Culver Cadet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver_Cadet

The Culver Cadet is an American two-seat light monoplane aircraft, also once a
radio-controlled drone, produced by the Culver Aircraft Company.

The aircraft designer Al Mooney developed an improved version of the Culver
Dart, to provide improved performance with a smaller engine. Originally
designated the Culver Model L the prototype first flew on 2 December 1939. The
aircraft was named the Culver Cadet. Although similar to the previous Dart the
Cadet had a semi-monocoque fuselage instead of welded-steel-tube and a
retractable tailwheel undercarriage. The first variant (the Cadet LCA) was
powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Continental A75-8 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed
piston engine.

The 1941 version was designated the Cadet LFA and introduced a number of
refinements and more equipment, and was fitted with a 90 hp (67 kW) Franklin
engine. Production was brought to an end after the United States entered World
War II in December 1941, but the Cadet had found export orders, including to
Uruguay, and had a new military role.

The Cadet was one of six models that Al Mooney designed during his eight years
at Culver. He would leave to found Mooney Aircraft.


Role
Two-seat Light Monoplane

Manufacturer
Culver Aircraft Company

Designer
Albert Mooney

First flight
1939

Number built
600+

Variants
PQ-14 Cadet

In 1940 the Cadet LCA was selected by the United States Army Air Corps as being
suitable for use as a radio-controlled target. The first aircraft was designated
the Culver A-8 (later the XPQ-8) and was based on the Cadet LFA but had fixed
tricycle landing gear. After successful tests a production order for 200 was
placed, and designated the PQ-8, later another 200 were ordered with a more
powerful engine as the PQ-8A. In late 1941 the United States Navy acquired a
PQ-8A for evaluation and then ordered 200 in 1941 as the TDC-2. An enlarged and
improved version was later built as the Culver PQ-14.

Several Cadets, with both military and civilian origins, are still (2012)
airworthy in the United States and some are preserved in airworthy condition by
museums.

Specifications (Cadet LFA)

General characteristics
Crew: two
Length: 17 ft 8 in (5.38 m)
Wingspan: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Wing area: 120 ft² (11.15 m²)
Empty weight: 806 lb (366 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,305 lb (592 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Franklin 4AC-176-F3 flat-four piston, 80 hp (60 kw)

Performance
Maximum speed: 142 mph (229 km/h)
Range: 500 miles (805 km)
Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5180 m)





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