33'2" (10.1 1 m) Cruising
A small braced high-wing planes; all two-seaters; com-
series of
monly with dual controls for training. From 1970 onward,
fitted
an optional version (the Acrobat) had structural strengthening for
—
acrobatic flying these will have a pair of cockpit ceiling through-
the-wing windows. Some 30,000 150s and 152s were built (most
of them resembling the top drawing). Many converted to tail-
draggers.
Model 150A, B, C
(bottom drawing): Note two side windows
and upright tail fin. About 3000
built from 1959 to 1963.
Model 150D (not illustrated): Built only in 1964; has the single
side window and wraparound rear window of the late Model 150s
and all Model 152s (top drawing) but with the upright tail fin of
the earlier 150s.
Model 150s built from 1965 to 1977, and all Model 152s built
from 1978 to date (top drawing): Single side window, wraparound
rear window, swept tail fin. The 1965 150Es had a shorter dorsal
fin fairing into the swept tail.
North American Rockwell Darter Commander,

Lark Commander
Length: Lark, 27'2" (8.28 m) Wingspan: ?>5' (10.67 m) Cruising
Rare. Constant- chord wings, with square tips; tricycle gear.

Darter Commander (upper sketch) is 5 feet shorter and has upright
angular tail fin. Lark Commander (main drawing) stretched the fu-
selage and added swept tail fin.
Odd little company, which
four-seaters: designed by the Volaire
was acquired by Aero Commander, which was acquired by Rock-
well. From 1968 to 1971, Rockwell built fewer than 200, as the
parent company switched to low-wing designs in single-engine air-
craft (the Aero Commander 112). Intended to compete with the
Cessna 150, of which more than 10,000 had been delivered before
the Darter/Lark came on the market.
74
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Cessna 152
Cessna 150
Aero Darter
^^ Commander
Aero Commander
Lark Commander "t"
Cessna 172, 172 Skyhawk, T-41 Mescalero,
175 Skylark, Cutlass, Cutlass RG, Hawk XP
172 Skyhawk, 140 mph (225 km/h)
Ubiquitous. A series of classic high-wing single Cessnas. Still in
production, but we'll take them in order, from the 1956 introduc-
tion of the Cessna 172, essentially a 170 with tricycle landing gear:
Cessna 172 (top drawing): Two side windows; no rear window;
high, unswept tail fin, with corrugated rudder. Squared-off nose
(compare with the 182/Skylane cowling, small sketch above 172
drawing),
Cessna 172 Skyhawk (model years 1960 to 1963) and 1958
model year Skylark (lower drawing): This is the old 172 cabin con-
figuration with swept tail fin and wheel pants.
Cessna 175 Skylark (1959 to 1962): The Skylark was distm-
guished, until maintenance problems killed the idea, by a geared
down propeller. Note the hump behind the propeller spinner;
otherwise identical to contemporary Skyhawks.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk (1964 to date): Drawing shows the 1982
model, with a long dorsal fin fairing to tail fin, and wraparound
rear window. The dorsal fin was shorter when the plane was intro-
duced; reached this length in 1971. Distinguish it from same-age
it
182 Skylanes, which have a flat rear window. Skylanes are also
bulkier and huskier than Skyhawks, but you should make the dis-
tinction close at hand, and then learn the conformation. Some 172s
seen in blue and white paint, with "U.S. Air Force" lettered on the
side, but without other insignia, in civilian-operated contract flight
schools near Air Force training bases, where it is the 30-hour pri-
mary trainer, designated T-41 Mescalero.
Cessna Hawk XP (extra performance) (1978 to date): A 172
Skyhawk with fixed gear, a more powerful engine, and subde dif-
ferences in only the nose cowling. Note the larger spinner and the
sleek cowling, with landing lights just above the nose wheel.
Cessna 172 Cutlass: A 180-horsepower version of the 172 Sky-
hawk; no visible differences.
Cessna 172 Cudass RG: A retractable-gear Skyhawk; wheel
wells remain open. Distinguish from the very similar, but bulkier,
retractable Skylane RG by the wraparound rear windshield. After
you've seen them both close at hand, the difference in their shape
will be a better field mark.
76
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Cessna 182
(pre-1960)
Cessna 172 (p
Cessna Skylark
(1959-1962)
<^
Cessna Skyhawk
[1982 model)
Cessna
Cutlass RG
Cessna 182 Skylane, Skylane RG
A pair of identical braced high-wing singles. One, the RG, has

retractable gear (top drawing), which increases the cruising speed
to 179 mph (289 km/h). When retracted, note the open wheel wells
on each side of the fuselage. Experienced pilots often can tell the
difference between the Skylanes and the Skyhawks (page 76), but
not so many as think they can. Skylanes have a flat, nonwrap-
around rear window. Compare the Cessna 172 series (page 76)'-
Early 172s lacked rear window; later types have wraparound rear
window.
Various models have been in continuous production since 1956.
What we have here is a more powerful version of the older model
172. But Cessna already had that in the model 180. There was an
era, in the 1950s and 1960s, when manufacturers attempted to
make every possible sort of light plane, with nearly insubstantial
differences directed at very specific markets.
Cessna Stationair, Skywagon, and Super Skylane

Stationair 7 specifications: Length: 31*9" (9.68 m) Wingspan:
Common, variable. A series of pilot plus five- or six-passenger
aircraft most easily distinguished from
Cessna stablemates by
their
sheer size; all with single brace, wheel pants,and swept tail fins.
Cessna 205 and 206 (Stationair 5, 6) and Super Skylane (top
drawing): three passenger windows. The more comfortably ap-
pointed Super Skylane looks just like a Stationair 6 from the port
side but has a single door, not the double cargo doors of a Station-
air, on the starboard side. This group has the same wing, but a
fuselage length of 28 feet (8.53 m).
Cessna 207, 208 (Stationair 7, 8) (bottom drawing): Noticeably
longer, emphasized by the four, not three, side windows.
Until the invention of the fourteen-passenger Caravan, the Sta-
tionair 8 was the largest braced-wing Cessna, and one of the larger
single-engine planes, made. It will come as no comfort to those
who try to put the proper names on things to Learn that the origi-
nal model 206 was called a Skywagon, that the next version, the
model 207, was also given that name, and that the 206 was then
called a Stationair again. When the final version of the 207 came
out, it was called a Stationair 8. Several thousand of all types have
been built since 1964. For the real Skywagon, see page 72.
78
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Cessna
Skylane RG
Cessna 182
Skylane
Cessna
Stationair 6
Cessna
Stationair 7, 8
Cessna Centurion, Turbo Centurion
speed: Centurion, 193 mph (311 km/h); Turbo, 222 mph
(357 km/h)
An unbraced high-wing. The tail plane is mounted slightly higher
than on Cardinal series; two large side windows on Centurion,
four small windows on pressurized Turbo Centurion (but compare
the Cardinal RG, next drawing). Almost all Centurions have a dor-
sal fin that begins at the rear of the cabin (compare shorter fin on
Cardinal RG).
Seating the pilot plus six, the Centurions have been in produc-
tion since 1967, and their combination of unbraced high wing and
retractable gear, along with the Cardinal RG, is unique in the in-
dustry. The pressurized Centurion was added to the line in 1977.
There are a few early models around, built from 1964 to 1966,
which have a braced wing, that are virtually indistinguishable from
a Cessna Cudass RG (previous entry). If you see an unbraced-wing
Centurion that appears to have a smaller dorsal fin than illustrated
(or happen to see a pair of them parked side by side), it is one of
the models built in 1967 or 1968. Centurions built from 1969 to
1978 had doors to cover the main landing gear. Models built from
1979 to date have eliminated the doors and show a distinct notch
just under the rear of the cabin (typical as on lower drawing of the
T210 pressurized Centurion).
Cessna Cardinal Classic, Cardinal RG

Length: 27'3" (8.31 m) Wing span: 35'6" (10.82 m) Cruising
speed: RG, 139 mph (224 km/h)
Anything with an unbraced wing and fixed tricycle gear is a
Cardinal. The retractable model is best distinguished from the simi-
lar Cessna Centurion by smaller size; dorsal fin to tail begins well
behind cabin on both models; tail plane set very low (appears to be
glued on, not inserted, as on the Centurion).
More than 4000 of these dapper litde planes were built from
1967 until production ceased in 1978. (Early models were desig-
nated 177; the name "Cardinal" originally indicated a 177 with
more horsepower, fancier interiors, and full blind-flying instrumen-
tation.) The unbraced wing looks attractive, but it actually added
Uttle speed, or efficiency. Cessna found that in the four-seater busi-
ness it was competing with itself, the braced-wing Cessna Skylane
RG being a perfectly acceptable, siighdy less expensive alternadve
to the Cardinal RG. The model 177 was withdrawn in 1976, fol-
lowed by two years of producing only Cardinals.
80
HIGH-WING SINGLES
Cessna
Centurion
^^••i
Turbo
Centurion
Cessna
Cardinal RG
Cessna
Cardinal
Classic
Lake LA-4 Buccaneer (and variations)
LA-4-200 specifications: Length: 14' W" (7.6 m) Wingspan: 38'
(11.6 m) Cruising speed: 150 mph (241 km/h).
A series of four- to six-place amphibians.

High-winged flying boat or amphibian with a single engine
mounted on pylons high above the cabin, with the propeller in the
pushing position. A similar plane, with the propeller in the conven-
tional traction position, is the TSC-1 Teal.
There are a few pure flying boat versions of this aircraft, which
are the original manufacturer's Colonial Skimmer, middle sketch,
first flown in 1955. The Skimmers also lack the support struts on
the engine pylon. Planes produced since 1960 have been amphib-
ian, with engines ranging from 150 to 200 horsepower. The Rene-
gade, bottom sketch, seats five and is 28 feet 10 inches (8.79 m)
long. The Buccaneer series also can be separated from the Teals by
the tail plane. All Teals have a T-tail; all Skimmers and Buccaneers
have a tail plane mounted midway up the tail fin.
TSCl Teal
Teal II specifications: Length: 23'7" (7.19 m) Wingspan: 31'11"
Two- to four-passenger amphibian. Traction engine is mounted

high above the fuselage on four struts.
In the world of flying boats, the Teals are flying canoes, espe-
cially the early Teals, although there is now a Teal III that carries
up to four passengers. Any T-tailed, traction propeller, high-en-
gined amphibian is a Teal. Teals come with standard dual controls
and seats that fold up for fishermen, the aircraft's typical pur-
chaser. First produced in 1969, the plane has been built by the de-
signer, Thurston Aircraft, by Schweitzer, and now by the Teal Air-
craft Company.
82
AMPHIBIANS
Lake
Renegade
TSCl Teal
Republic RC3 Seabee
A fat-cabined, thin-fuselaged amphibian with a gently curved
leading edge to the tail fin. Pusher propeller mounted on the rear
of the cabin. See the similar Trident Tri-Gull.
The Seagull on land is clearly a tail-dragger, and the rear wheel
stays down in flight as the two front wheels retract up to, but not
into, the fuselage. It was with visions of a vast postwar leisure-time
market that the Republic Aviation Company purchased Percy Spen-
cer's design for his home-built Spencer S-12 in 1943 and certified
the plane in 1946. It was an era when men were seriously design-
ing flying automobiles as well. Republic cranked out 1080 of the
planes in a little more than two years, at a net loss of some $14
million. The mass market never caught up with the costs of tooling
up and producing aircraft that sold for less than $6000.
Trident TR 1 Trigull 320

Still rare,except in the Pacific Northwest. Pusher engine
mounted on, not above, the fuselage, fat-cabined and wasp-
waisted, with straight-line tail fin.
A modern version of the old Seabee, manufactured in British Co-
lumbia, the Trigull is clearly newer. Note the angular, rather than
sculpted, lines to the fuselage and tail section. In flight, it's easily
distinguished by the pontoons that fold up and become part of the
wing's aerodynamic surface. The tricycle landing gear includes a
nose wheel that remains visible when retracted and serves as a
bumper. The plane's light weight (foam and fiber glass construc-
tion, plus the retractable pontoons) gives it a distinct performance
edge over the Seabee. However, because of financing problems,
many more have been ordered than delivered.
Grumman G21 Goose

Original specifications: Length: 38 '4" (11.68 m) Wingspan: 49'
The oldest Grumman amphibian. Fully rounded tail planes and

fin and twin engines that angle out noticeably away from the cen-
terlme of the aircraft.
The Goose is such an old design (built from 1937 to 1946) that
many owners have changed such details as cockpit and fuselage
windows. Many fly today with turboprops replacing the old radials
and with retractable floats that fold up and become part of the
wing surface in flight. But the angled-out engme position remains
despite all other modifications. Crew of two and four to six pas-
sengers. Identifying the Goose is really dependent on recognizing its
Grumman origins and its old-fashioned boatlike lines. The some-
what similar Grumman Widgeon is noticeably smaller, and the
very rare Grumman Mallard has a distinctly upswept look to the
rear fuselage. See those entries before deciding you've seen the
Goose.
84
AMPHIBIANS
Republic
1 RC3 Seabee
Trident
Trigull
Grumman
Goose
Grumman G44 Widgeon
speed: 130 mph (209 km/h) Mach 0.196
A small airplane with in-line twin engines mounted parallel to
aircraft midline; sculpted Grumman-style fuselage.
Smallest of the twin-engine flying boats, the Widgeon saw exten-
sive service as a patrol and antisubmarine craft in World War II.
Although many have been converted to turboprops, the original
Widgeon was sold with in-line engines, giving it a profile much dif-
ferent from the radial-engine Goose or Mallard. It is, in most re-
scaled-down Goose, including the double-strut
spects, simply a
floatmount; note, however, the less rounded tail fin and tail plane.
Most of the 100 or so Widgeons still flying in North America have
been converted by the McKinnon Company to turboprops and re-
tractable wing-tip floats.
Grumman G73 Mallard

Rare. Large, with noticeable upswept rear fuselage and very high
radial engines and solid float pylons.
tail fin; large
Only 59 ten-passenger Mallards were built between 1946 and
1951. Look for one of the few remaining Mallards m
Louisiana's
bayou country and in the Bahamas. Most of these will have con-
versions to turboprop engines: some have retractable floats. The
only possible confusion is with the much larger (100-foot wing-
span) Grumman Albatross (next entry). The Albatross fuselage is
massive, compared to the Mallard, and all Albatross noses show a
distinct, protruding radar dome. As a luxury flying yacht, the Mal-
lard flew for persons as diverse as Henry Ford and King Farouk of
Egypt.
Grumman G64 Albatross

Scarce. Very large, with twin radial engines; sculpted, curving
fuselage; cantilever wing (no struts).
Another "Grumman looking" aircraft, with solid pylons for the
wing-tip floats and huge radial engines. The Albatross was built for
air-sea rescue, patrol, and antisubmarine warfare. Note the nose
radar dome, which is not seen on the smaller Grummans. The Can-
adair CL-215 (next entry) is almost as large as the Albatross, but,
compared to a Grumman design, is all straight lines, whereas the
Grummans have curves and shiplike moldings. Military versions
were HU-16 in the U.S. Coast Guard, CSR-110 in the Canadian
armed forces. Last military service was with U.S. Coast Guard; de-
commissioned in 1983.
86
AMPHIBIANS
McKinnon
T-Prop
Grumman Conversion
Widgeon
Grumman
Mallard
JL
Grumman
Albatross
Canadair CL215
Scarce. Large, with angular tail fin and rectangular wing and tail
planes; twin radial engines.
The only twin-engine amphibian in production today, the CL215
was designed as a self-filling water bomber and is seen most fre-
quently in the province of Quebec, where it plays that role. There
are a few passenger and cargo versions, but they are easily identi-
fied no matter what the configuration of windows and doors. All
CL215s will have large radial engines (never turbos or in-lines)
mounted high on the wing. None has a retractable float. The plane
can land on water; pick up 1500 gallons (6 tons) of water from
the lake, and take off with only 2000 feet of running room.
Convair PBY-5 and PBY-6 Catalina

Extremely rare. Huge parasol wing braced with wing struts; twin
radial engines. The fuselage appears to hang suspended from the
wing.
Although designed in 1935, the Catalina came equipped with re-
—
wing floats something available only as postproduction
tractable
modifications to Grumman flymg boats. Most of the original PBYs
were pure flying boats; most of the survivors are amphibious. Mili-
tary PBYs had blister gun ports aft of the wings and a Plexiglas
gun turret in the nose (or "bow"). The few civilian modifications
still around have removed the forward gun turret, though a few
kept the side blisters for sightseeing flights. The PBY-6, last of the
series built, is identical to the PBY-5, except for a taller, thinner
tail fin. A four-engine version, the Coronado, is no longer flying.
AMPHIBIANS
Canadair
CL215
U Convair
Catalina, PBY-5
Wing Dl Derringer
Length: 23' (7.01 m) Wingspan: 29'2" (8.89 m) Cruising speed:
210 mph (338 km/h)
New and very rare. A very small twin: constant-chord (equal
depth) wing; strongly swept tail fin; molded, one-piece side and
windshield; rear window in cockpit roof.
Exhibited at the Paris Air Show in 1971, but not produced until
1980. It is of stretched metal construction, very sleek and rivetless.
There is a prototype military version, intended as an inexpensive
counterinsurgency plane for export to small countries. The only
two-seat twin-propeller aircraft in production.
Beech Duchess 76
Quite common. Small twin; three side windows; one-piece
curved windshield; Hershey-bar T-tail plane and wing; more
pointy-nosed than the comparable Piper Seminole; distinct bullet
on tail plane; engine nacelles stop at wing's trailing edge.
Beech's entrant in the small four-seater twin market, used for
multiengine training. First flown in 1974; first deliveries in 1977.
The T-tail was extremely popular in the 1970s. Note the Piper
Seminole and Cheyenne and the Beech Super King Air. The interest
in T-tails was perhaps an affectation triggered by their wide use on
jet airliners. Piper even added T-tails to existing single-engine
models, the Lance and the Arrow. The Lance, however, reverted to
a conventional tail, whereas the Arrow retained the T.
Piper PA44 Seminole

Length: 27' 6" (8.39 m) Wingspan: 38'7" (1 1.76 m) Cruising
A small,common twin. T-tail; flattened engine nacelles extend
slightlybehind wing; two-piece windshield; three side windows of
irregular geometry (compare the small T-tail Beech Duchess 76 be-
fore deciding). The other two T-tail twins are much larger (see the
Piper Cheyenne III and Beech Super King Air).
The Seminole (no relation to the U.S. Army "Seminole," their

nickname for the military version of the Beech Queen Air) is a
four-seat light transport and is popular as an inexpensive multi-
engine trainer. Comes in a turbocharged version that is identical on
the exterior, but has an altitude, ceiling of 20,000 feet and a pres-
surized cabin.
90
TWINS
Wing
Derringer
Beech
Duchess
Piper PA23 Apache
Length: 27'3" (8.30 m) Wingspan: 37' (1 1.28 m) Cruising
Increasinglyuncommon. An old-fashioned small twin, rounded

planes and wing tips; two (rarely three) side windows;
tail fin, tail
small engines set close to fuselage; retracted wheels stay slightly ex-
posed and are visible.
Built from 1954 to 1960, the first really light twin with eco-
nomical engines; seats four. The wheels that do not quite retract
are so built deliberately (as on many WWII bombers) —you can
still land the plane if the system fails to extend the wheels; what's
more, you can land, even if you forget to drop the wheels, without
automatically demolishing the aircraft. Most restored models have
higher horsepower engines and slighdy higher cruising speeds. A
few models were built with three side windows.
Piper PA23 Aztec, PA23-235 Apache

A family of similar aircraft. Conventional tail, low-wing twin;
swept angular tail fin; three side windows; noses vary in length
from short (PA23-235 Apache) to medium (Aztec B, C) (top draw-
ing) to long (Aztec D and later models). Seen overhead, the wing
has complicated geometry: basically a Hershey-bar shape, but with
added rounded wing tips and fairings from the fuselage to the lead-
ing edge of the wing at the engine nacelle, and from the outboard
side of the engine nacelle into the wing's leading edge. The latest
model, the Aztec F (bottom drawing) has an angular oudine to the
wing tips, as though one had simply taken the old rounded shape
and snipped it two or three times with a pair of shears.
Successor to the Apache (the first Aztec in 1960 was basically
an Apache with a widened cabin to seat five and a new, angular,
swept tail fin), the Aztec is a six-passenger twin available with tur-
bocharged engines. An odd characteristic, occasionally useful as a
field mark when the plane is overhead and going away, is that the
tail fin and tail planes trail well behind the fuselage proper.
92
TWINS
tniH^B^ Piper
1 Apache
Piper
Aztec C
^ Aztec D
X
Grumman American/Gulfstream American GA7,
Cougar
Not common; look for it at airports offering multiengine flight

school. Dihedral in wing and combined with constant- chord
tail,
(equal width) wing; three side windows; swept tail fin.

