Culver Dart Explained

The Culver Dart was a 1930s American two-seat light monoplane aircraft produced by the Dart Aircraft Company (later the Culver Aircraft Company).

Design and development

In the early 1930s Al Mooney was working for the Lambert Aircraft Corporation, builders of the Monocoupe series aircraft. He designed a small two-seat monoplane, the Monosport G.^[1] When the company ran into financial difficulties Mooney bought the rights to his design and with K.K. Culver formed the Dart Aircraft Company.^[2] The aircraft was renamed the Dart Dart or Dart Model G.^[3]

The aircraft was a low-wing monoplane designed to be light with clean lines to enable it to use low powered aero-engines. It had a fixed undercarriage and a tailwheel. The initial version was named the Dart G powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Lambert R-266 radial engine. That engine was in short supply, so the aircraft was fitted with a Ken-Royce engine and designated the Dart GK. The final version was the Dart GW powered by a Warner Scarab Junior radial engine. Two special aircraft were built with larger engines. In 1939 the company was renamed the Culver Aircraft Company and the aircraft was renamed the Culver Dart.

Variants

Dart G

Initial production version powered by a 90hp Lambert R-266 - ca. 50 built.

Dart GC

125hp Continental O-200 - 10 built

Dart GK

Variant fitted with a 90hp Ken-Royce 5G engine - 25 built.

Dart GW

Final production version powered by a 90hp Warner Scarab Junior - 8 built.

Dart GW Special

Two aircraft fitted with larger Warner engines, one with a 125hp Warner Scarab engine, and the other with 145hp Warner Super Scarab SS-50A engine.

X-F 220 Super Dart

An experimental variant modified with a 220hp Continental R-670, 8 foot wing reduction and a 188mph cruise speed. Used by Rodney Jocelyn in national aerobatics.^[4]

Surviving aircraft

The Ohio History Connection holds a Culver Dart G, NC18449, in its permanent collection since 2000. The airplane currently resides in offsite storage. WAAAM Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum displays an operational Dart G, serial no. G-11, N20993. This airplane appeared in Tarnished Angels.

References

Notes

Baxter, Gordon. The Al Mooney Story. They All Fly Through The Same Air. Fredericksburg, Texas: Shearer Publishing, 1985.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
Sargent, S.B., "Dashing and Darting Through the Sky: The diminutive Culver Dart Model LCA," Vintage Airplane, April 2007. retrieved 24 October 2018.
Simpson, R.W. Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife, 1991. .
Simpson, Rod. Airlife's World Aircraft. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd, 2001. .

External links

Al Mooney designs
Guide to the Al Mooney Papers, 1904-1986, Eugene McDermott Library, University of Texas, retrieved 24 October 2018.

Notes and References

Web site: Culver Dart GC . www.flightmuseum.com . Frontiers of Flight Museum . 24 October 2018 . 14 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180914061142/https://www.flightmuseum.com/aircraft/culver-dart/ . dead .
Web site: Al Mooney Papers: Biographical Sketch . libtreasures.utdallas.edu . Eugene McDermott Library, University of Texas . 24 October 2018 . 9 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150909052225/http://libtreasures.utdallas.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10735.1/2338/Guide%20to%20the%20Al%20Mooney%20Papers.html?sequence=1 . dead .
Simpson, 2001, p. 170.
Experimenter. 220 horse "Super Dart". January 1955. 4.