Extension-Shaft Pusher Type Aircraft A Photo History Compiled by Robert F. Pauley, EAA 8288

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The many contributions to SPORT AVIATION, along with the high quality illustrations by members like Author-Artist-Photographer Robert Pauley, assist greatly in making your maga-

zine one of consistent high quality and interest). Since the early days of aviation, aircraft designers have attempted to arrive at the ultimate airframe configuration. One idea that has long held appeal is to reduce drag by burying the engine inside the fuselage and locating the propeller at the tail, thus allowing the wings to operate in air undisturbed by propeller wake.

1940—Schemp-Hirth (Gottingen) Go-9 —A German design built by Mutter for Dr. Claude Dornier who patented this scheme in 1937. The engine was a 60 hp air-cooled Hirth under the wing, driving a four-bladed propeller at the rear. Span, 26 ft. 7 in.; length, 22 ft. 4 in.; weight, 1,587 lbs.; speed, 137 mph; two-place retractable gear. Go-9 served as a research plane for a twoengine push/pull World War II fighter plane, the Dornier Do-335 Arrow.

Because engine location is dictated by center of gravity considerations, this arrangement usually requires a long shaft to drive the propeller, and torsional vibration has been the plague of this configuration. However, a number of

planes of this type have been built over the years and we present below a photo history of some of the more interesting examples. Inspired by the 1909

French Petre monoplane which never flew, several

of the early designers built aircraft of this type but a period of 30 years elapsed before experiments resumed. Since World War II a number of successful designs have been flown, including some not shown here, such as the German Putzer "Bussard" and the XAZ-1 "Marvelette" and U.S. Army XV-11A, both STOL designs by Dr. Raspet built at Mississippi State University.

The most recent successful designs are the "Nomad" and "Teal" built and flown by EAA member Ed Lesher. ®

1912—Gallaudet A-l "Bullet"—First shown at the N.Y. Aero Show in May, 1912. Designed by Edison Gallaudet of Norwich, Conn., a Professor of Physics at Yale University. Span, 32 ft.; length, 20 ft. 7 in.; weight, 910 Ibs. A 100 hp 14 cyl. Gnome Rotary located in front of the pilot drove a three-bladed Paragon propeller via a 2 in. diameter shaft with ball bearings every 40 in. Wing incidence could be varied in flight. Rebuilt in June, 1912 with a more streamlined fuselage (the A-2

1942—Dornier Do-212—A four-place flying boat designed by German Dornier Company in 1938 and built at Swiss Dornier plant in 1942. A Hirth engine of 450 hp located behind the cabin drove the propeller via the drive shaft which could be raised during take-off and landing to clear water. Span, 33 ft. 9 in.; length, 34 ft. 10 in.; weight, 3,700 lbs.; top speed, 185 mph. The plane only made short hops off water and later was scrapped.

1944—Douglas XB-42 — An attempt by U.S. Air Force to clean up bomber designs by burying the engine in the fuselage. Two 1,800 hp Allisons drove three-bladed contra-props at the rear via two prop shafts (each consisted of five shafts from a Bell P-39 fighter plane). Span, 70 ft. 6 in.; length, 53 ft. 7 in.; weight, 20,888 Ibs. It was first flown on May 6, 1944. Speed was 410 mph. Two were built; both crashed.

(Douglas Photo)

version shown here). It was to be en-

terd in the 1912

Gordon Bennett Cup

Race, but crashed on July 24, 1912

during a test flight injuring Gallaudet. Speed was 110 mph. (Joseph Burt Photo) 1910—Tatin-Paulhan "Aero-Torpille No. 1" — An exceptionally clean airplane for 1010, the "Torpille" was designed by the Frenchman, Victor Tatin, for Louis Paulhan and flown to a speed of 81 mph in 1911. A 50 hp Gnome Rotary behind the pilot's seat drove a Regy propeller via a drive

shaft running in five bearings suspended by music wire bracing. Span, 28 ft. 2 in.; length, 27 ft. 3 in.; weight, 772 Ibs. (Musee de 1'Air Photo) «

MARCH 1*61

1 945—Lockheed "Big Dipper" Model 34—Intended for the post-war person1912—Borel Pusher Monoplane — A French design also known as the Ruby with the engine located behind the

pilot. (P. M. Bowers Collection)

al plane market, this side-by-side twoseater had a 100 hp engine located behind the cabin. The prototype was

lost in a crash during take-off. (Lockheed Photo).