First delivered in 1978, intended as an economical dual-control
twin-engine trainer. Delivered as the Cougar with fancier interior.
Seats four, including pilot and copilot or student. Production was
sporadic, following the acquisition of Grumman American by
American Jet Industries.
Piper PA34 Seneca

Length: 2S'6" (8.69 m) Wingspan: 38'11" (11.85 m) Cruising
A common sight. Small low-wing twin; equal-chord (width) Her-
shey-bar wing and tail plane; swept tail fin. Seneca III (illustrated)
has wraparound windshield; Seneca II has a center windshield
post; both have four side windows, each a different shape, dimin-
ishing to the rear. Seneca I had three larger side windows, each dif-
ferent in shape, and less streamlined engine nacelles. The tail as-
sembly seems stuck on as an afterthought: The fin and tail planes
stick out well aft of the end of the fuselage proper.
A popular five- or six-seat (including pilot) business and private
aircraft. It essentially takes the single-engine PiperCherokee SIX
and substitutes two turbocharged engines. The test prototype was a
Cherokee that retained the nose engine. It was flown, in fact, as a
tri-motor, one of the last, and the briefest, pulling tri-motor flights
in the history of aviation.
Piper PA60 Aerostar, Ted Smith Aerostar

Not common, unique design. A midwing twin; slight dihedral in
wing, none in tail;leading edge of wing at right angle to fuselage,
trailing edge tapers sharply to tip; tail plane strongly swept; bul-
bous-nosed; wraparound windshield, with two small windows
above cockpit; fairing to tail fin is cut off abruptly.
Ted Smith, a California designer, tried to build Aerostars from
1967 to 1978 in competition with the big three American builders.
Although it's an attractive design and simple to construct, after
several reorganizations, his company ended up as the Santa Maria
Division of Piper. Typical of the Ted Smith touch, the three swept
tail surfaces (fin and planes) and the three tail control surfaces are
interchangeable.
94
TWINS
Piper
Seneca
Piper
Aerostar
Beech 50 Twin Bonanza, L-23 Seminole
Length: 31 '6" (9.60 m) Wingspan: 45'3" (13.80 m) Cruising
A low-wing twins. Old-fashioned-looking vertical
series of small,
tail fin; dihedral in wing and
tail; bulky engine nacelles house land-
ing gear that does not retract fully. As few as two side windows, as
many as four, including the pilot's. But close at hand, note the
unique three-piece windshield, with double divider strip in center.
Almost 1000 of these stubby litde aircraft were produced from
1952 to 1961. It was the first civilian twin-engine plane available
after WWII and opened up the corporate airplane market. Engine
horsepower varied from 260 to 340. Could hold six passengers in
seats three abreast in its chubby cockpit.
Beech 95 Travel Air

Fairly common. Very small low-wing twin; vertical tail fin;
bulky nacelles; dihedral in wing, none in tail. Landing gear retracts
completely; compare Beech Twin Bonanza (previous entry). One-
piece windshield. Close at hand, the triangular rear passenger win-
dow is unique, quite different from any Twin Bonanza.
Nearly 1000 of these little twins, the lowest priced on the mar-
ket, were built from 1958 to 1968. The plane had a single-engine
service ceiling of 4400 feet above sea level, which effectively elim-
inated itfrom the substantial airplane market of the Rocky Moun-
tain and intermountain West, where airports are typically above
5000 feet.
Beech Baron 55 and Baron 58

Length: model 55, 28' (8.53 m); model 58, 29'10" (9.09 m)
Wingspan: both, 37'10" (11.53 m) Cruising speed: both, 216 mph
(348 km/h)
Common. A complex low-wing piston twins. The
series of small
consistent identification marks are the Beech wings, with a
typical
fairing from the wing root to the engine nacelle and dihedral in
wing, none in tail. The 55 series has three side windows, the 58,
four. The windshield is set forward of the wing's leading edge on
the model 58, sometimes a useful field mark when the wing ob-
scures the windows. A model 58 with turboprop engines, a swept
tail plane and a taller tail fin is the rare, French-built Beech Mar-
quis, a migrant from Europe.

A small four-place (three passengers, plus pilot) aircraft of con-
siderable popularity. More than 6000 delivered since 1960, includ-
ing a few hundred of the stretched model 58 since 1970. Regular
improvements were in engines, air-conditioning, and avionics
rather than in airframes.
96
TWINS
Beech
Baron 58
Cessna T303 Crusader
Length: 30'5" (9.27 m) Wmgspan: 39' (1 1.90 m) Cruising
A low-wing twin, with the tail plane mounted well up the fin;
long engine nacelles trail behind wing; three rectangular passenger
windows each side; dihedral in wing, none in tail. Overhead, the
wings and tail plane show symmetrical taper, with just a hint of
the standard Cessna treatment: fairing from fuselage to wing's
leading edge and from outboard side of engine nacelle to wing, but
much less visible than on older Cessna twins.
Cessna's 1982 entry into the fuel-economic, easy-to-maintain,
piston-engine business twin market. Long nose and trailing engine
nacelles designed for baggage carrying. If you see it on the flight
line, note that it's one of the few small twins with a stair built into
the opening passenger door.
Beech B60 Duke

A low-wing twin piston that shows strong dihedral in wing and
tail; long pointy nose; very strongly swept tail fin and tail plane;
three rectangular windows each side. Does not have the trailing
oval passenger window typical of so many Beech aircraft; compare
the Queen Air, King Air (page 108).
A four- or six-passenger plane with a crew of two, but fre-
quently sold as a top-of-the-line personal aircraft and seldom used
in the passenger business. Delivered, since 1968, as a personal and
corporate aircraft. It is easily recognized at a distance by its unique
lines —
the illusion of speed and a certain rakishness.
Rockwell (Fuji) Commander 700

Length: 39'5" (12 m) Wmgspan: 42'5" (12.93 m) Cruising
A low-winged twin; unswept and level tail plane mounted part-
way up fin; slim wings with dihedral; opposed-cylinder engines car-
ried in flattened nacelles well forward of the wing; air scoops un-
der nacelles for turbochargers. Trapezoidal passenger windows
(three port, four starboard) are absolutely unique.
A joint design of Fuji in Japan and Rockwell International in the
U.S., it was first flown in 1975. Seats four to six in pressurized
cabin and has a crew of two. Its practical range is more than 800
miles (1300 km). One of the few light twins built that used NACA
(National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics) wing designs,
though the slim and symmetrically tapering wings were constructed
entirely in Japan.
98
TWINS
Cessna
Crusader
Beech
Duke
Rockwell
Commander 700
Piper PA31P-350 Mojave
Length: 34' 6" {1035 m) Wmgspan: 44' 6" {\ 335 m) Cruising
A 1983 introduction. A low-wing twin, with turbocharged en-
gines in very flattened nacelles that extend well behind the wing;
dihedral in wing, none in tail; symmetrical taper both edges of
wing and tail plane; three windows starboard, two port.
A five-passenger luxury business plane with piston engines seems
an odd introduction in the turboprop era, but the intent is high
fuel economy and a power plant that can be worked on without a
doctorate in engineering. The cabin is unusually deep for a small
twin and is reflected in the bulky fuselage carried well aft. The long
nose is for baggage, as are the trailing engme nacelles.
Piper PA31 Navajo, Chieftain

A family of low-wing twins, with flattened engine nacelles hous-
ing opposed six-cylinder engines; no tip-tanks; all have characteris-
tic Piper wing: distinct leading edge fairing from fuselage to engine
nacelle, both edges taper from nacelle to wing tip; dihedral in
wing, none in tail plane. Note that the newest Chieftain commuter
(PA3 1-350 T1040) has turboprops in round nacelles that do not
extend behind the wing —
essentially like Cheyenne engines. Engine
on the PA31-325 Navajo and PA3 1-350 Chieftain extend
nacelles
beyond trailing edge of wing. Nacelles on PA31 Navajo and the
pressurized PA31P stop well short of the trailing edge. Navajos
carry six passengers; Chieftains can accommodate up to ten.
Piper PA3 1-325 Navajo CR (main drawing)

Three large and one small side window, not counting pilot's side
window; counterrotating propellers; nacelles extend beyond trailing
edge.
Piper PA31 and PA31P (center detail sketch)

PA31 is identical to PA3 1-325, except engine nacelles do not ex-
tend past trailing edge. PA31P (pressurized) has three windows
starboard, two port (door on port side has no window).
PA3 1-350 Chieftain (bottom small drawing)

Length: 34'7" (10.55 m) "Wingspan: 40'8" (12.40 m) Cruising
The stretched Navajo is common in feeder airline and air-taxi
service. Shows windows on each side, not counting pilot's win-
five
dow; nacelles on most models extend beyond trailing edge, but the
less common PA31-350-T1040 has turboprops in round nacelles
that do not extend past trailing edge.
100
TWINS
Piper
Mojave
PA3 1-325
oCR
PA31
Piper PA3 1-350

Chieftain
Piper PAS IT Cheyenne
Length: Cheyenne IIXL, 36'8" (11.18 m) Wingspan: all models,
Fairly common. Low-wing turboprop twin; engine nacelles blend

into wing's trailing edge; swept tail fin; barely visible dihedral in
wing, none in tail; tip-tanks. The XL model illustrated has four
passenger windows starboard, three port. Earlier models Cheyenne
I and II are 2 feet shorter and show three- and
two-passenger win-
dows, starboard and port. A few Cheyenne I's do not have tip-tanks.
Built since 1969, the high-powered Cheyenne II is actually the
typical and original Cheyenne. The Cheyenne I is a version with
less powerful engines and less standard equipment that was not in-
troduced until 1978.
Piper PA30, PA39, Twin Comanche

A small low-wing twin. Manufactured with and without tip-
tanks; engine nacelles stop well short of trailing edge. Though it
has the characteristic Piper fairing from fuselage to engine nacelles,
the leading edge is straight and the trailing edge tapered, which
gives the wing the illusion of leaning forward. Dihedral in wing,
none in tail plane. Comes with two or (more commonly) three side
windows, including the pilot's side window.
A successful and popular series that first flew in 1962. All seat
four persons, including the pilot. Various models with turbo-
charged engines, counter-rotating propellers, and internal layouts.
Models with tip-tanks somewhat resemble the Cessna 310, but 310
nacelles extend beyond trailing edge, 310 wing has no fairing be-
tween fuselage and nacelles, and 310 shows two windows on each
side, including the pilot's.
Cessna 310, 320 Skyknight, U-3, L-27

Length: 29'7" (9.02 m) Wingspan: 37' 6" (11.43 m) Cruising
speed: variable, about 177 mph (285 km/h)
A variety of popular aircraft sharing the minimum characteristics

of twin engines on dihedral wing combined with level tail planes;
very flat engine nacelles; tip-tanks; distinct point at the bottom of
the tail fin. Since 1969, there has also been a noticeable ventral fin
(tail skid). Rare Skyknight has four small side windows. Close at
hand, Cessna 310 and 320 tip-tanks are distinctly canted up and
out from the wing.
Cessna's entry into the business twin market quickly became a
military utility and liaison aircraft (U-3, L-27) and was produced
continuously from 1954 to 1982. Model changes tended to empha-
size minor changes in windows, streamlining, and engines. The
310s with ventral fin and without rear windows date from 1969 to
1973. The major change came in 1975, when the nose was length-
ened and a turbocharged engine became available. The turbo ver-
sions cruise at more than 200 mph (322 km/h), and can be distin-
guished from the conventional engines by the absence of a cowl
flap on the bottom of the nacelles.
102
TWINS
Piper
Cheyenne IIXL
PiperTwin
Comanche
/ Cessna 310,
1969 model
Cessna 310,
1973 model
Cessna 310
Turbo
Cessna 340, 335
Length: 34'4" (10.46 m) Wmgspan: 38' 1" (11.62 m) Cruising
A low-wing twin. Four small oval windows each side; noticeable

ventral fin: long-fuselaged and short-nosed in its general aspect; en-
gine nacelles extend past trailing edge, tip-tanks are canted out-
ward at a 30-degree angle; dihedral in wing, none in tail plane.
Overhead, it could be confused with the smaller Cessna 310. These
two Cessnas have straight leading edges on wings that arise directly
from the fuselage without any fairing there, or at the engine na-
celles,and have tip-tanks.
This four-passenger, two-crew, pressurized aircraft has flown
since 1971. The model 335 is not pressurized, but has exactly the
same window layout, giving no external evidence of its not being
able to operate at 30,000 feet, as the 340 can.
Cessna 411, 414 and 421A, 421B Golden Eagle

421A specifications: Length: 33'9" (10.29 m) Wmgspan: 39'11"
A series of similar twins. Four or five passenger windows; tip-

tanks; long noses, no ventral fin; strong dorsal fin fairing to highly
swept tail fin. All have the typical Cessna wing, straight leading
edge, slight taper of trailing edge beginning at engine nacelles. Di-
hedral in wing, none in tail plane. Detail below main drawing
shows the unpressurized model, the 411; note the single side win-
dow for the pilot (pressurized models have a two-part side win-
dow).
Still in production. Beginning in 1965, with the unpressurized
Cessna 411, then in 1967, with pressurized versions, a series of
The 414 is a less expensive, lower-
six- to eight-passenger twins.
powered version of the 421. Models built from 1965 to 1972 show
four round windows. From 1973 to date, the 421 has had five oval
passenger windows; the 414 added the fifth window in 1974.
Cessna 414A Chancellor and 421C Golden Eagle

Chancellor specifications: Length: 36'4" (11.04 m) Wingspan:
44'1" (13.44 m); Golden Eagle, 41' (12.5 m) Cruising speed:
211 mph (339 km/h)
A pair of similar turbocharged twin piston planes. Five oval win-
dows; dihedral in wing, none in tail plane; without tip-tanks. Very
similar 414 Chancellor and 421 A, 42 IB Golden Eagle are identical,
except with tip-tanks. Compare the almost identical Cessna Cor-
sair, Conquest which has everything as in 414A and 421C, ex-
I,
cept for a very sharp dihedral in tail, and turboprop engines. That
one company should make so many very similar models is curious,
and an annoyance to the viewer.
Cessna created two new models by dropping the characteristic
tip-tanks from its Golden Eagle and Chancellor series in 1976
(while continuing to manufacture planes with tip-tanks). The new
models, designated 414A Chancellor and 42 IC Golden Eagle, of-
fered slightly better performance and some greater ease in manag-
ing the fuel systems.
104
TWINS
• •^^
Cessna 340 /
/
Cessna 421C
Cessna 401, 402, Utiliner, Businessliner
Length: 36' r{\ I m) Wingspan: 39' \0" {\2A 5 m) Cruising
A low-wing twin with that Cessna look: straight leading edge to

wing; no fairing in wing at all; slight dihedral in wing, none in tail.
Models built from 1967 to 1971 (401, 402A, and early 402Bs)
have four evenly spaced round windows that get smaller toward
the tail. Models from 1971 on (later 402Bs and 402C) have five
rectangular windows on each side, also tapering in size front to
rear. All 402Bs have tip-tanks (see sketch).
Carrying a crew of one or two and six to nine passengers,
Cessna Utiliners and Businessliners serve feeder lines and corpora-
tions. They aren't pressurized or particularly fast, but they're in-
tended to be economical rather than exotic, as their sobriquets
indicate.
Cessna 404 Titan

A low-wing twin. Very strong (12-degree) dihedral in tail. Com-
pare the Cessna Corsair and Conquest, which are turboprops.
Titan has shallow rectangular windows compared to the Corsair's
oval or the Conquest's almost square "TV screen" windows.
Largest of Cessna's unpressurized aircraft. Introduced in 1976,
only a few hundred Titans were built in the next seven years. It
was neither as fast as the Corsair it resembles in size nor as effi-
cient as its smaller cousins, the 402 Businessliners and Utiliners.
Cessna 441 Conquest (now Conquest II) and

Cessna 425 Corsair (now Conquest I)
441 Conquest specifications: Length: 39' (11.89 m) Wingspan:
49' (14.94 m) Cruising speed: 290 mph (467 km/h)
Both aircraft are low-wing twin turboprops. Very strong (12-degree)

dihedral in tail plane. Except for the engine and the dihedral in the
tail, the 425 Corsair (Conquest I) is identical to the Cessna 42 IC
Golden Eagle. Corsairs are scarcer than DC3s. Overhead, a typical

Cessna wing, unfaired at wing root or nacelles. Turboprop engines
on the much more common 441 Conquest (Conquest II) extend far
forward of the straight leading edge, and do not show past trailing
edge. Corsair (Conquest I) is similar, but it shows nacelle behind.
Except when directly overhead, the dihedral will be very notice-
able.
Built since 1975, the Conquest was temporarily decertified be-
cause of problems with metal fatigue in the tail plane; since then,
it's been remanufactured and strengthened. Carries eight to ten
passengers and a crew of two. It can operate above 36,000 feet.
106
TWINS
Cessna 425
Conquest I
Beech Queen Air, U-8, U-21 Seminole
A midsized low-wing twins. Matching 7-degree dihe-
series of
drals inwing and tail; strongly swept tail fin; three and four rec-
tangular windows, port and starboard, with trailing small oval
window. Earliest models (B65) had vertical tail fin.
Beginning with the Queen Air 65 in 1958, a long series of suc-
cessful small twins with various engines. The matching dihedral is
typical of both the Queen Air and the conventional-tail King Air
and is an unusual combination.
Beech King Air A90-E90, U-21, AlOO, BlOO

Model E90 (includes U.S. Army U-21) specifications: Length: 35 '6"
(10.32 m) Wingspan: 50'3" (15.32 m) Cruising speed: 260 mph
(418 km/h)
A low-winged, twin turboprops with conventional tail.

series of
Slight dihedral in wings and tail plane. Typical Beech window de-
tails: no window in passenger door, one smaller window bringing
up the rear, after a blank spot. Stretched AlOO is 4 feet longer than
other models; has six large and one small window, starboard; and
five large and one small, port side. Others models show four large
windows, one small on starboard; three large, one small on port.
More than 1000 King Airs in service, the stretched AlOO is a
common feeder line 12-passenger plane. The other versions are six-
passenger. Early King Airs were essentially pressurized Queen Airs
with turboprop engines; easily distinguished overhead by the en-
gine noise, on the ground by the round pressurized windows fitted
in the same pattern as the Queen Air's square passenger windows.
Beech Super King Air BlOO, T-44, U-12

A low-winged twin turboprop with a T-tail. Compare Piper
Cheyenne III. Round passenger windows, last one always smaller.
Optional tip-tanks are commonly seen.
Developed in 1969, the Super King Air took the conventional
King Air, increased the wing span, upped the engine power, and
added the T-tail. Earliest Super King Airs show four large round
windows each side; later models show five on the port side, six on
the starboard, plus the small last window on both sides. A U.S.
Navy trainer as T-44, a U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force transport
and VIP as C-12 and UC-12.
108
TWINS
Beech
Queen Air
Beech
King Air
uper
King Air
Piper PA42 Cheyenne III, IV
Length: 43'5" (12.24 m) Wtngspan: 47'8" (14.53 m) Cruising
A business-size, low-wing twin turboprop with a T-tail, tip-
tanks,and rectangular windows. Typical Piper wing, strong fairing
wing root to nacelle. (Compare the Beech Super King Air, which
has optional tip-tanks and round windows.)
Operational since 1980, an exceptionally fast turboprop business
plane: One circled the world in 1982 in 88 hours of flying time
—
with 13 stops for fuel and rest. Seats six in comfort or up to 11
in discomfort —
plus a crew of two. The Cheyenne IV, scheduled to
be delivered in 1984, will be virtually identical, but new turboprop
engines will have nacelles that do not extend beyond the trailing
edge.
Cessna Skymaster, 337 0-2

Fairly common. One of two twin-boom airplanes in military use.
(Compare the OV-10, page 166.) Combination of twin boom and
one pusher, one puller propellers is absolutely diagnostic. Pressur-
ized version (bottom sketch) has much smaller side windows.
The was successful; more than 1400 model 337s
civilian version
fly in and Canada. The idea was that in the case of the
the U.S.
failure of one engine, the plane would not suffer the sudden and
consistent pull by the remaining engine. Cessna hoped the plane
would be a twin that could be operated on a single-engine pilot
rating. The government quashed that idea, and the Skymaster was
dropped by Cessna in the U.S. in 1980. Still manufactured in
France, by a Cessna subsidiary, as the Reims Milirole. Some 400 in
U.S. mihtary service. A nonretractable model 336 is very rare.
Mitsubishi MU2 Marquise, Solitaire

Marquise specifications: Length: 39' 5" (12.01 m) Wingspan:
39'2" (11.94 m) Cruising speed: Marquise, 340 mph (547 km/h);
Solitaire, 370 mph (595 km/h)
A fairly common, small, high-wing twin turboprop. Tip-tanks;

tailplane set noticeably lower than wings. Earlier Japanese-built
Marquise has bulging fuselage fairings to hold retractable wheels.
American-assembled Solitaire has smooth fuselage into which gear
retracts. Early Japanese Marquise models are 2>?> feet long; all
American Solitaires are also 33 feet.
An increasingly popular corporate plane. The relatively high
cruising speed, combined with fuel efficiency and room for four to
nine passengers, made it the hot-rod of twin turbos. It even became
a popular plane to steal and use in the Caribbean drug-smuggling
underground. Several models (the plane comes with a variety of en-
gines) have ranges up to 1680 miles (2700 km), which is long for
the class.
110
TWINS
Cessna 337
Skymaster, 0-2
Mitsubishi
Marquise
Gulfstream and Rockwell Commander, Shrike
Commander, Aero Commander, etc.
Aero Commander 520 specifications: Length: 34'6" (10.52 m)
Wingspan: 44'7" (13.60 m) Cruising speed: 197 mph (317 km/h)
Turbo Commander 690 specifications: Length: 44'4" (13.51 m)
Shrike Commander (Aero Commander 500U) specifications:
Length: 35' 1" (10.69 m) Wingspan: 49'2" (15 m) Cruising
A complex family of airplanes. Began in 1948 with the four-pas-

senger piston-engine Aero Commander and proceeded through the
turboprop Rockwell 690 and Gulfstream 840, 900, 980 and 1000
series, carrying as many as ten passengers. All share certain charac-
teristics:high wing with slight dihedral, twin engines, strong dihe-
dral in tail planes. Models with turboprops from 690B on have
small winglets. Very earliest four-passenger Aero Commanders and
Shrike Commanders have a curved leading edge to the tail fin; all
later models, a straight-edged, strongly swept tail fin. Another
characteristic, from the Aero Commander on, is the upswept fuse-
lage, which becomes increasingly distinct as the later models ap-
pear. Gulfstream will continue to produce 840, 900, and 1000
airframes, seating seven to ten passengers. Long-nosed and stream-
lined, compared to other high-wing twins. The streamlming effect
is visually enhanced by the dihedrals in wing and tail plane. The
authors accept the judgment of other airplane aficionados who

lump the whole, varied, 25-year-old class of airplanes under the
single category: Commanders.
de Havilland DHC6 Twin Otter

