<!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = Chester Goon | logo = | logo_size = | image = Chester Goon photo L'Aerophile November 1938.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Air racer | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States of America | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = Art Chester | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1938 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Chester Goon''' aka '''The Chester Special #2''' was a single-engine taildragger-configuration monoplane racer built for the 1938 National Air Races.

==Design and development== Art Chester followed on his successful air racer the "Jeep"" with the Goon. "Goon", like "Jeep" was named after characters in Popeye cartoons and comic strips.

The Goon was built with a conventional welded steel tube frame and fabric covering. The wings used spruce spars and plywood covering. The mid-wing taildragger aircraft featured short-legged retractable landing gear. The engine was prepared to turn clockwise (as normal for some British inlines of the era) in anticipation of mounting a custom French propeller, but the propeller was also customized for American engines, and the engine needed to be modified again to rotate normally.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chester Goon|url=http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/aircraft/Chester-Goon-Racer.html|accessdate =5 May 2011}}</ref>

During the 1956 rebuild, a 190&nbsp;hp Lycoming O-435-1 engine was installed in place of the Menasco, including a cut down Beech-Roby propeller and wheel brakes.

==Operational history== *1938 Placed second in the Greve Trophy Races of the National Air Races with a speed of {{convert|250.42|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. *1938 Thompson Trophy - Has to drop out after failure of prop. *1939 National Air Races - First place at {{convert|263.39|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, winning the Greve Trophy<ref>https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/greve-trophy/nasm_A19820414000</ref> and $9000.<ref>{{cite book|title=Cleveland's National Air Races|author=Thomas G. Matowitz}}</ref> *1939 Thompson Trophy - Dropped out with engine trouble.

In 1939 20th Century Fox featured the Goon in the movie series Tailspin Tommy. By 1956, the Goon was purchased in unflyable condition. On December 23, 1957, the rebuilt Goon was test flown by Harvey Mace at Sacramento, California.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=June 1958}}</ref>

The Goon was purchased in 1991 by the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum and was awaiting restoration in Macedonia, Ohio.<ref>{{cite web|title=1937 Chester Special|url=http://www.wrhs.org/index.php/crawford/1937chester|date=5 May 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725180218/http://www.wrhs.org/index.php/crawford/1937chester|archivedate=25 July 2011}}</ref>

==Specifications (Chester Goon)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=EAA<!-- for giving the reference for the data --> |prime units?=kts<!-- imp or kts first for US aircraft, and UK aircraft pre-metrification, met(ric) first for all others. You MUST choose a format, or no specifications will show --> <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=

|crew=One |capacity= |length m= |length ft=20 |length in=6 |length note= |span m= |span ft=18 |span in=6 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio=<!-- give where relevant eg sailplanes --> |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Menasco C-6-S Buccaneer |eng1 type= 6-cyl. air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 hp=450<!-- prop engines -->

|prop blade number=2<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop name=French Ratier Controllable |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop note=

<!-- Performance --> |perfhide=Y

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=263.39 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=<!-- aerobatic --> |stall speed mph=<!-- aerobatic --> |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |see also= |related= *Chester Jeep |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> }}

==References== {{commons category}} {{reflist}} <!-- ==External links== --> {{Art Chester aircraft}}

Category:Racing aircraft Category:Mid-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1938 Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft