Culver Model V

American two-seat monoplane

The Culver Model V was a two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Culver Aircraft Company.

Design and development

Based on the pre-World War II Cadet and using the wartime experience with radio-controlled aircraft the company designed a two-seat cabin monoplane. The Model V had a low-set cantilever wing with the outer panels having a pronounced dihedral. It had a tricycle retractable landing gear and an enclosed cabin with side by side seating for two. It was unique in that it had a system called Simpli-Fly Control where the aircraft was automatically trimmed for takeoff, landing and cruise, by turning a small metal wheel between the two seats and lining up two arrows with the mode of flying the aircraft. Interconnecting controls then adjusted the trim according to the arrow settings.^[1]

In 1956 the Superior Aircraft Company bought the assets of Culver and put the Model V back into production as the Superior Satellite. The main difference was the use of a 95 hp Continental engine which increased the cruise speed to 130 mph (209 km/h). Only a prototype and five production aircraft were built.

Variants

V-1

Initial production variant.^{[citation needed]}

V-2

Improved variant.^{[citation needed]}

Superior Satellite

1956 variant with a 95hp Continental engine.

TD4C

USN radio-controlled target version of the V-2

UC

The utility version of the TD4C, also converted to target drone as the UC-1K.

Specifications (V-1)

Data from ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one (pilot)
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 20 ft 8.5 in (6.31 m)
• Wingspan: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
• Height: 6 ft 9.5 in (2.07 m)
• Wing area: 125.9 sq ft (11.70 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,070 lb (485 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,600 lb (726 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine , 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance

• Cruise speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)
• Range: 338 mi (544 km, 294 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 13,200 ft (4,025 m)

References

Notes

1. "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science bottom page 30
2. Orbis 1985, page 1215

Bibliography

• Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
• Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-194-X.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.

External links

• Photo at aerofiles.com
• "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science large pull out color photo