Length: 51 '9"
(15.77 m) Wingspan: 65' (19.81 m) Cruising
Slim-bodied, with long, thin high wings and twin turboprops;

fixed gear; conventionaltail; wing braced from fuselage at landing
gear root. Compare somewhat similar and much rarer G.A.F. No-
mad (page 118), whose wing brace rises from the landing gear it-
self.
Built since 1965, it's one of the most popular small airline and
air-taxi planes ever built. More than 800 are in service and it is
still production. Carries 14 to 18 passengers in a fairly quiet,
in
center-aisle cabin.Very short takeoff and landing qualities; can
take off across the width of most airports. Seen as a float plane,
though not as often as the de Havilland single-engine Otter.
112
TWINS
f i i Aw
Gulfstream
Commander 900
Rockwell Turbo 690
Aero
Commander 680 ^ -î-.
Aero
Commander
520
^ de Havilland
Twin Otter
Britten-Norman Islander, Trislander
Islander specifications: Length: 35 '8" (10.87 m) Wingspan: 49'
A plane of odd geometry. Fuselage rectangular in cross sec-

tion; varied window shapes, rectangular, trapezoidal, rhomboid;
Hershey-har wing and tail; curved wing tips are auxiliary fuel
tanks; double wheels on lumpy nonretractable landing gear.
Designed for fuel-efficient, low-speed, low-density commuter
routes. More than 1000 Islanders have been delivered worldwide
since 1967. The earlier versions had a short nose; whereas the last
version, the Trislander, has a longer fuselage, a T-tail, and a third
engine mounted high on the tail fin. A low-technology airplane, it
has been manufactured under license in Romania and assembled
from supplied parts in the Philippines. Seats up to 18 passengers
and a single pilot; no aisle, entry through doors directly to seats.
CASA C212 Aviocar

Still rare. Stubby look, high wings, twin turboprops, upswept
rear fuselage, conventional tail, nonretractable gear. Compare
equally stubby Shorts Skyvan, which has braced wing and unswept
fuselage, or de Havilland Dash 8, which is upswept but has T-tail
and retractable gear.
CASA is Spain's aircraft manufacturer, and the Aviocar is their
design. Originally, a 16-man paratroop transport and utility
freighter or air ambulance. The civil versions can carry 19 passen-
gers and operate from the shortest and roughest of airstrips. A
popular commuter aircraft in the Far East and African countries,
where it replaces the aging WWII-surplus planes that have ended
their careers in Third World airlines.
Israel Aircraft Industries Arava lOlB

Cargo Commuterliner
Introduced into the U.S. in 1982. Very long, thin, constant-
chord wings; bathtub body; and twin booms to double tail fin. The
only possible confusion is Cessna's twm-boom Skymaster (page
—
110) if all one looked at was the twin boom the airplanes are
otherwise totally different in shape and size.
Developed in Israel as a military transport in 1972; civilian ver-
sion certified in the U.S. in 1980. Purchased by several small air-
lines in 1982. Seats up to 20, plus a crew of one or two. The use
of long, thin wings combined with fixed gear and tubby fuselages is
characteristic of the 1970s. The high-lift advantage of the ribbon
wing was known from sailplane technology, but it required space-
age materials to make a ribbon wing strong enough to support a
small airliner.
114
TWINS
Britten-Norman
Islander ^
.^.
Britten-Norman
Trislander
CASA
Aviocar
Shorts Skyliner, Skyvan
Length: 40' 1" (12.22 m)
Wingspan: 64' W (1 9.79 m) Cruising
Stubby, fixed landing gear with wheels tucked up under body;

twin tail fins; long, thin wings with braces.
Resembling a flying bathtub with a thin wing glued on the top,
the Short Brothers Skyvans serve small airlines in eastern North
America and Alaska. The plane, built of a metal-resin composite
with little or no insulation, seems remarkably noisy to passengers
who took to flying after the DC3 era. More than 150 Skyvans (or
more luxuriously appointed Skyiiners) were built from 1964 to
1982.
Shorts 330, Sherpa 360

Bizarre configuration: long, thin, untapered wing with large
strut; semiretractable wheels show even Most models have
in flight.
a double tail fin, like their brother, the Shorts Skyvan (above). One
is not surprised that the builder, Short Brothers Company, was
once a leading manufacturer of flying boats.

Introduced in 1976 as a fuel-efficient feeder airliner, the 30-seat
Shorts 330 is of composite metal and resin construction; very light
weight and low maintenance. A slightly larger version, the Shorts
360, carrying 36 passengers and bearing a conventional tail, has
been purchased by several North American commuter airlines. A
variant 330 will appear in the U.S. Air Force by 1985.
de Havilland DHC8 Dash 8

Rare. Just coming into production: twin turboprops that extend
well before and behind a high wing; upswept rear fuselage com-
bined with T-tail, retractable landing gear.
A little brother (32 passengers) of de Havilland's successful four-
engined Dash 7. Slight dihedral in the wings, combined with the
wide-span tail plane, gives the Dash 8 some of the elegance of the
Dash 7. It is being designed with slow-rotation, four-bladed propel-
lers and new turbo engines to operate as quietly as possible from
urban airports.
Fokker, Fairchild Hiller, ¥17 Mk 500

Length: ^Tl" (25 m) Wingspan: 95 '2" (29 m) Cruising speed:
298 mph (479 km/h)
Fairly common, largest of the high-wing airliners; 12 oval win-
dows, heavy tail fairing parallels slight upsweep of the lower fuse-
lage; very pointy nosed with prominent, long engine nacelles.
Still built in Holland; U.S. production by Fairchild ended in
1966. The Mk 500 is by far the most common model, plus a few
of the original F27s (length: 77'4") and a variant, the FH227
(length: 83 '8"). Although not numerous (fewer than 80 in service
in 1984), the Fokker F27 has always been highly visible as a feeder
airliner into major airports.
116
TWINS
Shorts -jLy
Skyvan
de Havilland
Dash 8
Fairchild
FH227
Aerospatiale (Nord) 262, Mohawk 298
Length: 63'3" (19.28 m) Wmgspan: 71 '10" (21.90 m) Cruising
Rare, local. High, thin, tapering wings; bulging landing gear na-
celleson fuselage; tires exposed even when retracted.
This 26-passenger short-haul airliner went into service in 1963
and, with improved engines, has survived into the 1980s. It was
one of the first of the high-efficiency, short-distance airliners, and
was soon surpassed by later models (the Shorts 300, for example).
Only 110 were built; perhaps a dozen still carry passengers.
GAF (Government Aircraft Factory,

Australia) Nomad
Length: 41'2" (12.56 m); long-nosed model N24, 47'1" (14.36 m)
Rare, but increasing in North America. High wing, twin turbo-
props; tail plane mounted partway up tail fin; wing struts rise out
of the wheel pants of the fixed landing gear (compare the de Havil-
land Twin Otter strut and tail).
Developed by the Australian factory as a military search and res-
cue and light transport in 1971. Two civil versions: the short-nosed
N22 for 12 passengers, the long-nosed N24 for 15. Competitive in
the same market as the DHC Twin Otter and, as such, may be
seen fitted with floats. Several have been ordered by North Ameri-
can air taxis and commuter airlines.
Handley Page and British Aerospace Jetstream 31

Not common. Combines low wing, turboprops, unswept tail
plane mounted well up on tail fin, modest fairing to tail fin, and
seven small round windows on each side. Newest version, the BAe
Jetstream 31, has a distinct ventral fin. Compare the Merlin IVA,
with distinct dorsal fin/tail fairing, of which some early models had
ten small round windows.
The venerable Handley Page Company went broke in 1970 after
designing and building the prototype of the successful Jetstream. It
is now built by the Scottish division of British Aerospace. Handley
Page types (illustrated) show a much longer propeller spinner than

the current production model 31, with Garrett turboprops. Each
carries 18 passengers.
118
TWINS
Aerospatiale
262
5^s. /
GAF Nomad
BAe
Jetstream 3
Swearingen (now Fairchild) Merlin II
Length: 40'1" (12.22 m) Wingspan: 45'1 1" (14 m) Cruising

Small and fairly common. Low wing, conventional tail, turbo-
props. Resembles a smoother, bulkier, more streamlined Beech
Queen Air. Three rather large rectangular windows on each side.
Swearingen, a company that specialized in putting turboprops,
streamlined fairings and pressurization into other companies' pro-
duction aircraft, took the Queen Air wing and built a streamlined,
pressurized fuselage for it from scratch. The small number of fairly
large windows is unusual in a pressurized aircraft. Compare the
Beech King Air (five or six small windows) or the Cessna Conquest
(six small windows) for conventional treatment of similarly sized
aircraft.
Swearingen (Fairchild) Merlin III, Fairchild 300

Length: ATT (12.85 m) Wingspan: 46'3" (14.10 m) Cruising
mph (463 km/h)
speed: 288
Common. Combines low symmetrically tapering wing with

strongly swept tail plane mounted midway up and well forward on
the tail fairing. Compare larger Merlin IV (next entry). Similarly
configured Handley Page Jetstream 31 has unswept tail plane
mounted farther back on the fin and shows seven small round win-
dows. The midtailed Rockwell Commander 700 has trapezoidal
windows, unswept tail plane and, unlike the Merlin or the Jet-
stream, has no ventral fin at all.
A popular series of executive turboprops. Some early Merlin Ills
have only three or four windows to a side, and a variety of turbo-
prop engines have been mounted on the same basic airframe. The
strong dorsal and ventral fins shown on the Merlm and the Hand-
ley Page Jetstream are intended to improve handling when the
plane is forced to fly on one engine. The 1984 Fairchild 300 has
winglets.
Fairchild Merlin IVA, Metro III, Fairchild 400

Common. Combines low, symmetrically tapered wings and

strongly swept tail plane mounted well forward on the tail fin fair-
ing. Compare the smaller Merlin IIIB (previous entry).
Carrying 12 passengers in the Merlin IVA executive cabin or up
to 20 passengers in the Metro airliner cabin, this Swearingen-de-
signed airplane has seen some use in the U.S. Midwest as a com-
muter airliner. It is quite rare as an executive plane. Some 300 de-
hvered worldwide since 1971. Swearingen, now a division of
Fairchild, began as a converter of other companies' aircraft to cor-
porate executive planes. The 1983 models introduced winglets; the
Merhn IVA was renamed Fairchild 400 in 1984.
120
TWINS
Swearingen
Merlin II
Fairchild
Merlin IIIB
Fairchild
Metro III
Beech 99 Airliner
A common and variable aircraft. Combmes low wing with two

turboprop engines, conventional tail, and distinct ventral fin. Un-
fortunately, it has to be distinguished from similar planes, includ-
ing its predecessor, the Beech Queen Air, by noting the window
patterns. The 99s show, from the front, one small rectangular win-
dow; five or six larger rectangular windows; the typical Beech gap
on or opposite the passenger door; and a small oval window at the
rear.
There are a couple of hundred of the 15-passenger stretched and
pressurized version of the Beech Queen Air in service with dozens
of small airlines. Built since 1965, with a couple of engine varia-
tions. A rather ordinary-looking aircraft, with a moderately swept
tail fin (compared to the Queen Air) and a long, pointy nose.
Embraer EMBllO Bandeirante

An increasingly common commuter airliner. Low-winged; twin
turboprops; in the air, a strong impression of rectangularity: Note
the sharp extension of the tail fin down through the tail plane to a
ventral fin; overhead, slightly tapering wing and tail planes look
quite rectangular; engines with deep nacelles (to hold landing gear)
extend very far forivard of the wing. The wraparound cockpit win-
dows are composed of eight separate panes, which is most unusual
in recently built aircraft. The 1984 model has a dihedral in tail-
plane.
A 17- to 19-passenger unpressurized aircraft first delivered to the
U.S. in 1976. The Bandeirante competes directly with such small
commuter airliners as the Beech 99. The parent company, Empresa
Brasiliade Aeronautica, builds single- and twin-engine Piper air-
planes under license; it also manufactures components for North-
rop's F-5 fighters.
Embraer EMBllO Brasilia

A 1984 introduction. Very large low-wing twin turboprop with
T-tail (oftwin T-tails, compare the much smaller Piper Seminole,
Duchess, Cheyenne III, and Beech Super King Air). The only other
large twin T-tail is the high-winged de Havilland DHC8 Dash 8.
High overhead, they might be confused if you do not pay attention
to the wing placement.
Ordered by commuter airlines from coast to coast, this 30-pas-
senger airliner includes state-of-the-art technology. The fuel-effi-
cient Canadian-built turboprops have an unusual feature: fully dis-
engageable propellers, so that the engines can be run at the loading
gate. This feature allows passengers to load while keeping the air-
conditioning and heating systems on, as it does getting back in the
air without the delays associated with engine starting.
122
TWINS
• • Mtit.
Beech 99
Airliner
Embraer
Bandeirante
Embraer
Brasilia
Beechcraft 1900 Airliner
New, not yet common. Combines low wing with T-tail, fuselage-
mounted winglets just forward of tail; typical Beech wing begins
with rectangular section from fuselage to engine; trailing edge ta-
pers to tip more sharply than leading edge.
A 19-passenger aircraft intended for commuter routes requiring
frequent stops; it is just beginning to appear on the flight Hne. The
sharp dihedral in the low wing, combined with the T-tail, gives the
1900 a unique appearance in the landing and takeoff pattern. Note
also the very large double engine exhausts.
British Aerospace 748

Length: 67' (20.42 m) Wmgspan: 102'5" (31.22 m) Cruising
One of two modern twin turboprops. Compare the Japanese

NAMC YSll, which shares the characteristic of massive bulge on
bottom of engine nacelle (houses landing gear). The BAe 748 has
strong wing dihedral, beginning at fuselage (compare the Martin
404, whose dihedral begins at engines), combined with horizontal
tail planes. Convair 640 has similar wing and tail configuration but
without the massive landing gear fairings. Passenger BAe 748s have
ten large rounded windows. The NAMC
has many small, square
windows.
There are certain realities that jet aircraft did not make go away;
for instance, the need for fuel-efficient, conventional aircraft. Even
the Queen of England has two BAe 748s at her disposal. It seats
44 passengers, and the specific market it sought was as a replace-
ment for aging Douglas DC3s. A few are operated by U.S. and
Canadian feeder airlines.
Saab-Fairchild 340 Commuter

Length: 63' 9" (19.43 m) Wingspan: 70 '4" (21.44 m) Cruising
speed: estimated, 300 mph (483 km/h)
New, expected in air A fairly conventional-looking air-
by 1984.
plane: Tall, swept strongly dihedral tail plane; deep fuse-
tail fin,
lage is carried full depth well aft; unusual engine nacelles, which
are narrow and deep, rise high above and show well below wing.
A 34-passenger airliner with wings and tail by Fairchild, the rest
by Saab; it's to be assembled in Sweden. We have not seen it fly,
—
but we expect that the aspect of the plane will be unique strong
dihedrals in tail planes tend to be unusually noticeable, as on the
Martin 404. The bulky body and slim wing will attract attention,
as that combination does now in, for example, the Shorts 360.
124
TWINS
Beechcraft
Airliner 1900
BAe748
Saab-Fairchild
340
Grumman American G159 Gulf stream I

Not common. Slim-winged; short-nosed; distinct swelling under
engine nacelles houses landing gear. A stretched version, the G159
IC, is 10 feet longer and shows seven, rather than five, oval pas-
senger windows.
Carrying 24 passengers in the short version, or 37 in the model
IC stretch, some 200 of these durable, but not particularly fuel-
efficient, corporate planes operate in North America. Though built
from 1960, with the stretching done in the early 1980s, they're not
currently competitive with newer aircraft of the same capacity.
Martin 404
Length: 74'7" (22.73 m) Wingspan: 93' 3" (28.42 m) Cruising
speed:280 mph (451 km/h)
A rare and handsome classic. Of the many old and new twin-
engine, low-wing airliners, only the Martin shows a distinct dihe-
dral in the wing, beginning at the engines, and a clearly dihedral
tail plane.
Built from 1947 to 1953, only a handful of 404s fly today. The
dihedral wing and plane turns the head of anyone who thinks
tail
it's just another Convair 240 series. The plane has not been refitted
with turboprops like so many of its contemporaries, so it still has a

satisfying, attention-getting roar to it.
Convair CV240, 340, 440, 540, 580, 600, 640

CV580 specifications: Length: 81'6" (24.84 m) Wingspan: 105'4"
A variety of highly similar twin-engine, low-wing airliners, with

slight dihedral in wing, and horizontal tail planes. In the U.S. and
Canada, most are turboprop conversions, series 540 to 640.
(CV580 is the most common.) Except for the engine nacelles, very
similar to the BAe HS748 and NAMC YSll. Whether old piston
or new turboprop, the nacelles are slim compared to the bulging,
landing-gear-holding nacelles on the HS748 and YSll.
The original 240, 340, 440 series, seating 40 to 50 passengers,
with Pratt and Whitney radials, have been supplanted for the most
part by turboprop conversions. A few made-from-scratch turbo-
—
props produced by Canadair the Canadair CC-109 are still in —
service as troop carriers in the Canadian armed forces. Model
numbers reflect little except the time of manufacture or re-engining.
However, the 340 and 440 were slightly stretched versions of the
original 240.
126
TWINS
Gulfstream
Martin 404
Convair 580
NAMC YSll
Length: 86'3" (26.30 m) Wingspan: 104' 11" (32 m) Cruising
Not common, but seen especially in Alaska and in the south-
western U.S. Massive landing gear fairings under nacelles (compare
the BAe 748), slight dihedral wing; horizontal tail plane; dozens of
tiny, rectangular windows.
Either the limits of conventional airplane design were reached in
the 1950s or this is a virtual copy of the British Aerospace 748. Its
design was begun in 1960, a year after the 748 went to the draw-
ing board. The YSll does carry 60 passengers, not 44, but is
otherwise highly similar to the BAe 748; the windows are the most
obvious difference.
Curtiss C-46
Length: 7 6' 4" (23.27 m) Wingspan: 108' (32.92 m) Cruising
A rare survivor. (Make sure it's not a DC3 before deciding.) The
plane with no nose; greenhouse cockpit windows; the wings are
like the DC3's, strongly tapered on the leading edge, straight on
the trailing edge. Unlike the DC3, has fully retractable landing
gear.
Developed as a 36-passenger airliner in 1940 to compete with
the DC3, it was built as only a military transport. A few dozen still
survive with small, poor regional airlines; likeliest to be seen in the
Caribbean, southwestern Alaska, along the Mexican border. It's
not nearly so common as the somewhat similar DC3.
Douglas DC3, C-47, Dakota

Not common, but widely distributed. A tail-dragger that sits
nose up on the flight line; in the air, very short-nosed look, as the
wings are set well forward and the large radials flank the cockpit
area; wing tapers on the leading edge only; tires of forward land-
ing gear do not retract out of sight; tail wheel is nonretractable.
First built in 1935 and flown the world over, with several
hundred surviving long after the assembly shut down in 1946.
Seated 36 in unpressurized discomfort, as many as 50 in its troop-
carrying configuration. Still flying passengers in all parts of North
America, with hundreds parked on airfields and making occasional
unscheduled freight trips. A few still in government service in Can-
ada. As with many aircraft with partially retractable wheels, the
purpose is to allow for a relatively safe landing in the event that
the gear is not, or cannot be, lowered.
128
I
NAMC YSl
Curtiss C-46
de Havilland DH104 Dove, Riley Turbo-Exec Dove
Length: 39'4" (12 m) Wmgspan: 57' (17.37 m) Cruising speed:
162 mph (261km/h)
Increasingly rare. Long, tapering wings; engines mounted well
forward on the wing; distinctive bump over cockpit gives crew
stand-up headroom. Originals show a conventional curved tail,
whereas Riley turbo-charged conversions have a swept, angular tail
fin.
About 600 by de Havilland between 1946 and 1968, many
built
They became a popular executive air-
as military light transports.
craft after WWII, and the turbo conversions continue to fly in gen-
eral aviation. A Dove with the old Gipsy Queen engines is a real
rarity in North America.
Beech 18, C-45

Still common, but highly variable. Twin-engine, low-wing, dis-
tinctive Beech twin Note that tail plane does not extend
tail:
through fins. Seen with rounded (early) and squared-off (late
model) wing tips.
The durable Beech 18 was built from 1937 to 1972, with thou-
sands in WWII as C-45s. It has been refitted in a bewildering vari-
ety of forms: with tricycle gear to replace the semiretractable tail-
dragging gear; in stretched versions; in long-nosed models; with
turboprop engines; with conventional rather than double-fin tails;
and in one bizarre case, with a T-tail. The odd window pattern a —
long, rectangular passenger window surrounded by two smaller
—
square windows is always a good field mark. The last production
18s were sold to Japan Airlines.
130
TWINS
Riley
Conversion
Beech 18,
C-45
Lockheed 10, and 12 "Electra Jr."
Model 12 specifications: Length: 36'4" (11.07 m) Wingspan:
Very rare. These are similar, but the model 10 has five side win-
dows; the model 12, three. Twin radial engines on low-wing, clas-
sic double-fin Lockheed tail; tail plane extends through the fin;
main landing gear quite visible when retracted into open wheel
wells.
The model 10, first flown in 1934, was America's first all-metal-
skin airplane. Quickly adopted by airlines, it carried 12 passengers
and a crew of two. The smaller "Electra, Jr." model 12, carrying
six passengers and a crew of two, was intended for the corporate
plane and feeder airline business. Though only a couple of dozen
12s and not more than 5 model 10s are flying, we could not ex-
clude these grandparents of a famous family of propeller airliners,
culminating in the Super Constellation.
Lockheed LI 8 Lodestar, C-60

Rare and worth looking for. Wing mounted just below midpoint
of fuselage; twin tail; tail plane extends through tail fins; two ra-
dial engines. The more common Beech 18 is much smaller, and
does not have the Lockheed-type tail planes extending through the
vertical fins.
The premier short-haul airliner just as World War II started and
a common personnel carrier (C-60) through the war. A distincdy
tail-dragging aircraft with the nose pointed up as if it should be
flying, it's usually seen sitting idle on a runway apron. Carried 14
passengers in relative comfort, including a full lavatory in the rear
of the aircraft.
Cessna Bobcat, Crane T-50, AT-8, C-78

