Metal Aircraft Corporation Flamingo

The Metal Aircraft Corporation purchased the design from the Halpin Development Co. and unveiled it at the 1929 National Air Races with Elinor Smith.[2][3] Following an accident at Bowman Field in May 1928, the prototype Flamingo was redesigned with a different nose, windscreen, and tail.[4]

One G-2-W, named El Rio Caroní, is best remembered for its role in the discovery of Angel Falls by Jimmy Angel in 1935. Although well known to the local indigenous population, the falls had been glimpsed only by European explorers until Jimmy Angel crash-landed while attempting to land above the falls on Auyán-tepui during gold exploration.

The Metal Aircraft Corporation Flamingo that crashed above the falls was recovered by helicopter in the 1960s by the Venezuelan government and is on display at the entrance of the Ciudad Bolívar airport, in Venezuela. A replica was put in its place for visitors of the crash site.[5]

Other operators included the Mason & Dixon airline.[2]

Halpin Flamingo photo from Aero Digest May 1928

Halpin Flamingo

six-passenger 410hp P&W[6]

G-1

five-passenger 450hp P&W

G-2

six-passenger

G-2-H

six-passenger 525hp P&W

Metal Aircraft Corp Flamingo G-2-W photo from Aero Digest March 1929

G-2-W

eight-passenger 410hp P&W[7]

G-MT-6

five-passenger 410 or 525 P&W[1]

Data from Skyways, Air and Space[5]

General characteristics

• Capacity: eight
• Length: 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
• Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
• Empty weight: 2,960 lb (1,343 kg)
• Gross weight: 5,600 lb (2,540 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 410 hp (310 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 117 kn (135 mph, 217 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 100 kn (115 mph, 185 km/h)
• Range: 870 nmi (1,000 mi, 1,600 km)
• Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)