Howard DGA-15: Difference between revisions
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==Development and design== |
==Development and design== |
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The [[Howard Aircraft Corporation]] was formed in 1936 to build commercial derivatives of the [[Howard DGA-6]] (named ''Mister Mulligan''),<ref name="Bushell p42">Bushell 1987, p.42.</ref><ref>"DGA" stands for "Damn Good Airplane" in designer/pilot [[Benjamin (Ben) Howard|Benny Howard]]'s nomenclature.</ref> a successful four seat racing aircraft which had won both the [[Bendix Trophy|Bendix]] and the [[Thompson Trophy|Thompson]] Trophies in 1935, the only aircraft ever to win both races.<ref name="Bushell p40-1"> Bushell 1987, pp.40-41.</ref> These successes did indeed bring the DGA series much attention, and Howard produced a series of closely related differing mainly in the engine type, consisting of the DGA-7, 8, 9, 11 and 12. Offering high performance and comprehensively equipped, these aircraft, despite a high purchase price (with the DGA-11 selling for $17,865<ref name="Bushell p43"> Bushell 1987, p.43.</ref> emerged as coveted aircraft, owned by corporations, wealthy individuals, and movie stars, such as Wallace Beery, who was himself a pilot. (In the movie, [[Bugsy]], [[Warren Beatty]] playing the title role is flown from [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] to [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] in a red Howard DGA-15.) |
The [[Howard Aircraft Corporation]] was formed in 1936 to build commercial derivatives of the [[Howard DGA-6]] (named ''Mister Mulligan''),<ref name="Bushell p42">Bushell 1987, p.42.</ref><ref>"DGA" stands for "Damn Good Airplane" in designer/pilot [[Benjamin (Ben) Howard|Benny Howard]]'s nomenclature.</ref> a successful four seat racing aircraft which had won both the [[Bendix Trophy|Bendix]] and the [[Thompson Trophy|Thompson]] Trophies in 1935, the only aircraft ever to win both races.<ref name="Bushell p40-1"> Bushell 1987, pp.40-41.</ref> These successes did indeed bring the DGA series much attention, and Howard produced a series of closely related differing mainly in the engine type, consisting of the DGA-7, 8, 9, 11 and 12. Offering high performance and comprehensively equipped, these aircraft, despite a high purchase price (with the DGA-11 selling for $17,865<ref name="Bushell p43"> Bushell 1987, p.43.</ref> emerged as coveted aircraft, owned by corporations, wealthy individuals, and movie stars, such as [[Wallace Beery]], who was himself a pilot. (In the movie, [[Bugsy]], [[Warren Beatty]] playing the title role is flown from [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] to [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] in a red Howard DGA-15.) |
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In 1939, the Howard Aircraft Company produced a new development of the basic design, the '''Howard DGA-15'''. Like its predecessors, the DGA-15 was a single engined high-winged [[monoplane]] with a wooden wing and a steel tube fuselage, but it was distinguished by a deeper and wider fuselage, allowing five people to be seated in comfort. It was available in several versions, differing in the engine fitted. The DGA-15P was powered by a [[Pratt & Whitney R-985|Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior]] radial engine, while the DGA-15J used a [[Jacobs R-915|Jacobs L6MB]] and the DGA-15W a [[Wright R-760|Wright R-760-E2 Whirlwind]].<ref name="Bushell p43"/> |
In 1939, the Howard Aircraft Company produced a new development of the basic design, the '''Howard DGA-15'''. Like its predecessors, the DGA-15 was a single engined high-winged [[monoplane]] with a wooden wing and a steel tube fuselage, but it was distinguished by a deeper and wider fuselage, allowing five people to be seated in comfort. It was available in several versions, differing in the engine fitted. The DGA-15P was powered by a [[Pratt & Whitney R-985|Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior]] radial engine, while the DGA-15J used a [[Jacobs R-915|Jacobs L6MB]] and the DGA-15W a [[Wright R-760|Wright R-760-E2 Whirlwind]].<ref name="Bushell p43"/> |
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| DGA-15 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Civil transport |
| Manufacturer | Howard Aircraft Corporation |
The Howard Aircraft Corporation DGA-15 was a single engine civil aircraft adapted by the US military for use in support roles during World War II, such as light transports and navigation trainers. As a Navy light transport it was designated GH-1 and by the Army Air Corps UC-70 Nightingale. As a navigation trainer the Navy designated it NH-1.
Development and design
The Howard Aircraft Corporation was formed in 1936 to build commercial derivatives of the Howard DGA-6 (named Mister Mulligan),[1][2] a successful four seat racing aircraft which had won both the Bendix and the Thompson Trophies in 1935, the only aircraft ever to win both races.[3] These successes did indeed bring the DGA series much attention, and Howard produced a series of closely related differing mainly in the engine type, consisting of the DGA-7, 8, 9, 11 and 12. Offering high performance and comprehensively equipped, these aircraft, despite a high purchase price (with the DGA-11 selling for $17,865[4] emerged as coveted aircraft, owned by corporations, wealthy individuals, and movie stars, such as Wallace Beery, who was himself a pilot. (In the movie, Bugsy, Warren Beatty playing the title role is flown from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in a red Howard DGA-15.)
