New Aircraft Quiz #11

[Doug Robertson]

OK, hotshots, name the World's earliest, physically-smallest racing airplane flown by a human pilot. Your answer must be of an airplane that competed in a sanctioned air race. Also provide dimensions-wingspan and length of the aircraft, empty weight of the aircraft, horsepower and make of the engine/s and present physical location of the aircraft in order to win this quiz. This quiz asks for seven (count'em) answers, and all must be correct to win.

[Doug Robertson]

To clarify this quiz, the human pilot was ABOARD the airplane flying it; not on the ground controlling an RC airplane model.

[Doug Robertson]

Well, in over two months and over 500 views-no one has attempted an answer. So, here are the answers.

1. Tilbury-Fundy "Flash"

2. Chicago Air Races-1933, Cleveland National Air Races-1934

3. Wingspan-14'8", later increased to 17'10"

4. Length-11'10", later 12'5"

5. Weight empty-270 pounds

6. Horsepower-45 Hp, Make-Church 4 cylinder air-cooled in-line

7. On exhibit in the McLean County Museum of History, Bloomington, Illinois

The "Flash" was designed by Owen Tilbury and Clarence Fundy of Bloomington, Illlinois. The well-known aviation racer Art Carnahan flew it to victory in the 115 cubic inch class at 115 mph, and took second place in it in a previous heat. He won again with "Flash" in the Labor Day Races in Chicago also in 1933. "Flash" was also raced in the Cleveland Nationals in 1934 and did "well". All races were done using "Flash" with the larger dimensions shown above, but with the empty weight of 270 pounds after some initial problems were sorted out.

The diminutive racer was marked Tilbury F-L-A-S-H on the extension of the enclosed cockpit fuselage into the vertical stabilizer of the tail. "Flash" was a taildragger with fixed, braced landing gear. The initial design had a open cockpit without windscreen. The successful racing version had fully enclosed cockpit with windscreen and clear overhead hatch that was faired to the tail much like the Gee-Bee racers to achieve streamlining. The Church engine was an in-line 4 cylinder with thrust line at the bottom so it appears it was an inverted engine installation with four short exhaust pipes near the top of the engine cowl.

"Flash" was stored in the proverbial barn in 1935, recovered in 1975 and restored by the Bloomington, IL EAA Chapter.

There have been some other very small aircraft that flew with human pilot, even with shorter wingspan; but none but the "Flash" would meet the racing criteria of this quiz. Safety of flight and need for more speed/horsepower probably worked to eliminate any later attempts to beat the Tilbury "Flash" racer dimensionally.

[Timothy Aanerud]

I found a photo on Flickr of the Tilbury F-L-A-S-H:



If you don't see the image try this link:

Tilbury Flash

[Doug Robertson]

Thank you, Timothy

I had not seen that exact photo before. Here is a web ink with a lot more information on the Tilbury-Fundy "Flash". It highlights Art Carnahan's air racing career and has more on the Tilbury "Flash", showing an earlier iteration of the aircraft and the version you found from different aspect. I am somewhat surprised no one found it on the web to win the quiz.

http://www.dmairfield.com/people/carnahan_ar/index.html

My primary source of information for putting together this quiz was from Joe Juptner's 1994 book- "T-Hangar Tales, Stories of the Golden Age", on p.85 "World's smallest racing airplane". Here, Juptner calls the engine the Church Marathon of 41 hp. Book publisher is Historic Aviation Publishers & Wholesalers in Eagan, Minnesota.

This treasure of a book also writes of the world's earliest littlest tri-motor with photograph; so now I can't make up a quiz question about that!

OK, I will reveal that one- a 1928 Crawford "Sport'"with three Anzani 3 cylinder radials of 35 Hp each, later engined with three 3 cylinder Szekely SR-3 radials of 40 Hp each. The Crawford Motor and Airplane Manufacturing Co. was in Seal Beach, CA.

Are my quizzes still of general interest?

[moxy]

Hello Doug

Always find them interesting and informative and one day I may even be able to find the correct answers. Failure to do so is not from want of trying. Being English I may have to get my own back with some teasers concerning some of our more obscure aeroplanes.

Keep them coming

Best regards

Rob