Length: 32'9" (10 m) Wingspan: 41'11" (12.8 m) Cruising
Rare, small, and old-fashioned-looking twin, with huge radials
compared to the size of the plane; long-nosed, but the nose barely
extends past the engine nacelles; partially retractable landing gear.
Built by the thousands from 1940 to 1945 as a primary (T-50)
and advanced (AT-8) multiengine trainer for the U.S. (Bobcat) and
Canadian (Crane) armed forces. Several hundred served as light
transports (C-78). Many converted to civil air after WWII, but
wooden wings did not allow conversion to more efficient turbo-
props. Slightly underpowered, they're not really flyable on one en-
gine; nevertheless, a durable, reliable short-haul aircraft.
132
TWINS
Lockheed 12
Lockheed 18
Lodestar
North American B-25 Mitchell
Length: 52'1 1" (16.33 m) Wingspan: 67'7" (20.86 m) Cruising
Rare, variable. Combines midwing with double tail fins. Note
that it is a "high" midwing, and the tail plane does not extend
through the vertical fins. Compare the somewhat similar Lockheed
Lodestar, with its much lower wing mounting and tail plane ex-
tending through the twin tail fins.
Designed before World War II, more than 10,000 were built;
losses kept the inventory to about 2600 maximum during WWII.
Produced with and without the glass bombardier's nose; civil con-
versions usually have closed-in noses and some will have tip-tanks;
a few have passenger windows. Once fairly popular as an aerial
sprayer. Carrier-launched B-25s made the token attack on Tokyo
in April 1942; B-25s were the aircraft seen in the 1970s movie
Catch-22.
Douglas A-26, B-26 Invader

Rare, variable. Look for the constants. Wing mounted very high,
but not above fuselage; two huge, cylindrical engine nacelles that
extend well forward and back of the wing; nacelles mounted low
on wing; long bulging nose; shallow cockpit windows.
Once you get the configuration, you can ignore the dozens of
variations of the basic aircraft: As a high-speed, large-capacity ex-
ecutive conversion, you may run across B-26s with completely en-
closed noses, with passenger windows, and with tip-tanks on the
wings, but the basic wing and engine conformation is undisturbed
and unmistakable. Known as the A-26 (for attack bomber) through
WWII, —
but redesignated B-26 after the war which gives you a
chance to listen for an anachronism while watching war movies.
The WWII B-26 was the Martin Marauder, with short, tapering
engine nacelles.
134
TWINS
North
American B-25
» 1a m
'^ShST
Douglas A-26
Invader
de Havilland Dash 7
Common. The only four-engine, high-wing, T-tail commercial
aircraft in North America. Even when seen directly overhead, when
it might be confused with the high-wing, conventional-tail C-130
Hercules, it is much slimmer and combines four engines with na-

celles that do not show behind the wing with a symmetrical taper
on both edges of the wing from the fuselage to the wing tip.
A popular short-haul airliner, this Canadian import can carry 50
passengers from rural airports with very short runways. A few win-
dowless models are used for air-freight operations, mostly in the
Canadian back country. The Canadian Coast Guard flies a marine
reconnaissance type (the DHC-7R Ranger) with bubble observer
windows on the lower part of the fuselage and a belly-bulge radar
dome.
Lockheed Constellation (C-69)

L1049 Super Constellation specifications: Length: 116'2"
(35.41 m) Wingspan: 123' (37.5 m) Cruising speed: 260 mph
(418 km/h)
A very large four-engine, low-wing airliner/air-cargo hauler with

plane extends through outboard fins.
triple tail fins; tail
Once the queen of the transoceanic airways, a few Connies rest
on runway aprons between charter flights. Most common was the
L1049, carrying up to 110 passengers, built from 1943 to 1958. A
few were converted to radar planes, designated EC-121, USAF, and
Navy. These had top and bottom radar bulges at the wing area of
the fuselage. The rarest is the last model, the LI 649, with a wing
design similar to the Electra/Orion's, a straight leading edge per-
pendicular to the centerline of the fuselage.
Vickers Viscount 700

Length: 81 '2" (24.75 m) Wingspan: 94' (28.66 m) Cruising
A large, four-turboprop airliner with rather large oval passenger
windows; bumpy cockpit with an odd, shouldered effect (see the
de Havilland Heron, page 138, for a similar treatment); very long,
slim engine nacelles; three-piece cockpit side windows; slight dihe-
dral in wing; sharp dihedral in tail plane.
First prototype flown in 1948; first production 700 in 1952, car-
rying 4() to 59 passengers, depending on seating chosen. There is
an even rarer type 800, with a stretched fuselage and 13 passenger
windows, which carries up to 71 passengers. Originally named the
Viceroy, after the title of the British ruler of India; renamed the
Viscount after Indian independence. The world's first turboprop
airliner, the Viscount managed to penetrate the American market
briefly in the late 1950s.
136
FOUR-ENGINE PROP
de Havilland
Dash 7
Lockheed
Constellation
,1, .
'
\
^^^^^^^ Vickers
Viscount 700
I
de Havilland Heron
Length: 48 '6" (14.8m) Wingspan: 71 '6" (2 1 .8 m) Cruising
Except for the bulging bump over the cockpit, a wonderfully
symmetrical plane. Slight dihedral in wings and tail planes; over-
head, symmetrically tapering wing and tail surfaces.
Popular airframes are hard to kill: The twin-engine British trans-
port Dove was scaled up and given four engines to become the
Heron. Several private companies have put turboprop engines on
Herons, the most common a Riley Turbo Skyliner. Except as exec-
utive planes, you are most likely to encounter the few remaining
Herons in the Caribbean, flown by Puerto Rico International. Note
the classic British touch: Engines are centered vertically on the
wing.
Douglas DC4, DC6, and DC7

(Old military designations: TheDC4 was the C-54 Skymaster; the
DC6 was C-118 Liftmaster)
the
Lengths: (DC4, DC6) 93'11" (28.6 m); (DC6A and DC6B) 1007"
(30.66 m); (DC7) 112'3" (34.21 m) Wingspans: (DC4, DC6, and
DC7B) 117'6" (35.8 m); DC7C 127'6" (38.86 m) Cruising speeds:
(DC4) 227 mph (365 km/h); (DC6) 313 (504 km/h); (DC-7)
310 mph (499 km/h)
Once you've positively identified one of the DC series, picking
the specific one is a matter of size: The only conventional-tail
planes with four radial engines in nacelles that do not extend be-
hind the wings trailing edge. (Constellation, previous page, has
similar engine nacelles.) DC4s have round windows; others are
square.
Now scarce as hen's teeth, the DC series, beginning with the
pre- WWII DC4, once dominated American aviation. All powered
with radial piston engines, they became increasingly uneconomical
in the face of new and sophisticated turboprop aircraft and did not
survive well into the As military C-54 Skymasters, they fer-
jet age.
ried troops through the Korean War era. For the few remaining,
separate them from other four-engine propeller jobs by the clearly
radial piston engines. (Electras and CL-44s are turboprops, with
slim, forward-extending engine housings; Herons have in-line pis-
ton engines that resemble four Spitfire or Mustang noses mounted
on the wings, or they have been converted to turboprops.) The un-
stretched DC6 has no passenger windows forward of the wing; the
DC6A andDC6B have two windows ahead of the wing; DC7s
have three forward windows. The last and largest of the series, the
DC7C, has the wingspan increased by 5 feet on each side by the
insertion of a rectangular 5-foot wing root at the fuselage, a good
mark when the craft is direcdy overhead. In general, overhead, the
DC4, DC6, and DC7 series is marked by the engines showing only
forward of the leading edge and by the symmetrically tapering tail
—
planes the DC4 tail plane is rounded, much like an old Piper
Cub's. (An Electra's leading wing edges make a straight line at
right angles to the fuselage, and the tail plane edges are not sym-
metrical. Similar four-engine prop jobs show some nacelle behind
the wing.)
138
FOUR-ENGINE PROP
de Havilland
Heron
original
piston
engines
Douglas DC6
Lockheed LI 88 Electra
Rare. Large, low wing, with four turboprops; leading edge of
wing straight and at right angles to fuselage; conventional tail. Mil-
itary reconnaissance version, P-3 Orion in limited use.
The jet-prop Electra came into service in 1959, just before the
jet age, and its first 18 months, its image was tarnished by two
in
fatal crashes due to structural problems in the wing. Buyer re-
sistance lasted until the small, true jet airliners had grabbed the
commercial market. But the refitted Electras remain in service to-
day as feeder airliners and especially as cargo planes. Like the
newer CL44 and Dash 7, the turboprop Electra is much more fuel-
efficient than jet aircraft, and it operates at nearly 80 percent of jet
speeds. There is one possible confusion: Directly overhead, the
plane resembles Lockheed's miHtary C-130 Hercules, since you
may not see that the C-130 has a high wing and an upswept rear
fuselage. Note the difference in the nose shapes of the C-130 and
the L188.
Canadair CL44
Length: 151'10" (46.28 m) Wingspan: 142'3" (43.37 m)
Four turboprops on midwings and ring around the tail where

the fuselage swings open; fuselage hinged on port side; cockpit
windows extend to top of fuselage: Compare with low- wing, ra-
dial-engine DC4 series; overhead, slim turboprop engine nacelles
extend far forward of the wing's leading edge.
The CL44 is a fuel-efficient, long-range cargo plane, with a very
few passenger versions in service in Canada. Except for the massive
tail fin, it looks very conventional. First flown in 1959. The hinge
area forward of the tail is usually painted a color different from
the rest of the fuselage. Developed from the British Britannia, as
the CC-106 transport for the Canadian armed forces; then, with
the swing tail, developed into the civilian CL44. CL44s are not un-
common at East Coast airports, where they haul freight on the
North Atlantic routes.
140
FOUR-ENGINE PROP
Lockheed
Electra
P-3 Orion
gST-iii Canadair CL44

Gulfstream Aerospace Peregrine
Length: 42'\Vi" (12.84 m) Wmgspan: 39'2" (11.94 m) Cruising
speed: estimated 337 mph (542 km/h)
Single fanjet engine, mounted forward of the tail, slightly swept

wings, small downturned winglets.
A prototype (with a rectangular engine intake and seven, not
five, cabin windows) flew in 1983. Design derives from a prototype
military trainer, reflected in the slim fuselage with only 4 feet 2
inches (1.27 m) headroom. Seats six, with crew of two. Range is
subcontinental, estimated at 1600 miles (2574 km).
Israel Aircraft Industries 1123 Westwind,

Commodore, Jet Commander
Fuselage-mounted twin jets; conventional tail; wing tip-tanks.

(The only other planes with factory tip-tanks and twin fuselage-
mounted jets are the Learjets, which have T-tails.) High overhead,
you can separate these from Learjets by the gap betweeen the wing
trailing edge and the engine nacelle (the forward half of the Learjet
engines rides up over the wings). The newest model, the Westwind
II, has winglets on the tip-tanks.
A ten-passenger jet designed in 1963. The design was sold to Is-

rael Aircraft after the merger of Rockwell and North American in
1967. Part of the merger agreement required the combined firms to
manufacture only one executive jet, and it kept the North Ameri-
can Sabreliner (page 146).
Cessna Citation I, II
Citation I specifications: Length: 43 '6" (13.26 m) Wingspan:

47' 1" (14.35 m) Cruising speed: 420 mph (675 km/h)
The most conventional looking of all the twin fuselage-mounted

unswept conventional tail plane; unswept
jet executive aircraft;
wings tapering symmetrically. Citation 1 shows distinct ventral fin.
An early entry into the exec-jet market as the Fanjet 500 in
1969. The Citation I has a wider wingspan than the Fanjet 500,
whereas the Citation IPs wingspan and fuselage are 5 feet longer;
otherwise, they are identical. Six windows instead of four. Several
hundred sold. Marketed compared to turboprops,
as fuel-efficient
with higher, above-the-weather ceiling.
142
BUSINESS JETS
Gulfstream
Aerospace
Peregrine
Citation II
Learjet 23, 24D
Model 24D specifications: Length: 43 '3" (12.5 m) Wingspan:
The original small Learjet. Fuselage-mounted twin jets reach
over the wing's trailing edge; tip-tanks; wings with straight trailing
edge; evenly tapered swept leading edge.
The four-passenger Learjet 23 and the six-passenger Learjet 24
are usually distinguished by the number of windows and the tail
configuration. The 23 will show two passenger windows on the
right side and one on the left behind the passenger door. Most 24s
show three passenger windows on the right, two on the left. Model
23s have a bullet at the center of the tail plane; most 24s do not.
Gates Learjet 25
Length: 47'7" (14.50 m) Wingspan: 357" (10.85 m) Cruising
One of a family of similar Learjets. The 25 series has five win-

dows on the right and four on the left behind the passenger door;
wings have straight trailing edge; leading edge sweeps evenly (com-
pare the Learjet 35 or 36); T-tail.
The eight-passenger 25 is the stretched version of the successful
Learjet series 23/24. In a quick glance, it could be confused with
the larger Learjet 35 or 36, but note the 2-foot-long equal-chord
wing extension and the much larger engines on the 35 and 36.
Learjet 35, 36
529 mph (851 km/h)
Like the Learjet 25, but with large turbo fan engines that extend
above the top of the fuselage; wings lengthened by a 2-foot equal-
chord extension at the wing tip; five windows on the right, four on
the left.
Introduced in 1973. Increased wingspan and larger engines make
the 35 (eight-passenger) and 36 (luxury seating for four) capable of
nonstop transcontinental or intercontinental range.
Learjet Longhorn 50 Series

Fuselage bulky forward, slim aft; characteristic upturned wing-
lets at wing tips; six rectangular windows right side, four on left
behind passenger door; compare with the much larger Gulfstream
III (page 150). Gulfstream has five oval windows on each side and
a more symmetrical fuselage. Note the Longhorn's sweeping two-

piece windshield compared to the numerous smaller sections in the
Gulfstream III.
With seating for six to eight and 5 feet 8 inches of headroom,
the new Longhorn (first delivered in 1981) was Lear's entry into
the medium-sized executive jet market.
144
BUSINESS JETS
Gates
Learjet 23
North American Rockwell Sabreliner
A with slight dimensional changes.
series of very similar aircraft
Twin fuselage-mounted conventional tail; fully swept wings
jets;
(the Cessna Citation I and II have straight wings and conventional
tail; the Falcon has swept wings with tail planes mounted midway
up the fin); very chubby compared to similarly sized exec-jets, giv-

ing 6 feet of headroom inside.
Developed in 1958 as a utility and jet trainer for the military
(supplied as T-39 and CT-39 to the USAF and the Navy), the mili-
tary Sabreliners and the old model 40 had three triangular win-
dows behind the passenger door. Later stretched versions have five
triangular or square windows. The general appearance of the plane
remained unchanged by modifications. Accommodates 8 to 12 pas-
sengers, depending on seating density.
Dassault Falcon 10, 100, 20, 200,

HU-25, CC-117
One of two fuselage-mounted twin jets with the tail plane mid-
way up the tail fin (compare the HS 125/700, page 148). Falcon tail
finhas a very short fairing; strongly swept wings and tail plane.
Popular as an executive, airline, and air-cargo plane, the Falcon
20 is being used by the U.S. Coast Guard (HU-25) and Canadian
armed forces (CC-117) as a long-range patrol plane. Various pas-
senger and cockpit window configurations, including
the solid-bod-
ied cargo craft seen at so many U.S. airports. Model
10s and 100s
are 11 feet shorter in wingspan and length, with either three win-
dows (model 10) or three port and four starboard (model 100).
The Falcon 200 is a modified 20, and was introduced in 1984.
Dassault Falcon 50
The only business-sized jet with three engines, one mounted

through tail fin. A miniature LlOll; tail plane mounted midway
up tail fin.
50 is an intercontinental business
Certified in 1979, the Falcon
and executive jet that takes the Falcon 20 airframe, adds a rede-
signed wing, and substitutes three smaller turbofans for the two
large ones powering the 20. Used by the French govenment for VIP
transportation. More than 100 sold to U.S. businesses. Carries
eight passengers in extreme comfort, with a range of more than
4000 miles (6500 km).
146
BUSINESS JETS
Sabreliner
Falcon 10
Lockheed Jetstar, C-140
speed: 508 mph (817km/h)
Uncommon, unmistakable. Combines four rear-mounted engines
(only the huge VCIO and
IL62, page 154, also have four rear en-
gines) with massive fuel tanks "glove mounted" on wings.
Lockheed's partly civil, partly military light transport was pro-
duced in small numbers, including 16 Jetstar I's for the U.S. Air
Force (they have slightly smaller engines than illustrated). Fewer
than 100 in North America. North American's Sabreliner (page
146) got most of the military business, and Lockheed stopped
building Jetstars in 1981, after 21 years of production. Crew of
two; ten passengers. Complete airliner appointments, including au-
tomatic oxygen mask delivery in case of loss of pressure.
British Aerospace HS125

Length: 700, 50'8" (15.46 m) Wingspan: 47' (14.33 m) Cruising
One of two aircraft with fuselage-mounted twin engines and
midway tail plane (not T-tail); compare Dassault Falcon 20 (page
146). The HS125 has moderately swept wings (the Falcon has a
strong 30-degree sweep), and the 125 shows a noticeable tail fin
fairing rising outof the fuselage over the engines and a ventral fin
below the tail (the Falcon does not). The current model 700 has
six windows, right side; the older model 125 has five.
A popular business jet; more than 600 of the 125 series sold
from 1965 to 1980. Stretched and streamlined model 700 carries
as many as 14 passengers. When marketed in the U.S. by Beech, it
was known as the Beech Hawker. The refined model 800 was in-
troduced in 1984.
Mitsubishi Diamond
One of two swept-wing, T-tailed, twin fuselage-mounted jets,
without tip-tanks; compare the bulkier Canadair Challenger (page
150). The Diamond has six oval windows that begin just behind
the cockpit, including one in the passenger door. (The Canadair
Challenger has six rectangular windows that begin behind the pas-
senger door on the right side of the aircraft.)
Japan's first entry into the business-jet market, the seven- to
nine-passenger Diamond was first delivered in 1982. Like many
modern aircraft, it indicates by its similarity to the Canadair the
limits on the imagination imposed by the science of aeronautics. A
subtle difference is the Diamond's shallow fairingfrom the fuselage
to the tail fin; the Challenger's fin rises abruptly from the fuselage.
148
BUSINESS JETS
Jetstar
Mitsubishi
Diamond
Cessna Citation III

A large plane with twin fuselage-mounted jets and a T-

Still rare.
tail.Separate from similar designs by the pecuHar sculpted look
from the nose, flowing past the cockpit into the wing roots. Three
flap guides; "bullet" where tail planes meet fin.
A six-passenger luxury business jet with certification to more
than 51,000 feet. Capable of using relatively small airports. Initial
orders in 1982 were for more than 150, indicating the interest in
—
luxury combined with fuel efficiency it's less fuel-efficient than
buying a ticket, but that's the nature of corporate executive deci-
sion making.
Gulfstream American, Gulfstream III, IV

(Grumman Gulfstream II)
Gulfstream III specifications: Length: 83 '1" (25.32 m) Wingspan:
A huge business jet (two-thirds the size of an unstretched DC9);

shallow oval windows; T-tail, fuselage-mounted twin jets. Accom-
modates eight passengers and a crew of three. Intercontinental
range. Model II did not have winglets. The 1983 introduction,
model IV, is 2 feet longer and shows six, rather than five, passen-
ger windows.
Grumman designed and built 258 Gulfstream lis between 1967
and 1969. Sold to Gulfstream American (a division of American Jet
Industries) and produced as the model III, with winglets, since
1980; the model IV added in 1984. The U.S. Coast Guard operates
one Gulfstream II as a VIP transport, clearly marked with the CG's
red diagonal stripe. Don't confuse it with the Coast Guard Falcon
20 search planes, which have the tail plane mounted halfway up
the fin and round windows.
Canadair CL600 Challenger

Similar to the much smaller Mitsubishi Diamond and the slightly
smaller Cessna Citation III (above). Large turbo fan jets mounted
on the fuselage; strongly swept wings; T-tail; six square windows
behind passenger door; seen overhead, five noticeable flap guides
on each wing are unique; since 1983, with winglets. Compare the
Challenger's conventional-looking nose/fuselage/wing design with
the flowing sculpture of the Citation III.
Designed by the Learjet corporation and manufactured by Cana-
dair since 1976, the Challenger is sold for business, airline, and air-
cargo uses. Seats up to 30 passengers; a 5000-mile range makes it
intercontinental. Passengers up to 6 feet 1 inch can stand upright in
the plane, which is unusual in business craft.
150
BUSINESS JETS
Cessna
/ Citation III
Canadair
Challenger
Aerospatiale Caravelle
Quite rare. Fuselage-mounted twin jets, but easily separated
from similar designs by the tail plane mounted midway up the tail
fin. Most models also show an unusual fairing on top of the fuse-
lage, which begins over the wings and extends into the tail plane.
All models have triangular windows. Very clean wings without
leading edge spoilers or underwing flap guides.
A masterpiece of French ingenuity first flown in 1955, it was the
first airliner in the world with rear-mounted engines; what's more,
the midtail compromise to get the tail planes up out of the engine
turbulence was actually more successful than on the BAClll or
DC9 T-tail prototypes. There are 12 Caravelles flying that do not
have the fuselage-to-tail fairing, and the plane was manufactured in
several barely distinguishable lengths,
BAG 111 (One-Eleven)

Series 500 specifications: Length: 107' (32.61 m) Wingspan:
A low-wing,T-tail, fuselage-mounted twin-jet airliner. Note four
field marks separating it from the similar DC9 and Fokker Fellow-
ship: combines pointed nose, oval windows, three flap guides on
each wing that trail behind, distinct bullet on tail plane.
Certified in 1965 as a 79-passenger series 200 aircraft, the most
common variant in the U.S. is the stretched series 500, carrying up
to 119 passengers. Basically a short-haul aircraft, it is also pro-
duced in a variant for small, high-altitude, hot-weather airports:
the series 475 —14 feet shorter, but with the long wings and high
power of the stretched 500. Now manufactured under license in
Romania.
Fokker F28 Fellowship

Model Mk4000 specifications: Length: 97' 1" (29.61 m)
Quite rare in the U.S. A stubby, low-wing, T-tail, fuselage-
mounted, twin-jet airliner. Separate from the much more common
DC9 or BAClll by these marks: short, rounded nose; oval win-
dows; distinct fairing from fuselage to tail fin; two flap guides on
each wing that trail behind; squared-off rear fuselage housing a
clamshell airbrake.
Fokker attempted to cut out a particular market segment with
high-performance aircraft. Carrying a maximum of
this short-haul,
85 passengers in the Mk4000 configuration, the Fellowship is
highly fuel-efficient and suitable for intercity hops of as little as 30
minutes' flying time. However, it has not competed successfully in
the U.S. or Canada with the similarly sized DC9 series 10 and 30.
152
JET AIRLINERS
Aerospatiale
Caravelle
Fokker
Fellowship
McDonnell Douglas DC9, MD80
Super 80 specifications: Length: 147' 10" (45.06 m) Wingspan:
A variety of stretched aircraft with certain common features Hke

fuselage-mounted twin jets and T-tail. Field marks that distinguish
DC9s from the BAClll or Fokker Fellowship include: rectangular
windows; underwing flap guides that do not trail behind wing; no
bullet on tail plane; rear fuselage tapers to a bullet behind tail fin.
First flown in 1965 as an 80-passenger short-haul jet. Mc-
Donnell Douglas always intended to stretch the plane, though not
so far as the current model, the Super 80, which carries 155 pas-
sengers. Late 1960 model DC9s carrying just over 100 passengers
were among the noisiest in the history of aviation, with a peculiar
high-pitched whine, inside and outside the aircraft. The Super 80,
renamed MD80 m 1983, is one of the quietest ever built. The
smaller series, 10, 30, 40 and 50, remain DC9s.
British Aerospace VCIO

