FRom
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Capelis XC-12 Revised cockpit and windows (Frank Rezich coll) Capelis XC-12 Oakland Airport (William T Larkins) XC-12 1933 = 12pClwM rg*; two 525hp Wright Cyclone; span: 55'0" length: 42'0" load: 3000# v: 220/190/65. Dr John E Younger; POP: 1 [X12762]. All-metal; triple biplane tail; partly-retracting gear, which extended automatically when the throttle was closed. Funded by local Greek restaurateurs as a promotional aircraft, and constructed with help from University of California students. US patent #1,745,600 issued to Socrates H Capelis, of El Cerrito, in 1930 (a modified application for patent of the design with a half-span dorsal wing and two more engines appears in 1932). The main spar was bolted together, and much of the skin attached with P-K screws rather than rivets. These tended to vibrate loose, requiring tightening or replacing every few flights. Promotional tours were soon abandoned, and its career ended as a movie prop, appearing in ground roles in several motion pictures ("Five Came Back" 1939, "Flying Tigers" 1942, others) before being scrapped c.1943. Flying shots in films were of a model; the plane itself was grounded by the studio's insurance company.
Capelis XC-12: flown to GCA from OAK via Fresno by Jack Beilby, Mose's right-hand man. The X-12 made a wheels-up landing at Fresno, with little damage and Jack continued on to GCA. Never flew again, but was extensively modified (windshield, etc.) for movie work by Timm."