1946—Waco "Aristocrat" Model W— Four-place private airplane announced in October, 1946 had a 215 hp Franklin located ahead of the cabin driving a Hartzell prop at the rear via a shaft passing under the cabin floor. Span,

38 ft.; length, 25 ft. 6 in.; weight 2,600 lbs.; top speed, 154 mph. The price was to have been $9,980.00. Only one was built. The plane had

1948—Petit Special No. 18 — 190 cu. in. racer designed and built by George Petit of Harvey, III. Plane appeared at Detroit for Continental Trophy Races, but never flew. Continental

C-85 behind pilot. (Photo: R. F. Pauley Collection).

two controls (no rudder pedals). (Waco Photo).

1950—Schroeder "Dragontail" No. 50 —An all-metal Goodyear racer built by Paul Schroeder in Rochester, N.Y. Continental C-85 behind pilot. Span, 20 ft. 4 in.; length, 18 ft. 6 in. Never raced but qualified in January, 1950 at Miami races at 102 mph. Crashed on August 2, 1950 with serious injuries to

pilot. (P. M. Schroeder Photo).

1947—Douglas "Cloudster" — Fiveplace commercial version of the XB42 introduced in January, 1947. Two 250 hp Continental engines behind the cabin drove the 8 ft. diameter prop at the rear. It could fly on either engine. Span, 39 ft. 9 in.; length, 35 ft. 4 in.; weight 3,200 lbs.; cruising speed, 200 mph. (Douglas Photo)

1948—Acme Aircraft "Sierra Sue" S-1 — Designed by Walt Fellers and Ron Beattie and built by Acme Aircraft Co., Torrance, Calif. Met P.R.P.A. Goodyear specifications but never raced. All metal. Span, 20 ft. 2 in.; length, 18 ft.; weight, 590 Ibs. Continental C-85 behind pilot. Top speed, 200 mph. Still flying under lease to Northrop Corporation.

1=^-^- 661948—Planet "Satellite"—A British design by Major Heenan first shown at Farnborough in September, 1948. It was never flown. An air-cooled 250 hp deHavilland Gipsy Queen engine located behind the four-place cabin drive the prop via a magnesium shaft 5 in. in diameter by 0.1 in. wall by 8 ft. long. Span, 33 ft. 6 in.; length, 26 ft. 3 in.; weight, 1,600 Ibs. Maximum speed was estimated to be 208 mph. It was dismantled in 1958. (Flight Photo).

1943—Allenbaugh "Grey Ghost" No. 66 — Goodyear racer designed and built by Paul Schaupp for Ed Allenbaugh. Prone pilot required fuselage only 25 in. deep. Engine was C-85 behind pilot. Span, 18 ft.; length, 19 ft. 6 in. Pilot Dwight Dempster killed on first flight when engine failed on takeoff due to oil sump pump failure. Prone pilot arrangement outlawed by P.R.P.A.

1955 — Rhein-Flugzeugbau RW 3 "Multoplane" — A two-place German design with 65 hp Porsche automobile engine located behind tandem seats driving propeller operating in a slot forward of the rudder. Wing extensions can convert it to a motor glider. Span, 34 ft. 3 in. (50 ft. 8 in. with extensions); length, 24 ft.; weight, 1,250 lbs.; cruise speed, 110 mph. (Flight Photo).

1958—Taylor "Aero Plane" — A four-place version of the "Aero-Car^ built strictly as an airplane by eliminating the "car" components. Built by Aerocar, Longview, Wash. Wings fold for storage. 143 hp Lycoming behind cabin. Span, 34 ft.; weight, 1,150 Ibs.

(Aerocar Photo).

S-IL 1948—Taylor "Aero Car" IA — Designed by Molt Taylor and built in Longview, Wash. Flying automobile with removable wing/tail unit that can be trailered behind a car on the road. 143 hp Lycoming behind two side-by-side seats drives prop at rear (and also drives car). It has a FAA type certificate. Span, 14 ft.; length, 21 ft. 6 in.; weight, 1,500 lbs.; speed, 110 mph. Price, $25,000.00 A more streamlined version with retractable wheels is being built. (Aerocar Photo).

1949—P.A.R. Special No. 87—Parks Alumni Racer designed by George Owl of Ferguson, Mo., and flown by Art Beckington in several 190 cu. in. races from 1950 to 1952. Lap speeds of 181 mph. Wings had variable incidence to reduce take-off run. Span, 20 ft.; length, 20 ft. Continental C-85 behind pilot drove British Fairey prop at rear. Rebuilt as a seaplane. See SPORT

AVIATION, January, 1968 issue. (R F.

Pauley Photo).

L

1961— Lesher "Nomad" — Two-seat side-by-side homebuilt designed and built by Ed Lesher, Ann Arbor, Mich. 100 hp Continental behind cabin. Span, 26 ft.; length, 18 ft.; weight, 998 Ibs. Described in June, 1963 SPORT AVIATION. Ed Lesher later built the single-place "Teal" described on the following page. (R. F. Pauley Photo). SPORT AVIATION

5