Quite rare. Four fuselage-mounted jet engines; strongly swept

wing and tail plane. The only possible confusion is with the Rus-
sian 1162, an even more infrequent visitor to North America. The
VCIO has a curving tail plane; the 1162 is all straight lines.
First flown in 1962, only 54 VClOs were built in all configura-
tions, including military planes. BOAC was the only major over-
seas airline to purchase VClOs, and a few are still operated by
Third World carriers. The plane is, and was, reliable; it gave excel-
lent service in the high-altitude, hot-weather conditions of Africa
and the Mideast. However, by the time the VCIO was certified, the
intercontinental versions of the Boeing 707 (707-320) and Douglas
DC8 (series 30, 40) were being sold by the hundreds. RAF tankers
and transports may be seen in the U.S. and Canada.
Ilyushin 1162
Very rare visitor, usually to Montreal (from Cuba and Russia)
and to New York (from Russia). Four rear-mounted jets; huge bul-
let at intersection of T-tail; drooped extension of outboard half of
wing leading edge creates a visible break in the line.
This is a Russian version of the Vickers VCIO. Well over 100
are operating worldwide in Russia and dependent eastern-bloc
countries. Maximum capacity is 186 persons, although there is
at least one VIP model carrying 45 in first class and 40 more in
sleeper-chair deluxe class. Outside the Russian sphere, only
Egyptair ever flew them, and those were returned after the era
of Russian-Egyptian goodwill ended. Look for wherever Russian
delegations are traveling.
154
J
JET AIRLINERS
McDonnell
Douglas DC9
BAe VCIO
4K
Boeing 727
The only airliner you'll see in North America with three rear-
mounted engines: one in the tail, the others on fuselage pods. If
someone should import a British Trident, it will have a distinct
bullet at the center of the tail plane. The Russian military TU154
should not appear at all, but if seen elsewhere, note that it has a
long pointed bullet at the tail plane.
First flown in 1963, the 727-100 (length, 133'2", 40.58 m) sold
moderately to U.S. customers for medium-range flights. Since the
introduction of the 727-200, which is 20 feet longer than the 727-
100, Boeing has sold nearly 2000. As many as 189 passengers can
fit, without much comfort, into a one-class 727-200, 90 more than
the original 727-100.
McDonnell Douglas DCIO, MDIO

Length: 182'1" (55.50 m) Wingspan: 165'4" (50.41 m)
Very common commercial airports, domestic and

at all large
international; wide-body with two wing-mounted and one rear-
jet
mounted engine; the rear engine extends straight through the tail
fin.
First carriedpassengers in 1971, a year before its competitor, the
LlOll. A DClOs were built, almost all having the same
variety of
external dimensions. Varying maximum ranges, payloads, or higher
fuel economies are produced by varying the engines (more than six
types used to date) rather than by modifying the fuselage or wings.
AH carry 250 passengers with a first-class section or 380 in an all-
economy configuration. Renamed MDIO in 1984.
Lockheed LlOll TriStar

Length: 177'8" (54.17 m); Model 500, 165'8" (50.5 m)
Wingspan: 155'4" (47.35 m) Cruising speed: 558 mph (898 km,1i)
A jumbo wide-body; two engines on wings; one rear-mounted at
tail.Separate from the DCIO by noting that the tail-mounted en-
gine has intake above the fuselage and exhausts through end of the
fuselage. Compare the DCIO tail engine, which carries straight
through the tail fin.
A popular wide-body that has never suffered from a single seri-
ous mechanical defect, the LlOll was sold for only ten years,
1972—1982, before Lockheed withdrew from the passenger jet
field, leaving it to Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, whose DCIO
was a direct competitor to the LlOll. Fewer than 300 are in
service. The long-range model 500 is not noticeably shorter, but it
can be picked out on the flight line by the way the tail engine is
faired directly into the fuselage (see sketch above model drawing).
156
JET AIRLINERS
McDonnell
Douglas DCIO
3
Lockheed LlOll
Boeing 767
Fat-bodied, with two huge turbofans mounted under the wing.
Compare the Airbus A300 (next entry). The 767 is 16 feet shorter
than the Airbus, but the easiest diagnostic difference is that the
three (not five) flap guides barely extend behind the wing. Two,
not three, passenger doors. Dihedral in tail plane.
The competition between the Airbus, introduced in 1979, and
the 1982 Boeing 767 is expected to be intense. The Boeing entry,
depending on the engine and the passenger configuration, has a po-
tentially longer range, 3545 miles (5705 km) compared to the
A300's 2530 miles (4074 km), making the 767 suitable for trans-
continental and shorter intercontinental routes, but 1984 saw new,
long-range versions of one A300.
Airbus A300
Length: 175'11" (53.62 m) Wtngspan: 147'1" (44.84 m)
A fat-bodied airliner with two huge turbofans mounted below

and forward of the wing. Compare the Boeing 767 (previous en-
try). Close at hand or overhead, the Airbus is not difficult to distin-
guish from the Boeing 767. Note the five flap track guides on each
wing that extend well behind the trailing edge. Also, the Airbus has
three passenger doors and one galley door set behind the wing.
Built by a consortium of French, British, West German, and
Spanish aircraft companies, the A300 carries up to 390 passengers.
The A300s are noticeable, as are the Boeing 767s, in airport traffic
patterns because they climb much more slowly than other jet air-
liners.Their similarity indicates how few options are actually avail-
able to aircraft engineers seeking a short- to medium-range wide-
body.
Boeing 737 (200 and 300)

737-200 specifications: Length: 100' (30.48 m) Wmgspan: 93'
A stubby twin jet that gives the illusion, by its shortness, of

being a wide-body. The 737-200 is unique, the only twin-engine on
which the nacelles extend in front of and behind the wing. The
737-300, with twin fan jets, resembles the A300 or Boeing 767 but
is only half as big. Overhead, where size is difficult to judge, the
737-300 shows one large and two small flap guides extending be-
hind the wing. Compare the A300, which shows five flap guides,
and the 767, on which four guides are barely visible.
The primary short-haul jet of the 1970s, the 737-200, with only
130 passengers and a short takeoff and landing ability, could oper-
ate from regional airports and even be modified to use gravel air-
strips. The 737-300 is 9 feet 7 inches (2.9 m) longer and carries
140 passengers.
158
JET AIRLINERS
Boeing 757
Slim-bodied, with two large turbofans mounted under the wing,
showing well forward of the wing. This plane should separate eas-
ily from the wide-bodied, twin-turbofan airplanes, but compare it
to the Airbus A-300 and the Boeing 737 and 767. The combina-
tion of normal fuselage and engines is diagnostic.
From the passenger's point of view, the 757 is nothing more
than a stretched, re-engined version of Boeing's popular 727 air-
craft. Other differences are subtle, but include a wing with less
sweepback and greater depth (chord). The 757 is 19 feet longer
than the 727. Like the stretched DC9, the 757 carries more passen-
gers and is certified to fly with two, rather than three, flight offi-
cers — a considerable saving.
McDonnell Douglas DCS

Series GO specifications: Length: 187'5" (57.12 m) Wingspan:
A series of four-engine jet liners. Compare with the Boeing 707-
720 (next entry) before deciding. The most common variant is the
extreme stretch Series 60: Viewed at any distance, it has the aspect
of great fuselage length balanced on relatively negligible wings. On
the ground, the tail fin has no vhf radio antenna (compare the 707
drawing); smooth, cigar-shape engine nacelles; distinct "brow" at
cockpit window; tail fin swept; but stretch 60 series even more
radically swept.
A popular airliner first flown in 1958. Most have been con-
verted, whatever their original size, into the super stretches by the
insertion of fuselage plugs fore and aft of the wings. Series 70 is a
stretch with more efficient, quieter fan engines. Still flown by many
economy overseas airlines.
Boeing 707, 720

707-320 specifications: Length: 152' 11" (46.61 m) Wingspan:
The 707 has a superficial resemblance to the Douglas DCS, but
once you have identified the plane by some minor details, its con-
figuration is quite different and instantly recognizable. Four engines
on wing, engine nacelles are distinctly larger forward (compare the
much smoother, cigarlike DCS nacelles). The engines are tucked up
under the wing (the DCS engines carried a bit lower and a bit far-
ther forward). The cockpit windows are very close to the nose (the
DCS has more nose to it).
The first U.S. -built jet liner, flown in 1954. Very successful;
made in a number of variations for increased passenger capacity or
for transoceanic flights. The similar 720 was a medium-range plane
with thinner, slightly more swept wings and a distinct ventral fin.
Alas, a few 707s (model 420) also carry the ventral fin. To muddle
the issue further, American Airlines designated its 720s as 707-
023s, Call them 707s until you're reading the m-flight safety card.
160
JET AIRLINERS
^-'T
Boeing 707, 720

British Aerospace BAel46-200
New in 1982. Smallest of the four-engined jets; massive fin to T-
tail (not unlike de Havilland's Dash turboprops); large flap tracks
underwing —
bulging landing gear fairings on belly; the only four-
jet-on-the-wing T-tail.
Designed over several years, beginning in 1973, by the ailing
British aerospace industry, the BAel46 is a short-haul jet that takes
advantage of modern fan-jet engines to produce a quiet aircraft; it
can land and take off in cities without annoying airport neighbors.
First American purchase by Air Wisconsin. Built with many part-
ners to share risk of tooling up: Wings and engines by Avco (U.S.),
engine cowlings by Short Brothers (Northern Ireland), tail by Saab
(Sweden).
Boeing 747 (747SP and 747-300)

747 specifications: Length: 231'4" (70.51 m) Wingspan: 195'8"
Unmistakable. The four-engine jumbo jet with the bulge behind
the cockpit. Some variants are rarer and more fun
to identify: The
earliestmodel 100s had a short upper cabin, showing three side
windows; the super long-range 747SP (special purpose) is 47 feet
shorter (bottom drawing). The newest model 300 (top sketch) has
lengthened the top deck passenger area and carries 69 passengers
"upstairs," compared to 32 passengers in the late 100 and 200
models.
The 747, first flown in 1969 and still the heaviest airliner in the
world, began in design as Boeing's entry in a heavy-lift military
contract competition. When Lockheed, and its controversial C-5A
Galaxy, was chosen in 1965, Boeing concentrated on turning the
heavy-lifter into the world's first wide-body passenger jet, carrying
350 to 400 persons. The plane has had a remarkable mechanical
safety record, with the few accidents all involving pilot error. Look
for the SP variant at international airports.
162
JET AIRLINERS
Boeing 747
747SP
Convair 880, 990
990 specifications: Length: 139'2" (42.41 m) Wingspan: 120'
A pair of curious airliners that are hardly ever seen, and then
usually parked at the air-cargo flight line of southern U.S. airfields.
Not unlike a DC8. The 990 is easily distinguished by two anti-
shock fairings that trail behind each wing.
The 880 has perfectly smooth, cigar-shaped engine nacelles and
skinny antiturbulence booms on the tips of the tail planes.
Convair's last passenger planes, the 880 and 990 were financial
disasters for the company. A total of 102 of both models were
built. A narrow fuselage with a maximum five-abreast seating and
low fuel economy doomed the project. The few North American
survivors, included here for historical interest, are in the southern
U.S. They are typically used for specialty air-cargo service, particu-
larly flying live cattle from U.S. breeders to South American
ranches.
Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde
Rare, but seen frequently at Kennedy airport, Dulles, and
Miami. Long, skinny fuselage with delta wings; four rectangular
air intakes under wing; no tail planes at all.
First flown in 1971; first passengers, 1975. After environmental
complaints about sonic booms and upper-atmosphere air pollution,
airport noise, and the quadrupling of the price of petroleum, the
once-hopeful supersonic Concorde was dropped by every airline
(more than 70 were on order at one time), except for the govern-
ment-subsidized airlines of the manufacturing countries, British
Airways and Air France. Can carry 128 passengers across the At-
lantic in less than 3 hours.
164
JET AIRLINERS
^ji^ \
>»tfti«»»«M«
'i^ Convair 990

Beech T-34C
Length: 28'8" (8.72 m) Wingspan: 33'4" (10.16 m) Level flight:
241 mph (388 km/h)
The Navy's only slim-nosed, propeller-driven airplane. High
greenhouse canopy; ventral fin; finlet fairings to tail plane; paired
airscoops; large side exhausts.
The latest in a long line of Navy-style in-line trainers, including
the SN-J (Texan) and the nonturbocharged Beech T-34 it replaces
(page 46). The T-34C, with turboprop, is 90 mph faster than the
T-34, making an easier step up to the 343 mph T-28 Trojan used
it
As with many trainers, it can be fit-

for carrier training (page 44).
ted with armaments and sold overseas for counterinsurgency mis-
sions.
Rockwell OV-10 Bronco

Overhead, the perfectly rectangular wing and tail plane are diag-
nostic; on the ground, the twin booms to the tail extend naturally
out of the fuselage. The Cessna Skymaster is the only similar air-
craft.
The little OV-10 is a short takeoff and landing observation and
counterinsurgency aircraft that can operate without arresting gear
from runways as short as the deck of a helicopter-carrying amphib-
ious assault ship. A few heavily armed versions are in service with
the U.S. Marines, including models for night observation: These
have a distinctive probe extending from the nose that houses a for-
ward-looking infrared sensor and laser used to guide missiles to the
target. They are usually seen near bombing ranges, circling over
practicing attack aircraft at a leisurely 55 mph.
Grumman OV-1 Mohawk

Length: 41' (12.5 m) Wingspan: 48' (14.63 m) Level flight:
289 mph (465 km/h)
Bulbous cockpit and triple tail give a sort of dragonfly look to
wing tanks and a right-side radar pod extend forward of
the craft;
nose.
The Mohawk has such odd geometry that it can hardly be com-
pared to any other aircraft ever flown. Though not all models have
the curious radar pod that extends past the nose, the Grumman-
style dihedral tail plane and triple tail fins are enough for positive
identification. Most OV-ls carry two underwing fuel tanks just
outboard of the engines. Only the Army flies the Mohawk, which
is used as a target locater and battlefield mapper. The heavily
armed Mohawks of the Vietnam War have been refitted, as the Air
Force, Navy, and Marines captured the fixed-wing attack plane
mission from Army aviation.
166
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Rockwell
Bronco, OV-10
Grumman OV-1
Mohawk
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound
The E-2 is an unmistakable twin-engine aircraft backpacking a
30-foot-diameter radar pancake. The C-2 utiUty version is the only
high-wing twin prop with four tail fins.
The Hawkeye's mission is early warning for the carrier fleet. The
Greyhound serves as a shore-to-ship delivery system, carrying up to
39 passengers or 4 tons of freight. The type has certain Grumman
characteristics, including a dihedral in the tail planes and engines
that angle out slightly from the fuselage, (Note those features in
Grumman's smaller OV-1, previous entry, which has three tail
fins.) Overhead, it is the only twin-engine propeller aircraft that
combines a straight trailing edge to the tail plane with symmetri-
cally tapering wings.
Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Extraordinarily rare. Last craft based at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto
Rico. Two engines, midwing with characteristic Lockheed wing de-
sign: straight leading edge at right angles to fuselage with tip-tanks.
From the side or below, the old-fashioned clear Plexiglas nose
compartment separates the Neptune quickly from other operational
twin-engine planes. First flown in 1947, the land-based Neptune's
long-range capability is given away by the typical wingspan of such
aircraft: The plane is clearly wider than long, even including the
rear magnetic probe. Japan, with much coastline and no aircraft
carriers, has adopted the P-2 airframe, and the Kawasaki company
has built dozens of them for the Naval Self-Defense Force.
Grumman S-2 Tracker, Trader and E-1 Tracer

Length: 43'6" (13.26 m) Wmgspan: ITT (22.13 m) Cruising
Increasingly rare. In service as the Trader only, a shore-to-ship
cargo plane; twin engines that extend fore and aft of the symmetri-
cally tapering wings; strong dihedral in tail planes.
A typical Grumman aircraft. Note the bug-eyed cockpit (see the
Mohawk, previous page). When it was outfitted for advance warn-
ing of aircraft, it carried a teardrop-shaped radar dome 30 feet
long (compare the current early-warning Hawkeye, with its round
radar pod). Seen overhead, it could conceivably be confused with
some commercial twin-engines, but the following combination is
unique: symmetrically tapered wings; engine nacelles that extend
well behind the wing; and a straight-line trailing edge on the tail
plane.
168
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Grumman E-2
Hawkeye
Lockheed P-2
Neptune
Grumman S-2
Trader
E-1 Tracer
de Havilland C-8A Buffalo
261 mph (420km/h)
Fairly common military transport in the U.S. and Canada. Com-
bination of twin turboprop engines, upswept fuselage, and T-tail is
unique. There is a slight resemblance, at a distance, to the twin-
engine Dash 8 commercial airliner.
The Buffalo is noticeably bulkier than the midtailed Caribou.
The overhead view is much like the Caribou, the leading edge of
the wing almost, but not quite, straight; the tail plane almost, but
not quite, rectangular. In commercial service, it is designated
DHC5; in Canadian armed forces, CC-115.
de Havilland C-7A Caribou

Fuselage strongly upswept, "bent up" to tail plane with midfin

tailplane; overhead, straight leading edge wings, sharply tapered
trailing edges from engines to wing tips.
This durable short takeoff and landing freighter serves in the
U.S. Air Force (after transfer from the Army), in the Canadian
armed forces (designated CC-108), and in bush country air-freight
and passenger work (as DHC4A). There are other upswept fuselage
planes, but only the Caribou has the "bent" look plus the reverse
gull-wing effect as the wings droop down to the engines and then
angle up to the tips. First flown in 1958, it uses radial piston
engines.
Fairchild C-123 Provider

Fairly rare. Upsweep of fuselage begins atop the wing; two ra-
dial engines; conventional tail plane.
The last active military C-123s are at Westover Air Force Base,
near Springfield, Massachusetts. The twin-engine C-123 bears only
the slightest resemblance to other upswept-fuselage aircraft its —
sheer bulk and the straight line of the upsweep into the conven-
tional tail separate it automatically from the de Havilland Caribou
(midway tail plane) and Buffalo (T-tail) (previous entries). Widely
used in Vietnam, it was the principal aircraft for defoliant spray-
ing, and it can be seen occasionally in this country performing in-
secticide spraying missions for the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau
of Land Management. Overhead, it is fat and noisy.
170
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
de Havilland
C-8A Buffalo
de Havilland
C-7A Caribou
Fairchild
C-123 Provider
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Common, nationwide. Combines upswept fuselage with conven-
tional radar dome nose, and classic Lockheed wing; straight
tail,
leading edge at right angles to fuselage; four turboprop engines.

The bulky C-130 bears no real resemblance, even overhead, to
the more elegant and T-tailed de Havilland Dash 7 (page 137).
(There is a Russian copy of the Hercules, the An-12 Cub.) Com-
pare the overhead view of the Hercules with the Electra (page
141), The Hercules is bulkier, and its radar dome nose looks comi-
cal. The Orion's is simply the curved nose of the airplane. C-130s
are operated by all four U.S. services in modes from gunships to
weather observation and search and rescue, as well as transports.
The C-130 was the type of aircraft used by the Israeli government
on the successful mission to free the hijacked Air France passengers
at Entebbe, Uganda, on July 3, 1976.
Rockwell T-2 Buckeye

Length: 38'4" (11.66 m) Wingspan: 38'10" (11.62 m) Level
flight: 511 mph (840 km/h) Mach 0.69 at sea level
Seen near naval flight schools and stateside aircraft carriers.

