Cessna GC-1 explained

The Cessna GC-1 was an air racer built to compete in the Cirrus All American Air Derby in 1930.

Design and development

Cessna built the GC-1 for Blackwell Aviation to compete for a $25,000 prize in the 1930 Cirrus All American Air Derby. Blackwell registered the Cessna GC-1 NR-144V.^[1]

The aircraft was a mid-wing open cockpit taildragger. The landing gear was attached by struts to both the fuselage, and the wing spar.^[2]

A more powerful version with a shortened fuselage was built as the GC-2, powered by a 110hp Warner Scarab 7-cylinder radial engine.

Operational history

Stanley Stanton placed seventh in the 1930 Cirrus All American Air Derby with the GC-1. The press proclaimed the racer the "Winged Torpedo".^[3] E.B Smith flew the aircraft in the 1930 National Air Races placing fourth with an average speed of 137.4 mph.

The GC-1 was destroyed in a landing accident, in collision with a mail plane at the Kansas City Municipal Airport.

Variants

GC-1:The sole GC-1, given the name Miss Blackwell, was completed in 1929, powered by a 95hp Cirrus Ensign.^[4] the GC-1 had two liveries, the first was Cessna Red with black registration numbers N144V the second was Cessna red with yellow registration numbers and the script "Miss Blackwell" added to the cowling.

GC-2: A second aircraft almost identical to the GC-1, but powered by a 110hp Warner Scarab and fuselage length of 20feet.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Sport Aviation. The Cessna CR-1 and CR-2 Racers . April 1958.
2. Web site: Clyde Cessna's budget racer . 27 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101227190746/http://wingsoverkansas.com/murphy/article.asp?id=452 . 27 December 2010 . dead.
3. Book: The Golden Age of Air Racing: 1927-1933 . Sylvester H. Schmid . Truman C. Weaver . EAA Aviation Foundation .
4. Web site: Eckland. K.O.. Cessna. aerofiles.com. 17 September 2014.