Howard DGA-15
| DGA-15 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Civil transport |
| Manufacturer | Howard Aircraft Corporation |
| Designer | Benny Howard |
| Developed from | Howard DGA-12 |
The Howard Aircraft Corporation DGA-15 was a single engine civil aircraft produced in the USA from 1936.
Development and design
The Howard Aircraft Company (later 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 Corporation 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 truss fuselage, but it was distinguished by a deeper and wider fuselage, allowing five people to be seated in comfort.[5] 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 cruising at 160 to 170 mph could match their speed, range and comfort with the rear seat leg room exceeding airline standards with limousine-like capaciousness, and high wing loading allowing the Howards to ride through most turbulence comfortably.
World War II
Prior to Pearl Harbor, about 80 DGA-8 through DGA-15 aircraft had been built at the Howard Aircraft Corporation factory on the south side of Chicago Municipal 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.
Vintage Years
In their vintage years, Howards DGA series are prized more for their utility than for their clean lines. Contemporary cabin aircraft have already become antiques, living pampered lives as show pieces rather than working aircraft. In the 1960s, a modification was offered by the Jobmaster company of Renton, Washington. including additional seating, windows, and float installationmaking Howard DGA-15's attractive to bush operators[6], and the generous cabin size proved popular with sky-divers as low capital outlay, low operating cost jumping platforms.
With most of the working Howard DGA's retired from active work they are becoming popular as restoration subjects and as alternatives to more modern eqiuivalents with higher cost of ownership. Almost 100 of the Howard variants are still flying, mostly DGA-15s. A few of the DGA-11s also still fly, including one out of Santa Paula, CA, which is probably the world head-quarters for Howards with at least five flying out of that field. Superb travelling aeroplanes with much better visibility, headroom, and shoulder room than some contemporary cabin aircraft, they have very long "legs" with a fuel capacity of 151 gallons in three belly mounted tanks, giving an endurance of more than 7 hours, for a range, at normal cruise (130kts/150 mph), of over 1,000 statute miles. With modern avionics, the Howard can compete in many respects with many contemporary light aircraft, due to its combination of room, comfort, speed, range and carrying capacity.
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)
- GH - DGA-15P aircraft built for the US Navy and US Coast Guard as utiltiy and ambulance aircraft.
- NH - DGA-15P aircraft built for the US Navy as Instrument trainers.
- UC-70 & UC-70C - DGA-15 civil aircraft impressed into service with the USAAC as personnel transports.
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
- ^ Bushell 1987, p.42.
- ^ "DGA" stands for "Damn Good Airplane" in designer/pilot Benny Howard's nomenclature.
- ^ Bushell 1987, pp.40-41.
- ^ a b Bushell 1987, p.43.
- ^ [url=http://www.chet-aero.com/Howard-DGA-15.pdf]
- ^ [url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1960/1960%20-%202829.html]
References
- Bushell, Sue J. "Some Damn Good Airplanes". Air Enthusiast, Thirty-two, December 1986-April 1987. Bromley, UK:Pilot Press. pp. 32–44.