Large canopy for tandem pilot and instructor; straight wings with
tip-tanks; a stubby, front-heavy look.
The Navy's basic jet trainer used for teaching pilots to land on
an aircraft carrier. It resembles the side-by-side seating USAF T-37
if the wing geometry is not visible. The T-2's engine intakes are
well forward of the wing. First built as a single-engine trainer by

North American, based on the Navy's retired FJ-1 Fury fighters.
TLie twin version is all that flies today, and later models are the
first Navy planes with fiber-glass wings. Rockwell also markets it
as a counterinsurgency plane.
Lockheed T-33A Trainer (type of F-80 Shooting

Star)
flight: 600 mph (965 km/h) Mach 0.9 at altitude
Rare. More common in Canada, U.S. sightings unlikely except
near Anchorage, Alaska, and Hickham Field, in Oahu, Hawaii.
Tapering unswept wings with prominent tip-tanks. In side view,
a cigar with a tandem-seating canopy.
The original USAF F-80 Shooting Star was converted to a trainer
by adding 3 feet to the cockpit to accommodate two pilots in tan-
dem. The F-80 participated in the first all-jet dogfight, when one
shot down a MiG-15 at the beginning of the Korean War. More
than 100 are in service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, many
built in Canada under license. More than 100 are in U.S. service,
used for radar training and to impersonate unfriendly aircraft in
war games.
172
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Lockheed C-130
Hercules
Rockwell
T-2 Buckeye
Lockheed T-33A
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly and T-37
Length: 29'4" (8.92 m) Wmgspan: ^^'7" (10.3 m) Leuel flight:
507 mph (816 km/h) Mach 0.658 at sea level
Low wings with conspicuous tip-tanks and inconspic-
straight
uous twin the wing roots; bulbous cockpit for side-by-side
jets at
seating in the trainer version. Nothing else flying has twin wing-
root jets and straight wings at right angles to the fuselage.
Though many combat aircraft have been converted to trainers,
the counterinsurgency A-37B was developed as a gunship from the
USAF's standard jet trainer, the T-37. It saw wide use in areas of
Vietnam not defended by surface-to-air missiles, carrying a 7,62-
mm minigun capable of firing 6000 rounds a minute as well as
cluster and phosphorus bombs. Suitable for use against lightly
armed "insurgents," the A-37's low stall speed, under 100 mph,
makes it a precision instrument.
Canadair CL41, CT-114 Tutor

Length: 32' (9.75 m) Wingspan: 36'5" (11.13 m) Level flight:
Seen only in Canada in North America. Small, with a very slim

rear fuselage; T-tail; large canopy covers side-by-side, two-man
cockpit; quite small air intakes forward of wing root.
A somewhat variable Canadian trainer. First flown in 1960,
adopted by the RCAF in 1964. RCAF weapons instruction models
will show hard points on the lower side of the wing for carrying
bombs or rockets. The extremely slim rear fuselage is almost a Ca-
nadian style. Note the old propeller trainer, the de Havilland Chip-
munk (page 24).
Fairchild NGT, T-46

Length: 29'6" (9.0 m) Wingspan: 37' (11.3 m) Level flight:
495 mph (796 km/h) Mach 0.642 at altitude
A 1983 introduction. Combines twin tail fins with straight
wings, twin jet engines mounted at wing roots. The only other
twin-fin, straight- wing jet is the A- 10 Thunderbolt, but it has mas-
sive engines mounted on the rear fuselage. T-46 wings droop
(negative dihedral).
Fairchild's experience with the A- 10 went directly into this win-
ning entry in the N(ext) G(eneration) T(rainer) competition for a
replacement for the Cessna T-37 jet trainer. The T-46 can take off
and land in two-thirds the distance of the T-37, allowing it to use
civilian airports —
always useful for a training plane. Part of the
success in winning the contract came from building a flyable 62
percent size model out of the same composite materials used in
Rutan's home-built Long-Ez aircraft (page viii).
174
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Cessna A-37
Dragonfly
Fairchild
NGT, T-46
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt
Length: 53' 4" (16.25 m) Wingspan: 57'6" (17.53 m) Level
flight:
Fuselage-mounted huge turbofan twin jets rise above the fuse-

lage; overhead, note the rectangular tail plane.
The A-10 is a highly maneuverable ground support plane, essen-
tially an aircraft wrapped around a 30-millimeter gun that fills the

inside of the fuselage. The ammunition is typically simple cylinders
of depleted (not radioactive) uranium that destroy tanks by mere
impact. The A-10 is basically an alternative to smart bombs and
heat-seeking missile systems, and relies heavily on the pilot, instead
of sophisticated instrumentation, for success. Occasionally seen in
Florida and Arizona near firing ranges, but based in Wisconsin,
New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Also seen
at Nomans Land, off Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Some
authors allege a resemblance to the Cessna Citation, though there
is none.
Fairchild Repubhc F-105 Thunderchief

Length: 69'1" (21 m) Wmgspan: 35' (10.66 m) Level flight:
Rare. National Guard and USAF Reserve only. On the ground

or overhead, the outswept air intakes are all you need to identify
it; strongly swept wing, tail plane, and tail fin.
The Thunderchief was a well-designed airframe looking for a

mission. Though intended as a long-range nuclear bomber with
fighter maneuverability, that mission was scrapped in the late
1950s in favor of B-52s and ICBMs. Converted to conventional
bombs carried externally, the 105 was heavily used in Vietnam,
where more than 400, half the total production, were shot down
by missiles and MiGs. These heavy losses convinced the Air Force
to convert the two-seat trainer version of the F-105 to a radar-
suppression role, carrying a radar officer behind the pilot.
British Aerospace AV-8A Harrier

High droopy wings, on the airfield; wing tip landing gear; mas-
sive air intakes wellforward of the wings are especially noticeable
overhead.
The AV-8A Harriers in service with the U.S. Marine Corps have
a bulky shouldered look, and the directable engine exhausts are un-
der the balance point of the aircraft, giving it the unique ability to
take off vertically. The Harrier gave the Marines a long-sought
dream, a close-support fighter-bomber that would be positioned
near the troops and clearly under Marine command, not subject
to the orders of Navy carriers or Air Force base commanders.
McDonnell Douglas is now building more than 300 of the more
capable AV-8B version.
176
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Fairchild
Thunderbolt, A-10
Fairchild Republic
F-105 Thunderchief
BAe AV-8A Harrier

Grumman A-6 Intruder/EA-6 Prowler
A-6 specifications: Length: 54'7" (16.64 m) Wingspan: 53'
(16.15 m) Level flight: 625 mph (1006 km/h) Mach 0.82 at sea
level
The tivin jet engines mounted at the wing roots, combined with
swept wings, are diagnostic and give the plane its characteristic,
bulky forward, slim aft look. Up close, note the hooked-nose elec-
tronic probe in front of the cockpit.
The Navy's basic night/all-weather bomber since 1960, the A-6 A
was heavily used during the Vietnam War along with the newer
Air Force F-llls for night precision bombing. The basic airplane,
with side-by-side seating, has been modified into a radar and com-
munications jamming craft, the EA-6A. A four-seat version, the
EA-6B, has even more sophisticated antielectronics capacity. Both
EA versions are distinguished by the electronic pod on the tail fin;
what appear to be externally mounted bombs on the EA-6Bs are
additional wing-mounted electronics.
Vought F-8 Crusader

Rare. A few with naval and marine reserve units; very few active
in Navy as photo-reconnaissance craft. Looks like an aircraft built
around an engine. Compare the A-7 Corsair, which looks like a
plane built on top of a jet engine. The distinct hump over the wing
houses machinery that alters the pitch (incidence) of the entire
wing for takeoff and landing.
From the late 1950s to the late 1960s, the standard day-fighter
of the Navy. The active naval versions are remarkably clean air-
craft — no tip-tanks, no armament, no radar or electronic warfare
bulges; just barely noticeable camera lenses on the underside of the
fuselage. Reserve aircraft may be carrying underwing armament or
fuel tanks.
Vought A-7 Corsair II
Length: 46'1" (14 m) Wingspan: 38'8" (11.78 m) Level flight:

Standard aboard carriers, rare on land. Very large air intake and
exhaust; overhead, note the slim, strongly swept tail plane; in any
view, the bulky fuselage without apparent taper; inland, you're
probably looking at an Air Force Vought F-8 (preceding entry).
The Navy's standard attack bomber, roughly based on the USAF
F-8 design, has a stubbier, bulbous nose and deeper air intakes,
giving it a much different profile. A subtle, unique field mark of the
A-7 is the vertical squaring off of the tail sail; this notching allows
a few more A-7s to be packed onto a carrier hangar deck. Viewed
from beneath, the A- 7s and F-8s are almost identical, with the A-7
having the larger wing surface area. They're not likely to be distin-
guished unless both airplanes are in the air together. The A-7s re-
main operational with the regular Navy and Marines.
178
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Vought A-7
Corsair II
General Dynamics (Convair) F-106 Delta Dart
Length: 70'8" (21.5 m) Wingspan: 38'3" (1 1.66 m) Level flight:
Rare. National Guard and USAF Reserve. Pure delta wing; easily
distinguished, when overhead, from variable-geometry craft by the
engine exhaust extending well behind wing trailing edge.
The only delta-wing craft operational in the U.S., the F-106 is
based with a few Air Force Reserve units from Cape Cod to Cali-
fornia. Designed to intercept attacking intercontinental bombers,
the F-106 carries a cannon as well as air-to-air guided missiles in
an interior bomb bay. Carries a pair of underwing fuel tanks. A
few tandem-seat cockpit models were built. With a maximum pur-
suit speed of more than 1700 mph (Mach 2.3), it remains one of
the fastest single-engine aircraft ever built.
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom

Length: 58'-63' (17.7 m-19.2 m) Wingspan: 38'4" (11.7 m)
Level flight: up to 1500 mph (2414 km/h) Mach 2.25 at altitude
Look for the drooping tail planes and upswept wing tips on this
largeand common Navy and Air Force fighter-bomber; overhead,
look for that deep triangular wing and comparatively small tail
plane.
Huge for a carrier-based aircraft, the fighter-bomber version car-
ries 8 tons of munitions, more than the payload of a WWII B-29
Superfortress. Powered by twin Rolls-Royce or General Electric en-
gines, it is nearly as fast as any special-purpose plane designed to-
day. It's the basic interceptor, fighter-bomber, and electronic recon-
naissance aircraft for all the U.S. services and more than a dozen
foreign countries.
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

and TA-4 trainer
Length: 40' (12.2 m) Wingspan: 17' 6" (8.38 m) Level flight:
More than 20 versions, including radar intelligence gathering

versions with probes and domes.
Increasingly rare. Look for it near Marine airfields. Note the re-
fueling probe on the pilot's right, extending forward of the nose
and engine air intakes above the wing. Newer models have a dis-
tinct humpback electronic dome on the fuselage.
A light, single-engine attack plane designed to carry nuclear
weapons and penetrate the Soviet Union from naval carriers, the
"Bantam Bomber" carries more than 4 tons of armament on a 10-
ton airframe. The deep, almost delta, wing was designed to allow it
to operate from carriers without a folding wing. Now rare in the

Navy, it remains the basic Marine Corps fighter-bomber, until re-
placed by the AV-8 Harrier.
180
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
V X
General Dynamics
F-106 Delta Dart
McDonnell Douglas
F-4 Phantom
McDonnell Douglas
A-4 Skyhawk
TA-4 Trainer
British Aerospace Hawk, T-54
Length: 36'7" (1 1.16 m) Wmgspan: 30'9" (9.38 m) Level flight:
Expected to enter U.S. Navy service in 1988. Small, slim, tan-
dem-seat cockpit canopy flows smoothly into the fuselage (compare
the bumpy canopy on the A-4 Skyhawk trainer); two small ventral
slim swept wings.
fins;
The Royal Air Force's standard jet trainer. First delivered in
1976, the Hawk, with extensive modifications, will replace both
the Navy's T-2 Buckeye and the TA-4 Skyhawks. Major advan-
tages include a fuel consumption rate averaging only 40 percent of
existing Navy trainers. McDonnell Douglas will be the prime con-
tractor for an expected $2.2 bilHon worth of T-54s, with British
Aerospace providing the complete airframe and Rolls-Royce, the
engine.
McDonnell F-IOIB Voodoo

Length: 67'5" (20.55 m) Wmgspan: 39'7" (12.06 m) Level
flight:
Seen only in Canada. A strikingly long, thin fuselage balanced

over a swept wing with strong fairings; a very slim swept tail
plane.
A good aircraft will survive anything, including a canceled mis-
sion. The F-101 was designed as a long-range fighter-escort for
Strategic Air Command bombers before the introduction of B-52s,
but the SACgave up on that concept before the first plane was de-
livered in 1957. The trouble-free and reliable design was too good
to throw away, and the plane has been variously used as an inter-
ceptor, a fighter-bomber and a reconnaissance plane. The few re-
maining planes are in air defense roles in Canada.
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Length: 54'9" (16.69 m) Wmgspan: IV W" (6.68 m) Level
flight: 1450 mph (2330 km/h) Mach 2.2 at altitude
Rare. Seen in Canada only. A bizarre combination: long, needle-

nosed fuselage; stubby trapezoid wings; T-tail.
The first production aircraft with a T-tail, the 1954 Starfighter
was built by the thousands and ordered by virtually every U.S. ally.
The plane was manufactured under license in Germany, Holland,
Belgium, Italy, Canada, and Japan. For many years the hottest air-
craft in the world, it set altitude records for airplanes taking off
under their own power (118,860 feet, in 1963) and several wom-
en's speed records, set by Jacqueline Cochran in 1964. One F-104
was given a complete rocket engine and took off in zero distance in
1963.
182
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
ty
BAe Hawk, T-54
McDonnell
F-IOIB Voodoo
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
'•
III!
•
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighters/Talon T-38 trainer,
F-20 Tigershark
Length: 46-51' (14.0 m-15.5 m) Wingspan: 25-26'
(7.6 m-7.9 m) Level flight: E version, 1060 mph (1706 km/h)
Mach 1,6 at altitude
The T-38 version was used for ten years by the USAF Thunder-
birds precision flying team at airshows; the fighter-interceptor ver-
sions are very rare in the U.S. The small, oval engine intakes and
the simple, almost triangular, wing and tail planes are unique
among military aircraft.
More than a thousand T-38s are in use by the Air Force and
Navy as trainers, and several thousand versions of the F-5 have
been sold with Defense Department subsidies to noncommunist air
forces throughout the world. About 100 F-5Es equipped with ra-
dar and weapons systems that mimic Russian equipment are based
at Nellis Air Force Base, in Nevada, and at Miramar Naval Air
Station, in California, where they are used in war games to imitate
Russian MiG-21 fighters, F-5s have been manufactured under li-
cense in Canada and are in service with the Canadian Defence
Force.
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Length: 46'6" (14,2 m) Wingspan: 31' (9.45 m) Level flight:
Widely seen. The USAF Thunderbirds have flown the F-16 since
1983, Headon, note the "shark's mouth" air intake and the
drooping tail plane; in side view, the plane appears to perch on top
of the engine and shows a keel-like stabilizer aft of the wings;
overhead, the clipped triangular wing and tail planes are diagnos-
tic,
A bundle of graphite-epoxy wrapped around an afterburning

turbofan jet engine, the F-16 started out as an experimental design
to test lightweight construction techniques and ended up as the Air
Force's choice as a combat fighting machine over battlefield areas.
Since its adoption in 1975, the Air Force has turned it into a
fighter-bomber and long-range interceptor, adding to its weight and
cutting its maneuverability,
McDonnell Douglas-Northrop F-18 Hornet

Length: 56' (17.07 m) Wingspan: 37'6" (11.43 m) Level flight:
Rare. Its numbers in the 1980s will depend on procurement of
this controversial aircraft. On the flight line, half-round air intakes
and twin tail fins that lean out noticeably; overhead, stubby,
clipped triangular wings and swept tail fins.
Intended as the single-pilot alternative to the expensive two-man
F-14, the F-18 will be adopted by the Navy as its primary carrier-
—
based fighter. If there were no two-seat versions though there are
for training purposes —
it would separate easily from the other
twin-tailed fighters, the Air Force F-15 Eagle and the Navy F-14
Tomcat (next entries), in side view. It is the only one of the three
with a needle nose and a noticeable offset in the leading edge of
the wings.
184
Northrop MILITARY AIRCRAFT
F-5 Freedom
Fighter
Talon T-38
Trainer
F-20
General
Dynamics F-16
McDonnell
Douglas F-18
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Increasingly common. Massive rectangular engine air intakes;
wing and tail planes of multifaceted geometry; and twin vertical
tail fins.
This airplane gives the impression of a great deal of mechanism
crammed close together. The small cockpit seems to bubble up
higher and more abruptly than on any modern jet fighter. A train-
ing version has two seats in tandem. The appearance of a large
amount of engine and a small amount of airframe is indicative of
the plane's performance: It is faster than all but the most advanced
Russian MiG-25s and much more maneuverable than they are at
high speeds. May be seen with a bulge along the outside of each
engine housing, indicating removable fuel tanks. These give the
plane a maximum range of nearly 4000 miles.
Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Length: 61'10" (18.85 m) "Wingspan: fullv spread, 64'1" (19.5 m);
fully swept, 38'2" (11.63 m) Level flight:' \S 60 mph (2510 km/h)
Mach 135 at altitude
A complex variable-wing plane. On first view, compare the F-15

Eagle and F-18 Hornet before deciding; on the flight line, twin tail
fins angle out slightly, rectangular air intakes angle inward at the
top. When the wings are extended at takeoff and landing, note the
bulky wing roots housing the variable geometry mechanism.
When the F-111 swept-wing proved much too heavy for carrier
basing, the Navy chose the F-14 from a design competition. Sepa-
rating Navy F-14s from Air Force F-15s by service markings will
become increasingly difficult as planes are stripped of any distinc-
tive painted markings that would make them identifiable on radar.
F-15 Eagles have a smaller bubble canopy for a single pilot,
whereas the F-14 carries a pilot and a radar intercept officer under
a longer canopy.
General Dynamics F-111, FB-111, and EF-lllA

Length: 73' 6" (22.40 m) Wingspan: fully spread, 63' (19.2 m),
fully swept, 31'11" (9.74 m) Level flight: 1650 mph (2655 km/h)
Mach 2.4 at altitude
On the ground or near the base, thin swept wings jut out of the
bulky wing roots housing the variable geometry mechanism; in side
view, note a curious asymmetrical sculpting of the nose.
The F-111, developed as a supersonic fighter-bomber, has
evolved into a less common medium-range bomber (FB-111) and,
in the EF configuration, as a radar suppressor and target locater.
The rare EFs are distinguished by an electronic pod in the upper
tail fin. What we have here is essentially a half-sized B-1 bomber
(or perhaps the B-1 is an oversized F-111). Although one is un-
likely to see an F-111 in the fully swept mode (the plane will be
very high and going very fast) it would be separable from delta-
wing planes by the notched effect where the wing meets the tail
plane and by the clipped-off tail planes.
186
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
McDonnell
Douglas F-15 Eagle
Grumman F-14
Tomcat
General
Dynamics F
Rockwell B-1
Length: 143' (43.58 m) Wingspan: fully spread, 137' (41.75 m);
fully swept, 78' (23.77 m) Level flight: 1454 mph (2339 km/h)
Mach 2.19 at altitude; subsonic at sea level
Huge, the size of a Boeing 707 or a stretched DC9 Super 80,
with four engines mounted in pairs near the wing roots; wings ex-
tend for landing and takeoff, sweep back for operational flight; a
sculptural quality to the drooping nose and fuselage-to-wing area;
two beardlike winglets under the ''chin" and a bulletlike "close-
out" fairing to the tail end of the fuselage.
This plane will be produced in small numbers, but will attract
attention by its size alone. You are unlikely to see it except with
the wings fully extended unless you are near desert testing areas,
where it will be executing supersonic, low-level maneuvers. On the
ground, its massive, tall landing gear gives it a birdlike pose.
Lockheed U-2, TR-1

speed:460 mph (740 km/h) Mach 0.69 at altitude
Very unusual configuration. Single jet engine and 80-foot wing-
span are unique. The sensor pods on the wings are integral, not
mounted on pylons. Some appear in civilian dress as research air-
craft. Mission pods vary.
The U-2, first flown in 1955, continues to be produced as a plat-
form for aerial observation from the ordinarily safe height of
80,000 feet or more. In addition to the Air Force, NASA and other
civilian agencies fly them for high-altitude scientific research. New
versions, equipped with side-looking radar and
equipment for
laser
selecting targets and guiding missiles and bombs to them are desig-
nated TR-1. Large, wing-mounted fuel tanks give the U-2 the ap-
pearance of a twin jet when seen overhead.
Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird

flight: at least 2310 mph (3717 km/h) Mach 3.4 at altitude
Rare. Usually at Beale Air Force Base, in California. Huge, the

size of a jet liner; bizarre shape; twin engines mounted on delta
wing; inward-leaning twin tail fins. Painted dark blue, but appears
black at a distance.
You'll probably never see one in the air, just when it's landing
and taking off. With a service altitude of well over 80,000 feet and
a speed faster than a military rifle bullet, it's not meant to be seen.
The SR-7rs mission is data acquisition, including mapping and
communications surveillance. However, it has certain qualities sim-
ilar to those desired from the proposed Stealth bomber, including
rounded surfaces wherever possible to scatter radar reflections; the
blue paint, intended to diffuse the heat generated by its high speed,
is also the worst radar reflector.
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Rockwell B-1
-\
Lockheed U-2
Lockheed SR-71A
Blackbird
Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
Length: 76'4" (23.27 m) Wingspan: 71' 6" (22.1 m) Level flight:
Scarce. Note the long, thin swept wings with engines mounted
well forward. The wings enter the fuselage without fairings.
The A-3 was designed in 1952 as the first all-jet nuclear bomber
to fly from a carrier deck and is the heaviest carrier-borne aircraft
in any navy. But, as bombs got lighter and aircraft more sophisti-
cated, it has been relegated entirely to mission support, either as a
pure in-air refueling tanker or as a combination tanker-radar
suppression plane. A few of the originals are seen near naval air
bases, where they are used in multiengine training.
Lockheed S-3 Viking

flight:
Note the twin jet engines pylon-mounted down and forward of

the wing and the unswept wings; overhead, it has noticeably
greater wingspan than length.
When seen on alert, a long magnetic detecting boom extends to
15 feet behind the tail. A carrier-based antisubmarine-warfare craft
with a crew of four, it has the same mission as the land-based, tur-
boprop Orion P-3 Electra. It is remarkably maneuverable for a re-
connaissance aircraft, capable of dropping to sea level from 30,000
feet in two minutes. In addition to magnetic detection, the S-3 has
side- and forward-looking radar and infrared capacity. Conversions
to passenger and cargo uses for delivery to aircraft carriers are
coming into service.
190
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Douglas A-3
Skvwarrior
Lockheed S-3
# Viking
P
Lockheed C-5A Galaxy
Length: 247' 10" (75.54 m) Wingspan: 222'8" (67.87 m)
Cruising speed: long range, 518 mph (833 km/h) Mach 0.78 at
altitude
Uncommon. Compare the C-141 StarLifter (next entry) before

deciding. Massive fuselage with high wing and T-tail. Four turbo-
fan engines (noticeably larger in front, tapering to aft); overhead,
compare the Boeing 747 silhouette (page 162).
The largest, and certainly the loudest, aircraft in North America,
the C-5A is an awesome sight on takeoff, with flaps fully extended
and four engines generating more than twice the noise of a Boeing
747. Viewed overhead, it can be distinguished from the 747 (both
have engines that taper noticeably from front to back, unlike the
C-Hl's) by the wing shape: There is very little fairing, or widen-
ing, of the wing root on the C-5A as it enters the fuselage.
Lockheed C-141A StarLifter (and stretched

