Colonial Skimmer

C-1 Skimmer
Role two/three-seat amphibian
Manufacturer Colonial Aircraft Corporation
Designer David Thurston
First flight 1948
Primary user private owner pilots
Number built 43
Variants Lake Buccaneer

The Colonial Model C-1 Skimmer was an American small single-engined amphibian flying boat built by the Colonial Aircraft Corporation. It was the start of a line of very similar aircraft designed by David Thurston.

Development

In 1946 David Thurston established the Colonial Aircraft Corporation at Sanford Maine to build his design for a small amphibian flying boat, the Skimmer.

The resulting design was an all-metal shoulder-wing cantilever monoplane with a single-step hull and stabilizing floats fitted under each wing. A retractable tricycle landing gear allowed land operation. The Avco Lycoming engine with a pusher propeller was pylon-mounted above and aft of the enclosed cockpit.

The cabin had side-by-side seating for a pilot and passenger with room behind for another passenger.

History

1957-built C-1 Skimmer at Teterboro Airport New Jersey in 1970.

The prototype XC-1 Skimmer first flew on July 17, 1948, powered by a 115 hp (86 kW) Lycoming O-235 engine, but was later re-engined with a 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290 engine.[1][2]

24 examples of the C-1 Skimmer were built and these were followed by 18 examples of the higher powered four-seat variant known as the C-2 Skimmer IV,[3] which through a succession of companies became the Lake Buccaneer.

Specifications (C-1)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–1957[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: two passengers
  • Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
  • Wing area: 150.6 sq ft (13.99 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,150 lb (975 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 30 US gal (110 l; 25 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 horizontally-opposed air-cooled four-cylinder piston engine , 150 hp (110 kW)
  • Propellers: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h; 109 kn) at 500 ft (150 m)
  • Cruise speed: 112 mph (180 km/h; 97 kn)
  • Stall speed: 50 mph (80 km/h; 43 kn)
  • Range: 600 mi (521 nmi; 966 km)
  • Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)

See also

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Bridgman 1951, p. 216c.
  2. ↑ "American airplanes: Cl – Cr: Colonial". Aerofiles. Retrieved September 13, 2013. .
  3. ↑ Simpson, 2005, pp. 172–173
  4. ↑ Bridgman 1956, pp. 252–253.
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1956). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–57. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company.
  • Simpson, Rod (2005). The General Aviation Handbook. Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-222-5.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.


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