Name that Flying Machine

[Asturias56]

My alarm has gone off, the Witching Hour cometh and EvansB goes to the ball in General Aircraft G.A.L.38 Fleet Shadower

Not a familiar aircraft and an interesting idea - trouble was there was no enemy fleets to shadow really - and the ones that did exist (Japan) had aircraft carriers. I suppose it was a role exemplified by the FW 200 Condor .

[evansb]

Thank you. Here is the next mystery flying machine:

[Asturias56]

Is it Russian?

[dook]

Or American ?

[Asturias56]

he'll answer "YES" ........

[evansb]

It was built in the U.S.A.

[Asturias56]

I presume it was a limited production run?

[evansb]

Only one (1) example built. Presently on display in a museum.

[evansb]

Here is the final modified version of the same aircraft, now with tandem seating and a forward canopy. The aircraft model designation changed with the modification. I will accept either aircraft designation:


I have a cardboard model of this aircraft.

[Asturias56]

"I have a cardboard model of this aircraft."

Good God! Really?? So it was important enough for someone to make a kit or did you make it all yourself?

Looks like a '30's aircraft to me

[treadigraph]

Was it a dive bomber? Flaps/airbrakes combination reminds me of one of the later USN types - I think...

[Asturias56]

Looks like a Vultee type - but it's not....... pretty small propeller for what looks like a big engine

[evansb]

The aircraft was designed as a trainer. Armament was not in the specifications. It was an aerodynamically advanced aeroplane. The U.S. Army Air Corps should have considered a half-dozen examples for evaluation, but they didn't. The U.S. Navy clearly should have examined the aircraft's slow and stable approach speed as a carrier-borne trainer. Neither of the aforementioned government bureaus expressed serious interest.

[evansb]

Motor? Well over 145-hp.

[Asturias56]

The Cunningham Hall GA 36 I believe - if correct - immediate OH as 24 hours have passed

https://niagaraaerospacemuseum.org/c...am-hall-ga-36/

"It is the first plane to feature double motion wing flaps devised to lower landing speeds and not flying speeds. The GA-36 featured two cockpits and fixed landing gear. Cunningham-Hall tried to sell this design to the Army and Navy. Both declined, saying the aircraft was too expensive to produce."

[evansb]

Correct. I suppose it is another OPEN HOUSE.

[DaveReidUK]

The first photo presumably shows the GA-36 (NX14324) in its previous incarnation as the GA-21M.

[Quemerford]

How about this:

[evansb]

Indeed, the first photograph is a GA-21 with side-by-side seating. A very advanced training concept at the time, not to even mention the flaps.

[Asturias56]

that engine installation look American to me................... another trainer??