C-141B)
Length: C-141A, 145' (44.2 m); C-141B, 168'4" (51.28 m)
Wingspan: both models, 159' 10" (48.74 m) Cruising speed:
Based nationwide. On the ground, one of two high-wing, four-
jet, T-tail planes in North America. See the similar C5-A Galaxy
(previous entry) for comparison. Confusing overhead, but the
bulges under and just aft of the moderately swept wings house the
landing gear.
The Air Force's basic cargo and passenger aircraft, the jumbo-
jet-sized C-141 differs from all commercial four-engine jets by the
combination of the high wing and T-tail. Within a few years, all
the C-141s will be stretched into the B versions, which also have a
domed fairing to house an in-flight refueling receptacle on the top
of the fuselage just aft of the cockpit. Like many commercial jets,
the original C-141 had more lifting capacity than cabin capacity;
the same solution so common in airliners, stretching, though it im-
proved total load capacity, did not solve the problem created by
the narrow cross section of the fuselage, which keeps it from carry-
ing bulky items, such as full-sized tanks.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Length: 157'7" (48 m) Wingspan: 185' (56.39 m) Level flight:
Eight engines are carried in pairs below and forward of the
wings' leading edges. Overhead, the contrails frequently show the
eight exhausts, but note the unfaired swept wings, illusion of four
engines; on the flight line, droopy-winged.
Of the more than 550 B-52s built in the 1950s and early 1960s,
347 remain in service. Current models may show a bulge below the
cockpit, housing forward-looking radar or low-light television.
Many carry two air-to-surface missiles between the outboard en-
gines and the wing tips. In a few years, many will be seen with a
dozen wing-mounted, short-range Cruise missiles. Some current
models may be carrying a number of wing-mounted rockets in-
tended to divert heat-seeking surface-to-air antiaircraft missiles.
192
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Lockheed
C-5A Galaxy
Lockheed
C-141 StarLifter
Boeing B-52
Stratofortress
Lear Fan 2100
Under development in 1984. Butterfly V-shaped tail with large
ventral rear-mounted twin turbine engines power a single
fin;
pusher propeller; slim, unswept, tapering wings.
One of the most bizarre airplane designs since the "Flying
Wing" of WWII. A seven-to nine-passenger, crew of one, business
"jet." Included here with canard-type pusher propellers because, al-
though it lacks the forward small wing, the Lear Fan 2100 is
clearly of the revolutionary movement. Problems with the pressur-
ized section of the aircraft have delayed certification.
Avtek 400
estimated 300 mph (483 km/h)
Combines tall tailfin without tail plane, small canard wing above
and low main wing with tipsails and twin pusher engines.
cockpit,
First flight expected in late 1984; first deliveries expected in late
1985. Takes the standard turbopropeller engine and mounts it
backward, finally getting the air intake up in front of the exhaust,
where it belonged all the time. Wings and fuselage of composite
construction. Design instigated by Al Mooney, who has been de-
signing hot airplanes since the 1920s (see the Culver Cadet, page
45). Carries six to nine passengers; cabin fairly small, less than five
feet wide and high.
Gates-Piaggio GP180
speed: estimated 280 mph (451 km/h)
The only twin pusher with three lifting surfaces, small, low wing
midmoimted conventional wing, and T-tail plane.
at nose,
While others push on with composite fuselages or fanjet engines
pushing radical propellers, the Gates-Piaggio takes a standard and
proven aluminum fuselage and wing design and a proven turbo-
charged piston engine. First prototypes will fly in Italy in 1985.
Crew of two; seats seven in a cabin 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) high,
6 feet (1.82 m) wide. New-technology composites used only in for-
ward wing and nose cone, engine nacelles, and tail.
194
NEW GENERATION PUSHER-PROP
Lear Fan 2100
Gates-Piaggio
GP180
OMAC 1
Length: 29'6" (9 m) Wingspan: 38 '6" (1 1.73 m) Cruising speed:

estimated 266 mph (428 km/h)
A single pusher behind a slightly swept wing with huge fairing

("strake") that reaches from cockpit back to the wing; winglets top
and bottom; small canard wing mounted through the fuselage; no
tail surfaces.
The Old Man's Aircraft Company flew its prototype OMAC 1
in 1983. A
turbocharged piston engine, an existing propeller de-
sign, and all-aluminum construction were chosen to simplify
achieving federal certification, hoped for by the end of 1984. Will
carry seven or eight passengers in a cabin with interior head space
of 5 feet 4 inches (1.62 m).
Beechcraft Starship I
Length: 46'1" (14.05 m) Wingspan: 54' eVi" (16.66 m) Cruising

speed: estimated more than 400 mph (644 km/h)
Unmistakable: rear wings set below the fuselage with 7 -foot 9-

inch tip sails canted inward, no tail (but a small ventral fin), twin
pushing propellers. Forward wing is linked to the flap system and
swings from a slight forward sweep on takeoff and landing to a
strong rearward sweep at cruising speeds.
First flown (as an 85 percent prototype) in 1983. Planned as an
executive plane with seating for seven plus a galley; or seats eight
to ten in airliner configuration. Controls and cockpit configuration
deliberately similar to the Beech King Air 200. Pressurized cabin
measures 5 feet 6 inches from side to side and floor to ceiling. Fan-
jet engines, mounted on top of the wing, drive twin pushing pro-
pellers.
196
NEW GENERATION PUSHER-PROP
OMAC 1
Beechcraft
Starship I
Further Reading
The standard works on aircraft are the annual issues oi Jane's

All the World's Aircraft. Back copies are often available in
public libraries or used book stores. The annual Jane's includes
only the aircraft being built that year, so back copies are neces-
sary to get their wonderful detailed information on obsolete
aircraft.
Of encyclopedias, the best of all is the Encyclopedia of the
World's Commercial and Private Aircraft, compiled by David
Mondey and published in the United States by Crown Publish-
ers. It is thorough and includes nearly half of the commercial
and private airplanes in this field guide.
There is no single source for encyclopedic information on
military aircraft. The best series covering military aircraft of
various countries and services is Bill Gunston's work for Sala-
mander His Illustrated Guide to the Modern U.S. Air

Press.
Force is excellent. For the U.S. Navy, an occasional publica-
tion, The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, by Norman Pol-
mar, is definitive, but it is also 90 percent ships. The current
twelfth edition is available from the Naval Institute Press, An-
napolis, Maryland.
Keeping track of changes in the civil and military airfleet is
best done by referring to the latest issue oi Jane's All the
World's Aircraft or by looking up the Jane's supplements in the
Air Force Journal, which publishes a supplement provided to it
by Jane's. (Public relations officers for the U.S. Department of
Defense will refer you to the Air Force Journal, a private publi-
cation, before recommending their own government material.)
For readers interested in the price of airplanes, two major
American publications. Plane &Pilot Magazine and Flying, is-
sue buyer's guides each year, and these are available at news-
stands that handle the parent magazines. Both Plane &
Pilot
Magazine's "Aircraft Directory" and the annual Flying Buyers

Guide have information on sailplanes and home-builts, in addi-
tion to production airplanes.
199
Acknowledgments
The authors are particularly grateful to Mark Foster, who sac-

rificed many a summer day and fallweekend to search out
photographs and specifications for the most obscure aircraft.
The aircraft manufacturers were generous with photographs
and data sheets, although a few were puzzled as to why anyone
would be interested in last year's models.
Historical data are themost difficult to recover in a forward-
thinking industry, but two companies deserve special admira-
tion for their excellent archives — Grumman Aerospace of Long
Island, New York, and the Lockheed Corporation of Califor-
nia. Two national organizations, the American Aviation Histor-
ical Society of Santa Ana, California, and the Antique/Classic
Division of the Experimental Aircraft Association of Oshkosh,
Wisconsin, were generous in searching out back copies of their
publications and forwarding them promptly. Of the many clubs
devoted to the restoration and admiration of classic airplanes,
the National WACO Club of Hamilton, Ohio, was particularly
helpful in sorting out the mysteries of that delightful family of
biplanes.
As we look over shelves holding dozens of linear feet of
books on aviation and piles of magazines and newsletters, we
are reminded of how many people have spent so much time
and effort at chronicling the history of aviation. If this Field
Guide encourages the reader to sample a fraction of the varied
literature, some of our debt to those authors and organizations
will be repaid.
Index
A-3 Skywarrior, Douglas, 190 Aerostat, Ted Smith, 94

A-4 Skvhawk, McDonnell Ag-Cat, Schweitzer (Grum-
Douglas, 180 man), 14
A-6 Intruder, Grumman, 178 Ag Husky, Cessna, 18
A-7 Corsair II, Vought, 178 Ag Pickup, Cessna, 18
A-10 Thunderbolt, Fairchild Ag Truck, Cessna, 18
Republic, 176 Ag Wagon, Cessna, 18
A-26 Invader, Douglas, 134 Agwagon, Cessna, 72
A-37 Dragonfly and T-37, Airbus A300, 158
Cessna, 174 Aircoupe, Alon, 26
AA-1, AA-5, Gulfstream Airlmer, Beechcraft 1900, 124
American, 24 Air Tractor, 20
AAM Thrush Commander, 16 Albatross,Grumman G-64,
Acroduster, Stolp, 12 86
Acro-Sport, Acro-Sport II, Alon Aircoupe, 26
EAA, 12 Apache, Piper PA23 and
Aero Commander, 112 PA23-235, 92
Aero Commander Sparrow, Arava lOlB Cargo Commu-
Quail, Snipe, 16 terliner, Israel Aircraft In-
Aero Commander 200 (Mey- dustries, 114
ers 200), 40 Arctic Tern, Interstate Cadet
Aeronca Champ, Traveller, (L-6), 60
Tri-Traveller, L-16, 62 Argus (UC-61 Forwarder), 54
Aeronca Chief, Super Chief, Arrow IV, Piper PA28RT, 32
62 AT-8 (Cessna Bobcat), 132
Aeronca 15 AC Sedan, 64 AT-19 (Stinson Reliant), 54
Aeronca Tandem 65T, L-3, AV-8A Harrier, British Aero-
66 space, 176
Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde, Avenger, Grumman TBF-1,
164 46
Aerospatiale Caravelle, 152 Aviocar, CASAC212, 114
Aerospatiale (Nord) 262, Mo- Avtek400, 194
hawk 298, 118 Ayres Thrush, Bull Thrush,
Aerospatiale (SOCATA) Ral- Turbo Thrush, 20
lye, 28 Aztec, Piper PA23, 92
Aerostat, 38
Aerostat, Piper PA60, 94 B-1, Rockwell, 188
201
B-25 Mitchell, North Ameri- Boeing 737 (200 and 300),
can, 134 158
B-26 Invader, Douglas, 134 Boeing 747 (747SP and 747-
B-52 Stratofortress, Boeing, 300), 162
192 Boeing 757, 160
Babv Lakes, 10 Boeing 767, 158
BAG 111 (One-Eleven), 152 Boeing/Stearman Kaydet, 4
Baron 55 and Baron 58, Bonanza, Beech 50 Twin, 96
Beech, 96 Bonanza 35, Beechcraft, 34
Beaver, de Havilland (Can- Bonanza 36, Beechcraft, 34
ada) DHC2, 50 "Borate Bomber," 46
Beech Baron 55 and Baron Brave, Piper PA36, 18
58, 96 British Aerospace AV-8A
Beech BE 17 Staggerwing, 2 Harrier, 176
Beech B60 Duke, 98 British Aerospace BAel46-
Beech Duchess 76, 90 200, 162
Beech 18, C-45, 130 British Aerospace Hawk,
Beech 50 Twin Bonanza, L-23 T-54, 182
Seminole, 96 British Aerospace HS125, 148
Beech King Air A90-E90, British Aerospace Jetstream
U-21, AlOO, BlOO, 108 31, Handley Page and, 118
Beech 95 Travel Air, 96 British Aerospace 748, 124
Beech Queen Air, U-8, U-21 British Aerospace VCIO, 154
Seminole, 108 Britten-Norman Islander,
Beech Sierra (retractable). Trislander, 114
Sundowner, Sport, Musket- Bronco, Rockwell OV-10,
eer,28 166
Beech Skipper 77, 26 BT-13, BT-15, ConsoHdated
Beech Super King Air B200, Vultee Valiant, 22
T-44, U-12, 108 Buccaneer (and variations),
Beech T-34A, B Mentor, 46 Lake LA-4, 82
Beech T-34C, 166 Bucket Jungmann, Jungmei-
Beechcraft Bonanza 35, 34 ster, 8
Beechcraft Bonanza 36, 34 Buckeve, Rockwell T-2, 172

Beechcraft Lightning 38P, 36 Buffalo, de Havilland C-8A,
Beechcraft 1900 Airliner, 124 170
Beechcraft Starship I, 196 Bull Thrush, Ayres, 20
Bellanca Cruisemaster, Businessliner, Cessna 190/
Cruiseair, 42 195, 52
Bellanca Viking (and Cruise- Businessliner, Cessna 401,
master 14193C), 42 402, 106
Biplane, EAA, 12
Bird Dog, Cessna L-19 or C-2 Greyhound, Grumman,
0-l,58 168
Blackbird, Lockheed SR-71A, C-5A Galaxy, Lockheed, 192
188 C-7A Caribou, de Havilland,
Bobcat, Cessna, 132 170
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, C-8A Buffalo, de Havilland,
192 170
Boeing 707, 720, 160 C-43, Air Force (Beech BE17
Boeing 727, 156 Staggerwing), 2
202
C-45 (Beech 18), 130 Cessna Citation III, 150
C-46, Curtiss, 128 Cessna L-19 or O-I Bird Dog,
C-47 (Douglas DC3), 128 Ector Mountaineer, 58
C-60 (Lockheed LI 8 Lode- Cessna Skymaster, 0-2, 110
star), 132 Cessna Stationair, Skywagon,
C-69 (Lockheed Constella- and Super Skylane, 78
tion), 136 Cessna T303 Crusader, 98
C-78 (Cessna Bobcat), 132 Cessna 120, 140, 70
C-123 Provider, Fairchild, Cessna 150, 152, 74
170 Cessna 170, 70
C-130 Hercules, Lockheed, Cessna 172, 172 Skyhawk,
172 T-41 Mescalero, 175 Sky-
C-140 (Lockheed Jetstar), 148 lark, Cutlass, Cutlass RG,
C-141A StarLifter, Lockheed HawkXP, 76
(and stretched C-141B), 192 Cessna 180/185 Skywagon,
Cadet, Culver LCA, 44 Carryall, Agwagon, 72
Cadet, Interstate (L-6), 60 Cessna 182 Skylane, Skylane
Cadet, Moonev MIO, 26 RG, 78
Call-Air A2, A5, 16 Cessna 190/195 Businessliner,
Call-Air A9, 16 52
Canadair CL41, CT-114 Tu- Cessna 208 Caravan, 70
tor, 174 Cessna 310, 320 Skvknight,
Canadair CL44, 140 U-3, L-27, 102
Canadair CL215, 88 Cessna 340, 335, 104
Canadair CL600 Challenger, Cessna 401, 402, Utiliner,
150 Businessliner, 106
Canuck, Fleet, 56 Cessna 404 Titan, 106
Caravan, Cessna 208, 70 Cessna 411, 414 and 421A,
Caravelle, Aerospatiale, 152 421B Golden Eagle, 104
Cardinal Classic, Cardinal Cessna 414A Chancellor and
RG, Cessna, 80 42 IC Golden Eagle, 104
Caribou, de Havilland C-7A, Cessna 441 Conquest (now
170 Conquest II) and Cessna
Carryall, Cessna, 72 Corsair (now Conquest I),
CASA C212 Aviocar, 114 106
Catalina, Convair PBY-5 and Challenger, Canadair CL600,
PBY-6, 88 150
CC-117 (Dassault Falcon 10, Champ, Aeronca, 62
100, 20, 200), 146 Champion/Bellanca Citabria,
Centurion, Cessna, 80 Scout, Decathlon, 58
Cessna A-37 Dragonflv and Chancellor, Cessna 414A, 104
T-37, 174 Chance Vought F-4U Corsair,
Cessna Ag Truck, Ag Wagon, 48
Ag Pickup, Ag Husky, 18 Chapparal, Mooney M20, 38
Cessna Bobcat, Crane T-50, Cherokee Arrow, Arrow II,
AT-8, C-78, 132 Arrow III, Piper PA28-180R,
Cessna Cardinal Classic, Car- 30
dinal RG, 80 Cherokee 140, 150, 160, Pi-
Cessna Centurion, Turbo per PA28, 30
Centurion, 80 Cherokee SIX, Piper PA32,
Cessna Citation I, II, 142 32
203
Cherokee Warrior, Warrior II, Corsair II, Vought A-7, 178
Piper PA28, 30 Cougar, Grumman American/
Cheyenne, Piper PA31T, 102 Gulfstream American GA7,
Cheyenne III, IV, Piper PA42, 94
110 Courier, Helio, 72
Chief, Aeronca, 62 Crane T-50, AT-8, C-78, 132
Chieftain, Piper PA31, 100 Cruisemaster, Cruiseair, Bel-
Chipmunk, de Havilland lanca, 42
DHC1,24 Cruisemaster 141 93C, Bel-
Christen Eagle I, II, 10 lanca, 42
Citabria, Champion/Bellanca, Crusader, Cessna T303, 98
58 Crusader, Vought F-8, 178
Citation I, II,Cessna, 142 CT-114 Tutor, Canadair
Citation III, Cessna, 150 CL41, 174
62
Collegiate, Porterfield, Cub Coupe, Piper J4, 66
Comanche, Piper PA24, 36 Cub Cruiser, Piper J5, 66
Comanche, Piper PA30, Cub Special, Piper PAll, 66
PA39, Twm, 102 Cub Trainer, Piper J3, 66
Commander, Aero, 112 Culver LCA
Cadet, 44
Commander, Gulfstream and Curtiss C-46, 128
Rockwell, 112 Curtiss-Wright Robin, 52
Commander, Shrike, 112 Cutlass, Cutlass RG, Cessna,
Commander 111, 112, 114, 76
North American Rockwell,
34
Commander 700, Rockwell Dakota (Douglas DC3), 128
(Fuji), 98 Dash 7, de Havilland, 136
Commodore, Israel Aircraft Dash 8, de Havilland DHC8,
Industries, 142 116
Concorde, Aerospatiale/BAC, Dassault Falcon 10, 100, 20,
164 200, HU-25, CC-117, 146
Conquest (now Conquest II), Dassault Falcon 50, 146
Cessna 441, 106 DC3, 128
Conquest I (Cessna 425 Cor- DC4, DC6, DC7, 138
sair), 106 Decathlon, Champion/Bel-
Conquest II (Cessna 441 Con- lanca, 58
quest), 106 de Havilland C-7A Caribou,
Consolidated Vultee Valiant, 170
BT-13, BT-15, SNV-1,22 de Havilland C-8A Buffalo,
Constellation, Lockheed 170
(C-69), 136 de Havilland (Canada) DHC2
Convair, 180 Beaver, U-6, 50
Convair CV240, 340, 440, de Havilland (Canada) DHC3
540, 580, 600, 640, 126 Otter, 50
Convair 880, 990, 164 de Havilland Dash 7, 136
Convair PBY-5 and PBY-6 de Havilland DH82 Tiger
Catalina, 88 Moth, 8
Corsair, Chance Vought de Havilland DH104 Dove,
F-4U, 48 Riley Turbo-Exec Dove, 130
Corsair (now Conquest I), de Havilland DHCl Chip-
Cessna 425, 106 munk, 24
204
de Havilland DHC6 Twin Ot- F-8 Crusader, Vought, 178
ter, 112 F-14 Tomcat, Grumman, 186
de Havilland DHC8 Dash 8, F-15 Eagle, McDonnell Doug-
116 las, 186
de Havilland Heron, 138 F-16 Fighting Falcon, General
Delta Dart, General Dynamics Dynamics, 184
(Convair) F-106, 180 F-18 Hornet, McDonnell
Derringer, Wing Dl, 90 Douglas-Northrop, 184
DGA15, Howard, 51 F-20 Tigershark, 184
Diamond, Mitsubishi, 148 F-80 Shooting Star, 172
Douglas A-3 Skywarrior, 190 F-IOIB Voodoo, McDonnell,
Douglas A-26, B-26 Invader, 182
134 F-104 Starfighter, Lockheed,
Douglas DC3, C-47, Dakota, 182
128 F-105 Thunderchief, Fairchild
Douglas DC4, DC6, and Republic, 176
DC7, 138 F-106 Delta Dart, General
Dove, de Havilland DH104, Dynamics (Convair), 180
130 F-111, General Dynamics,
Dove, Riley Turbo-Exec, 130 186
Dragonflv, Cessna A-37, and Fairchild C-123 Provider, 170
T-37, 174 Fairchild Hiller, Fokker F27
Duchess 76, Beech, 90 Mk500, 116
Duke, Beech B60, 98 Fairchild Merlin 11, 120
Fairchild Merlin III, 120
E-1 Tracer, Grumman, 168 Fairchild Merlin IVA, 120
E-2 Hawkeye, Grumman, 168 Fairchild Metro III, 120
EA-6 Prowler, Grumman, 178 Fairchild NGT, T-46, 174
EAA Acro-Sport, Acro-Sport Fairchild PT-19 (M62), 22
II, 12 Fairchild Republic A-10
EAA Biplane, 12 Thunderbolt, 176
Eagle, McDonnell Douglas Fairchild Republic F-105
F-15, 186 Thunderchief, 176
Eagle Aircraft Eagle 220, 300, Fairchild 24, UC-61 For-
14 warder (Argus), 54
Eagle I, II, Christen, 10 Fairchild 300, 120
Ector Mountaineer, 58 Fairchild 400, 120
EF-lllA, General Dynamics, Falcon, General Dynamics
186 FH16, 184
Electra, Lockheed LI 88, 140 Falcon 10, 100, 20, 200, Das-
"Electra Jr.," Lockheed 12, sault, HU-25, CC- 11 7, 146
132 Falcon 50, Dassault, 146
Ercoupe (Alon Aircoupe, FB-111, General Dynamics,
Mooney MIO Cadet), 26 186
Fellowship, Fokker F28, 152
F-4 Phantom, McDonnell Fighting Falcon, General Dy-
Douglas, 180 namics F-16, 184
F-4U Corsair, Chance Fleet Canuck, 56
Vought, 48 Fleet Finch Trainer, 6
F-5 Freedom Fighters, North- Fokker, Fairchild Hiller, F27
rop, 184 Mk500, 116
205
Fokker F28 Fellowship, 152 Grumman S-2 Tracker,
Forwarder (Argus), UC-61, 54 Trader and E-1 Tracer, 168
Freedom Fighters, Northrop Grumman TBF-1 (TBM-1)
F-5, 184 Avenger, "Borate Bomber,"
Funk (Akron) Model B to 46
Model L, 60 Gulfstream American, Gulf-
stream III, IV (Grumman
Gulfstream II), 150
G-44 Widgeon, Grumman, 86 Gulfstream American Yankee,
G-64 Albatross, Grumman, T-Cat, Lynx, AA-1, AA-5,
86 24
G-73 Mallard, Grumman, 86 Gulfstream Peregrine, 142
G-180, Gates, Piaggio, 194 Gulfstream and Rockwell
GAF (Government Aircraft Commander, Shrike Com-
Factory, Australia) Nomad, mander, Aero Commander,
118 etc., 112
Galaxy, Lockheed C-5A, 192 Gulfstream I, Grumman