In 1939, the Howard Aircraft Company produced a new development of the basic design, the Howard DGA-15. Like its predecessors, the DGA-15 was a single engined high-winged monoplane with a wooden wing and a steel tube fuselage, but it was distinguished by a deeper and wider fuselage, allowing five people to be seated in comfort. It was available in several versions, differing in the engine fitted. The DGA-15P was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior radial engine, while the DGA-15J used a Jacobs L6MB and the DGA-15W a Wright R-760-E2 Whirlwind.[4]
In an era when airlines were flying DC-3s, the Howards at 160 to 170mph could match their speed and range. The rear seat exceeded airline leg room with limousine-like capaciousness. And with its high wing loading, the Howards rode through most turbulence with airline-like solidity.
World War II
Prior to Pearl Harbor, about 80 DGA-8 through DGA-15 ships had been built at the Howard Aircraft Corporation factory on the south side of Chicago Midway Airport.
With America's entry into World War II, most of the civilian Howards were commandeered by the military. The Army used them as officer transports and as ambulance planes, with the designation UC-70. The Navy, in particular, much liked the plane and contracted Howard Aircraft Corporation to build hundreds of the DGA-15s to its own specifications. They were used variously as an officer's utility transport (GH-1, GH-3), aerial ambulance (GH-2), and for instrument training (NH-1). A second factory was opened at Dupage County airport, west of Chicago, and about 550 DGA's were eventually completed. The Howard was and is an excellent instrument platform, very stable and solid, especially compared to modern light aircraft.
The Competition
The Howard's most comparable contemporary is the Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing, so called because it's a closed cabin biplane with the top wing leading edge unusually positioned aft of the bottom wing's leading edge. The Staggerwing, except for the earliest in the series, has a retractable gear as opposed to the Howard's fixed one. The Staggerwing, with its retractable undercarriage is a more complex aircraft than the Howard Like the Howard, the Staggerwing was offered with the same selection of powerplants, including Wrights, Jacobs, and the Pratt & Whitney R-985, which powers almost all surviving 17s and Howards. Another contemporary, the Stinson Reliant Gullwing was 20 to 30 knots slower than the Howard with a smaller (300hp) Lycoming engine and more drag from its thick wing.
Also introduced in the latter part of this period, and driven by the same Pratt & Whitney engine, was the Spartan Executive. The Spartan was an all metal, low wing monoplane with retractable gear, with a maximum speed of at least 200 mph (322 km/h). Conceptually, this aircraft was a major leap beyond the others, which were of conventional metal tube and fabric construction. Despite this, redline or never exceed speed of the Howard is 270 mph (435 km/h), far higher than that of almost all modern single reciprocating engined aircraft currently flying.[citation needed]
Vintage Years
In its vintage years, the Howard, ironically, because of its enormous utility, has suffered a bit in cachet in comparison to the Beech Staggerwing. The Staggerwing, by the late fifties and early sixties, was already a highly pampered antique, usually seen in beautifully restored condition, and showing up frequently at fly-ins. The Howards by contrast, with their dependability and simple maintenance, great interior room, and ruggedness, were frequently used like flying trucks as bush planes and very often for skydiving. (In the 1969 MGM movie The Gypsy Moths a DGA-15P is the jump plane. Gene Hackman has a great line: "You're much better off jumping out of it, than taking a chance on landing it.") Consequently, they were often as not seen in pretty beaten up condition flying as workhorses, not show horses.
In more recent years, the Howards have joined places with the Staggerwing (they are honorary members of the Staggerwing Club of Tullahoma, TN) and now are usually seen as they should be in decent to magnificently restored condition. However, they still provide great utility. Superb traveling airplanes with much better visibility, headroom, and shoulder room than the Staggerwing, they have very long "legs" with a fuel capacity of 151 gallons in three belly mounted tanks. This gives endurance of more than 7 hours, for a range at normal cruise (130kts/150mph) of over 1,000 statute miles.
Fuel management of the Howard is also less complex than for the Staggerwing which requires careful juggling. The Howard features a simple tank selector mounted under the instrument panel. It lets the pilot simply choose front, center, or rear tank, and that’s all there is to it.
With modern avionics, the Howard surpasses in many respects any contemporary light aircraft for its combination of room, comfort, speed, range, carrying capacity, and certainly panache. The Pratt & Whitney, a supercharged engine, gives excellent performance from high altitude strips, and lets the Howard fly comfortably and confidently at mid-altitudes, above most normally-aspirated aircraft and below turbine-driven planes.
There is nothing to compare to the pleasure of flying behind a radial engine, turning at lower RPMs than a horizontal-opposed engine; it feels smoother and generates a comfortable low, reassuring rumble for less pilot fatigue, while propelling the Howard through the sky in a most stately fashion. Its arrival never goes unnoticed, even at the most jaded exec jet terminals or International airports. And, with the stability previously noted, it is a pleasure to fly the Howard on instruments, particularly on approach, day or night.
Almost 100 of the Howard variants are still flying, mostly DGA-15s. A very few of the DGA-11s also still fly, including one out of Santa Paula, CA, which is probably the world headquarters of Howards with at least five flying out of that field.
Variants
- DGA-15P: with Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine (450 hp, 336 kW)
- DGA-15J: with Jacobs L6MB radial engine (330 hp, 246 kW)
- DGA-15W: with Wright Whirlwind J6-7 radial engine (350 hp, 261 kW)
Specifications (UC-70)
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 3-4 passengers (NH-1 trainer has additional blind flight student station behind pilot)
- Airfoil: NACA 2R212 (Note: the middle "2" is a subscript)
Performance
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Notes
References
- Bushell, Sue J. "Some Damn Good Airplanes". Air Enthusiast, Thirty-two, December 1986-April 1987. Bromley, UK:Pilot Press. pp.32–44.