Peel Z-1 Glider Boat

Z-1 Glider Boat
Role Glider
National origin United States
Manufacturer Peel Glider Boat Company
Introduction circa 1930
Status Production completed
Number built 30
Unit cost
US$595 (1930)

The Peel Z-1 Glider Boat, also called the Peel Flying Boat, is an American biplane, two-seats-in-tandem, flying boat glider that was designed and produced by the Peel Glider Boat Company, starting in about 1930.[1][2][3][4]

Design and development

The Glider Boat was intended as a strictly recreational aircraft, to be towed from the water surface by a powered boat. The company intended to produce a very inexpensive aircraft to cash in on the sudden popularity of aviation following Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.[1][3]

The aircraft is of mixed construction. The 31 ft (9.4 m) span wing has a wooden spar, steel ribs and is covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. The two wings have a large total area of 270 sq ft (25 m2) and combined with the light gross weight of 600 lb (270 kg) give a very light wing loading of just 2.2 lb/sq ft (11 kg/m²). The lower wing tips feature wingtip floats. The hull is made from duralumin and features a stepped shape, similar to most powered flying boats. The aircraft has conventional aircraft controls and was delivered without instruments.[1]

The aircraft was normally launched by a tow rope attached to the glider by a "Y" shaped bridle, with release hooks on both sides of the front cockpit. Climbing to a maximum height of 1,000 ft (305 m) as limited by the supplied tow rope, the glider would then release and glide to a landing on the water surface.[1][3]

The aircraft was placed in quantity production and sold for US$595 each. Thirty were built before the company went out of business in the Great Depression.[1][3][4]

Operational history

In August 2011 there were no Peel Glider Boats left on the US Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registry.[5]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (Glider Boat)

Data from Sailplane Directory and AirVenture Museum[1][6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 22 ft (6.7 m)
  • Wingspan: 31 ft (9.4 m)
  • Wing area: 270 sq ft (25 m2)
  • Empty weight: 250 lb (113 kg)
  • Gross weight: 600 lb (272 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 30 mph (48 km/h; 26 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 15:1 (some sources say 18:1)
  • Wing loading: 2.2 lb/sq ft (11 kg/m2)

See also

Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Activate Media (2006). "Glider Boat Peel". Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 EAA AirVenture Museum (2011). "Peel Glider Boat". Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 Cradle of Aviation Museum (2001). "Peel Z-1 Glider Boat". Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (August 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  6. ↑ EAA AirVenture Museum (2011). "Peel Glider Boat Specifications". Retrieved 14 August 2011.
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