Gates Learjet 25, 144 American G159, 126
Gates-Piaggio G-180, 194 Gulfstream II, Grumman, 150
GB-1, Navy (Beech BE17
Staggerwing), 2
General Dynamics (Convair) Handley Page and British
F-106 Delta Dart, 180 Aerospace Jetstream 31, 118
General Dynamics F-16 Fight- Harrier, British Aerospace
ing Falcon, 184 AV-8A, 176
General Dynamics F-111, FB- Harvard II, North American,
lll,andEF-lllA, 186 46
Golden Eagle, Cessna 421A, Hawk, British Aerospace,
421B, 421C, 104 T-54, 182
Goose, Grumman G21, 84 Hawkeye, Grumman E-2, 168
Great Lakes Sport Trainer, Hawk XP, Cessna, 76
Baby Lakes, 10 Helio Courier, 72
Greyhound, Grumman C-2, Hercules, Lockheed C-130,
168 172
Grumman A-6 Intruder/EA-6 Heron, de Havilland, 138
Prowler, 178 Hornet, McDonnell Douglas-
Grumman American G159 Northrop F- 18, 184
Gulfstream I, 126 Howard DGA15, Nightmgale,
Grumman American/Gulf- 52
stream American GA7, Cou- HU-25 (Dassault Falcon 10,
gar, 94 100, 20, 200), 146
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and
C-2 Greyhound, 168
Grumman F-14 Tomcat, 186 IlyushmI162, 154
Grumman G21 Goose, 84 Intermountain Mfg. Co. Call-
Grumman G44 Widgeon, 86 Air A9, 16
Grumman G64 Albatross, 86 Interstate Cadet (L-6), 60
Grumman G73 Mallard, 86 Intruder, Grumman A-6, 178
Grumman Gulfstream II, 150 Invader, Douglas A-26, B-26,
Grumman OV-1 Mohawk, 134
166 Islander, Britten-Norman, 114
206
1123
Israel Aircraft Industries Lockheed C-130 Hercules,
Westwind, Commodore, Jet 172
Commander, 142 Lockheed C-141A StarLifter
Israel Aircraft Industries (and stretched C-141B), 192
Arava lOlB Cargo Commu- Lockheed Constellation
terliner, 114 (C-69), 136
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter,
Jet Commander, Israel Air- 182
craft Industries,142 Lockheed Jetstar, C-140, 148
Jetstar,Lockheed, C-140, 148 Lockheed LI 8 Lodestar, C-
Jetstream 31, Handley Page 60, 132
and British Aerospace, 118 Lockheed LI 88 Electra, 140
Lockheed LlOll TriStar, 156
Jungmann, Jungmeister,
Bucker, 8
Lockheed P-2 Neptune, 168
Lockheed S-3 Vikmg, 190
Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird,
Kachina, Varga, 24 188
Kavdet, Boeing/Stearman, 4 Lockheed T-33A Trainer
King Air A90-E90, Beech (type of F-80 Shooting Star),
(U-21, AlOO, BlOO), 108 172
Lockheed 10, and 12 "Electra
L-2 (Taylorcraft Model D), Jr.," 132
64 Lockheed U-2, TR-1, 188
L-3 (Aeronca Tandem 65T), Lodestar, Lockheed L18,
C-60, 132
L-5 (Stinson Sentinel), 56 Longhorn 50 Series, Learjet,
L-6 (Interstate Cadet), 60 144
L-16 (Aeronca Champ), 62 Lunar Rocket, 58
L-17 (Ryan Navion), 40 Luscombe 8A-8F, Silvaire, 68
L-18 (Piper PA18 Super Cub), Lynx, Gulfstream American,
68 24
L-19 or O-l Bird Dog,
Cessna, 58 Malibu, Piper PA46, 36
L-23 Seminole, 96 Mallard, Grumman G-73, 86
L-27 (Cessna 310, 320 Sky- Mark 21, Mooney, 38
knight), 102 Marquise, Mitsubishi MU2,
LlOll TriStar, Lockheed, 156 110
Lake LA-4 Buccaneer (and Martin B-57 and General Dv-
variations), 82 namics RB-57, 190
Lance, Lance II, Piper, 30 Martin 404, 126
Lark Commander, North Master, Mooney M20D, 38
American Rockwell, 74 Maule Rocket, Strato-Rocket,
LCA Cadet, Culver, 44 Lunar Rocket, 58
Lear Fan 2100, 194 McDonnell Douglas A-4 Sky-
Learjet Longhorn 50 Series, hawk and TA-4 Trainer, 180
144 McDonnell Douglas DC8,
Learjet 23, 24D, 144 160
Learjet 25, Gates, 144 McDonnell Douglas DC9,
Learjet ?>5, ^6, 144 MD80, 154
Lightning 39P, Beechcraft, 36 McDonnell Douglas DC 10,
Lockheed C-5A Galaxy, 192 MDIO, 156
207
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Mustang, North American
Phantom, 180 P-51,48
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Ea-
gle, 186
McDonnell Douglas-Northrop
NAMC YSll, 128
Navajo, Piper PA31, 100
F-18 Hornet, 184
Naval Aircraft Factory N3N1,
McDonnell F-IOIB Voodoo,
N3N3, 4
182
Navion, North American
MDIO, McDonnell Douglas
Aviation, 40
DCIO, 156
Navion, Ryan (L-17), 40
MD80, McDonnell Douglas
Navion, Rangemaster, 40
DC9, 154
Neptune, Lockheed P-2, 168
Mentor, Beech T-34A, B, 46
New Brave, NXTA, 18
Merlin II, Swearingen (now
NOT, Fairchild, T-46, 174
Fairchild), 120
Nightingale, Howard DGA15,
Merlin III, Swearingen (Fair-
52
child), 120
Nomad, GAF (Government
Merlin IVA, Fairchild, 120
Aircraft Factory, Australia),
Mescalero, Cessna T-41, 76
118
Metro III, Fairchild, 120
North American Aviation Na-
Meyers OTW, 8
vion, 40
Meyers 200, 40
North American B-25 Mitch-
Miniplane, Smith, 12
ell, 134
Mitchell, North American
North American P-51 Mus-
B-25, 134
tang, 48
Mite, Mooney Ml 8, 44
Mitsubishi Diamond, 148
Commander 111, 112, 114,
Mitsubishi MU2 Marquise,
34
Solitaire, 110
Model B, Taylorcraft, 64
Darter Commander, Lark
Model B to Model L, Funk
Commander, 74
(Akron), 60
Model D, Taylorcraft, 64
Sabreliner, 146
Mohawk, Grumman OV-1, North American T-6 Texan,
166
Harvard II, 46
Mohawk 298, 118
North American T-28 Trojan,
Mojave, Piper PAS lP-350,
44
100
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fight-
Monocoupe 90, 54 ers/Talon T-38 Trainer, F-20
Mooney Aircraft Corporation Tigershark, 184
(briefly, Aerostar), 38
Northrop-McDonnell Douglas
Mooney MIO Cadet, 26
F-18 Hornet, 184
Mooney Ml 8 Mite, 44
Mooney M20 Chapparal, 38
Mooney M20D Master, and O-l or L-19 Bird Dog,
Mark 21, 38 Cessna, 58
Mooney M22 Mustang, 38 0-2 (Cessna Skymaster), 110
Mooney 201,231,38 0-57 (Taylorcraft Model D),
Mountaineer, Ector, 58 64
Musketeer, Beech, 28 OMAC 1, 196
Mustang, Mooney M22, 38 One-Eleven (BAG 111), 152
208
Otter, de Havilland DHC3, Piper PA32 Cherokee SIX,
50 PA32R-300 Lance, PA32RT-
Otter, de Havilland DHC6, 300 Lance II, 32
Twin, 112 Piper PA32R-301 Saratoga,
OTW, Meyers, 8 32
OV-1 Mohawk, Grumman, Piper PA34 Seneca, 94
166 Piper PA36 Brave, Pawnee
OV-10 Bronco, Rockwell, Brave, 18
166 Piper PA38 Tomahawk, 26
Piper PA42 Chevenne III, IV,
110
P-2 Neptune, Lockheed, 168 Piper PA44 Seminole, 90
P-51 Mustang, North Ameri- Piper PA46 Malibu, 36
can, 48 Piper PA60 Aerostar, Ted
Pacer, PiperPA20, 72 Smith Aerostar, 94
Pawnee, Piper PA25, 18 Pitts S-1, S-2 Special, 10
Pawnee Brave, Piper PA36, 18 Porterfield Collegiate, 62
PBY-5 and PBY-6 Catahna, Provider, Fairchild C-123,
Convair, 88 170
Phantom, McDonnell Douglas Prowler, Grumman EA-6, 178
F-4, 180 PT-13, 4
Piper J3 Cub Trainer, 66 PT-14, 4
Piper J4 Cub Coupe, 66 PT-17, 4
Piper J5 Cub Cruiser, 66 PT-18, 4
Piper PAH Cub Special, 66 PT-19, Fairchild, 22
Piper PA12 Super Cruiser, 66 PT-21, Ryan, 22
Piper PA 15 Vagabond, 72 PT-22 NR-1, Ryan, 22
Piper PA18 Super Cub, L-18,
68 Quail, Aero Commander, 16
Piper PA20 Pacer, 72 Queen Beech (U-8, U-21
Air,
Piper PA22 Tri-Pacer, 72 Seminole), 108
Piper PA23 Apache, 92
Piper PA23 Aztec, PA23-235 Rallye, Aerospatiale
Apache, 92 (SOCATA), 28
Piper PA24 Comanche, 36 Rangemaster, Navion, 40
Piper PA25 Pawnee, 18 Rearwin Skyranger, 56
Piper PA28 Cherokee 140, Rehant, Stinson (AT-19), 54
150, 160, 30 Republic RC3 Seabee, 84
Piper PA28 Cherokee War- Riley Turbo-Exec Dove, 130
rior, Warrior II, 30 Robin, Curtiss-Wright, 51
PiperPA28-180R Cherokee Rocket, Maule, 58
Arrow, Arrow II, Arrow III, Rockwell B-1, 188
30 Rockwell-Commander
Piper PA28RT Arrow 32 IV, Thrush, 20
Piper PA30, PA39, Twin Co- Rockwell (Fuji) Commander
manche, 102 700, 98
Piper PA31 Navajo, Chieftain, Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, 166
100 Rockwell T-2 Buckeye, 172
Piper PA31P-350 Mojave, Ryan Navion (L-17), North
100 American Aviation Navion,
Piper PA31T Chevenne, 102 40
209
RyanST-3 (PT-21, PT-22 SNV-1, Consolidated Vultee
NR-1), Ryan ST, 22 Valiant, 22
SOCATA Rallye, Aerospa-
10
S-1, S-2 Special, Pitts, tiale, 28
S-2 Tracker and Trader, 110
Solitaire,
Grumman, 168 Sparrow, Aero Commander,
S-3 Viking, Lockheed, 190 16
Saab-Fairchild 340 Com- Sport, Beech, 28
muter, 124 Sportsman, Taylorcraft F19
Sabreliner,North American and F21, 64
Rockwell, 146 Sport Trainer, Great Lakes,
Saratoga, Piper PA32R-301, 10
32 SR-71A Blackbird, Lockheed,
Schweitzer (Grumman) Ag- 188
Cat, 14 ST-3, Ryan, 22
Scout, Champion/Bellanca, 58 Staggerwing, Beech BE 17, 2
Seabee, Republic RC3, 84 Starduster, Stolp, 12
Sedan, Aeronca 15AC, 64 Starfighter, Lockheed F-104,
Seminole, L-23, 96 182
Seminole, Piper PA44, 90 StarLifter, Lockheed C-141A
Seminole, U-21 (Beech Queen (and stretched C-141B), 192
Air), 108 Starship I, Beechcraft, 196
Seneca, Piper PA34, 94 Stationair, Cessna, 78
Sentinel, Stinson (L-5), 56 Steen Skybolt, 12
Sherpa360 (Shorts 330), 116 Stinson Reliant, AT-19 (V77),
Shooting Star, F-80, 172 54
Shorts Skyliner, Sky van, 116 Stinson Sentinel, L-5, 56
Shorts 330, Sherpa 360, 116 Stinson lOA (Voyager 90),
Shrike Commander, 112 Voyager 108, Voyager 108-
Sierra (retractable). Beech, 28 1,2,3, 60
Luscombe 8A-8F, 68
Silvaire, Stolp Starduster, Acroduster,
Skipper 77, Beech, 26 12
Sky bolt, Steen, 12 Stratofortress, Boeing B-52,
Skyhawk, Cessna 172, 76 192
Skyhawk, McDonnell Douglas Strato-Rocket, 58
A-4, 180 Sundowner, Beech, 28
Skyknight, Cessna 310, 320, Super Chief, Aeronca, 62
102 Super Cruiser, Piper PA12, 66
Skylane, Skylane RG, Cessna Super Cub, Piper PA18
182, 78 (L-18), 68
Skylark, Cessna 175, 76 Super King Air B200, Beech
SkyHner, Shorts, 116 (T-44, U-12), 108
Skymaster, Cessna (0-2), 110 Super Skylane, Cessna, 78
Skyranger, Rearwin, 56 Swearingen (Fairchild) Merlin
Skyvan, Shorts, 116 II, 120
Skywagon, Cessna, 78 Swearingen (Fairchild) Merlin

Sky wagon, Cessna 180/185, III, Fairchild 300, 120
72 Swift 125, Temco (Globe), 42

Skywarrior, Douglas A-3, 190
Smith Miniplane, 12 T-2 Buckeye, Rockwell, 172
Snipe, Aero Commander, 16 T-6 Texan, North American, 46
210
T-28 Trojan, North Ameri- Tomahawk, Piper PA38, 26
can, 44 Tomcat, Grumman F-14, 186
T-33A Trainer, Lockheed TR-1, Lockheed, 188
(type of F-80 Shooting Star), Tracer, Grumman E-1, 168
172 Tracker and Trader, Grum-
T-34A, B Mentor, Beech, 46 man S-2, 168
T-34C, Beech, 166 Trainer, Fleet Finch, 6
T-37, Cessna A-37 Dragonfly Trainer, Lockheed T-33A
and, 174 (type of F-80 Shooting Star),
T-38 Trainer, Talon, 184 172
T-41 Mescalero, Cessna, 78 Trainer, McDonnell Douglas
T-44 (Beech Super King Air TA-4, 180
B200), 108 Trainer, Talon T-38, 184
T-46 (Fairchild NGT), 174 Travel Air, Beech 95, 96
T-50 (Cessna Bobcat), 132 Travel Air 4000, 6
T-54 (British Aerospace Traveller, 62
Hawk), 182 Trident TR 1 TriguU 320, 84
TA-4 trainer, McDonnell Tri-Pacer, Piper PA22, 72
Douglas, 180 Trislander, Britten-Norman,
Talon T-38 trainer, 184 114
Tandem 65T, Aeronca (L-3), TriStar, Lockheed LlOll,
66 156
Taylorcraft Model B, Taylor- Tri-Traveller, 62
craftF19 and F21 Sports- Trojan, North American
man, 64 T-28, 44
Taylorcraft Model D, L-2, TSCl Teal, 82
0-57, 64 Turbo Centurion, Cessna, 80
TBF-1 (TBM-1) Avenger, Turbo Thrush, Ayres, 20
Grumman, 46 Tutor, Canadair CL41, CT-
T-Cat, Gulfstream American, 114, 174
24 Twin Bonanza, Beech 50, 96
Teal, TSCl, 82 Twin Comanche, Piper PA30,
Ted Smith Aerostat, 94 PA39, 102
Temco (Globe) Swift 125, 42 Twin Otter, de Havilland
Tern, Arctic, 60 DHC6, 112
Texan, North American T-6,
46 U-2, Lockheed, 188
Thrush, Ayres, 20 U-3 (Cessna 310, 320 Sky-
Thrush, Rockwell-Com- knight), 102
mander, 20 U-6, de Havilland (Canada)
Thrush, Turbo, 20 DHC2 Beaver, 50
Thrush Commander, AAM, U-8 (Beech Queen Air), 108
16 U-12 (Beech Super King Air
Thunderbolt, Fairchild Re- B200), 108
public A-10, 176 U-21 (Beech King Air A90-
Thunderchief, Fairchild Re- £90), 108
public F-105, 176 U-21 Seminole (Beech Queen
Tiger Moth, de Havilland Air), 108
DH82, 8 UC-61 Forwarder (Argus), 54
Tigershark, F-20, 184 Utiliner, Cessna 401, 402,
Titan, Cessna 404, 106 106
211
Vagabond, Piper PA15, 72 Waco Early F Series, 6
Valiant, Consolidated Vultee, Waco Late C Series, 2
22 Waco S Series, Early C Series,
Varga Kachina, 24 2
VCIO (British Aerospace), Waco UPF7, YPF7 (military
154 trainer PT-14), Model D,

Vickers Viscount 700, 136 4
Viking, Bellanca, 42 Weatherly 620, 20
Viking, Lockheed S-3, 190 Westwind, Israel Aircraft In-
Viscount 700, Vickers, 136 dustries 1123, 142
Voodoo, McDonnell F-IOIB, Widgeon, Grumman G-44, 86

182 Wing Dl Derringer, 90
Vought A-7 Corsair II, 178 WTA New Brave, 18
Vought F-8 Crusader, 178
Voyager 90 (Stinson lOA), Yankee, Gulfstream Ameri-
Voyager 108, Voyager 108- can, 24
1,2,3, 60
212
Twins, cont. (pp. 90-135)
LARGE
High-Wing Fixed Gear

(pp. 112-119)
Low- Wing Retractable

Tricycle (pp. 118-131)
Low-Wing Retractable
Mid-Wing Retractable
Tricycle (pp. 134-135
Four-Engine Prop (pp. 136-141)

Business Jets (pp. 142-151)
Jet Airliners (pp. 152-165)
Military Aircraft (pp. 166-193)
Prop (pp. 166-173;
Small Jets (pp. 172-187)
Large Jets (pp. 188-193)
New Generation Pusher-Prop (pp. 194-197)

SPORTS/TRANSPORTATION FPT > $12 T5 •
This is the first true field guide to airplanes. It will

enable you to identify virtually any plane in
North America, in the air or on the ground. With
its companion volume, A Field Guide to Sail-
boats ofNorth America, it extends the principles

of the famed Peterson Identification Svstem to
the manmade world. A Field Guide to Airplanes
ofNorth America features:
•Over 300 planes— every production model, civilian

and military, of any vintage, that you are likely to see in
North America.
• showing planes from
Beautiful, accurate illustrations
the side and from below; arrows and detailed draw-
ings pinpoint the differences between similar models.
• A clear, succinct description of each plane, including
statistical information, history, and a list of important
field marks that distinguish one plane from another
• Planes grouped by visual similarity for ease of
identification; endpaper charts tell where to find each
group in the book.
M. R. Montgomery is a writer for the Boston

Globe and Gerald Foster is an artist and architect.
Both live in Lincoln, Massachusetts, under the
southwest flight path of Hanscom Field.
HOI GHTON MIFH.IN COMPANY' © 198-4
HOUGHTON MIFRIN COMPANY, 2 Park Street. Boston, Massachusetts 02108
b-flS^bD * ISBND-3T5-3S313-D

A Field Guide To Airplanes of North America

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A Field Guide to

Agricultural Planes (pp. 14-21)

Low-Wing Singles (pp. 22-49)

Tail-Draggers (pp. 22-25)

Tricycle (pp. 24-33, 38-39)

Tail-Draggers (pp. 42-49)

Tricycle (pp. 28-47)

Tail-Draggers (pp. 50-73]

Tricycle (pp. 70-81;

Tricycle (pp. 76-81;

Amphibians (pp. 82-89)

Twins (pp. 90-135)

Low- Wing (pp. 90-111;

High-Wing (pp. 110-113;

Continued on back endpapers

Illustrated by Gerald L. Foster

Houghton Mifflin Company Boston

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Printed in the United States of America

Low- Wing Singles 22

Four-Engine Prop 136

Business Jets 142

Jet Airliners 152

Military Aircraft 166

New Generation Pusher-Prop 194

Further Reading 199

The purpose of this book is simple: to allow anyone interested

One other class of home-built aircraft deserves to be men-

How to Use This Book

among all the twin-prop airliners, in having a dihedral in both

runway, make the identification, and then watch closely as they

Rare. Large; reversed staggerwing (lower wing forward of up-

Waco Late C Series

Rare. A cabin biplane with a noticeably shorter and narrower

Waco S Series, Early C Series

Rare. Cabin biplane with slightly shorter lower wing; wings of

Waco Late C Series

Naval Aircraft Factory N3N1, N3N3

Waco UPF7, YPF7 (military trainer PT-14),

Fairly common. Lower wing noticeably shorter; look for the

Waco UPF7, PT-14

Travel Air 4000

Rare. Looks distinctly antique; almost always shows the ele-

Fleet Finch Trainer

Waco Early F Series QCF2

Rare. Combines all-aluminum fuselage with fabric wings; wings

de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth

Bucker Jungmann, Jungmeister

There are single- (Jungmeister) and dual-control (Jungmann)

The between 1929 and 1932, and the

Pitts S-1, S-2 Special

Eagle II (two-seater) specifications: Length: IS' 6" (5.64 m)

^^ Pitts S-2 Special

Always a two-seater. Upper wing swept, lower straight; very

EAA Acro-Sport, Acro-Sport II

Acro-Sport (single-seater) specifications: Length: 17'6" (5.33 m)

The only biplane illustrated here with unswept wings of nearly

Schweitzer (Grumman) Ag-Cat