Willard Ray Custer

Willard Ray Custer (born June 6, 1899 in Warfordsburg , Pennsylvania, † December 25, 1985 in Hagerstown , Maryland) was an American inventor and aviation visionary .

In 1925, Custer, who was interested in flying, watched a barn roof being raised by a storm. He then investigated the connections and from 1928 developed the first models of a new type of aircraft wing, the functionality of which he patented in 1929. These so-called channel wings generated high lift even at low airspeed and enabled take-offs and landings on very short runways.

He further developed the idea, founded in 1939, the "National Aircraft Corporation" and launched on November 12, 1942 for the first time with the CCW-1 ( C type- C hannel W ing 1). With the later CCW-2, almost vertical take-offs and helicopter-like flying became possible. The military started a series of tests, which was discontinued despite interesting results. Later Custer founded the "Custer ChannelWing Corporation" and built further aircraft until 1954, the last of which, the CCW-5, was even produced as a small series.

The principle of the channel wings was not understood by many of Custer's contemporaries and was also rejected because of the peculiar wings. Custer was an excellent experimenter and aviation visionary. He received a number of patents, but was unable to establish himself scientifically or commercially due to a lack of theoretical training. The Custer Channelwing Corporation he founded, a stock corporation, ceased operations and the Channelwing principle was initially silent. There are currently two CCW aircraft left. The CCW-1 is located in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum , Suitland, Maryland . The CCW-5 is on display at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum , Pennsylvania .

The big breakthrough has so far been denied to his concept. But there are modern channelwing concepts that may one day continue his concept.

Web links

• Custer ChannelWing Corp.
• Youtube clip Custer presents Channelwing