Detroit G1 Gull

{{Short description|American training glider}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = G1 Gull | logo = | logo_size = | image = Detroit G1 Gull.jpg | alt = | caption = G1 Gull on tow | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Primary glider | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Detroit Aircraft Corporation | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = No longer in production | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = At least three | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = circa 1930s | retired = | first_flight = 1925 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Detroit G1 Gull''' is an American high wing, cable-braced primary glider that was manufactured by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation during the Great Depression.<ref name="SoaringNov83">Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page 40. Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920</ref> It first flew in 1925.<ref>{{Cite web |title=J2mcL Planeurs - Fiche planeur n° |url=https://www.j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/planeurs-machines/planeur-fiche_0int.php?code=3761 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.j2mcl-planeurs.net}}</ref>

The aircraft's correct designation is not clear. Soaring Magazine calls it the Detroit Gull G1 Primary, while the two Federal Aviation Administration registered aircraft are simply Detroit Gulls. ''Henley's ABC of Gliding and Sailflying'' also calls it the Detroit Gull.<ref name="SoaringNov83"/><ref name="FAAReg1"/><ref name="FAAReg2"/><ref name="Henley's"/>

==Design and development== The Gull G1 was developed by Detroit Aircraft as an inexpensive aircraft for the Depression. Detroit Aircraft later sold the rights to Stone Aircraft, who sold plans for the aircraft for amateur construction.<ref name="SoaringNov83" />

The Gull is built from wood, with the tail and wing surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. The wing is cable braced from a kingpost. The fuselage consists of a simple structure to which the seat is attached. The pilot sits on the completely open seat, with no windshield. Controls are conventional three-axis. The landing gear consists of the bottom of the fuselage shaped into a long wooden skid . Sometimes two small wheels were attached.<ref name="SoaringNov83" />

The Gull was reportedly type certified, but no record of the type certificate is on file with the Federal Aviation Administration.<ref name="SoaringNov83" /><ref name="FAATCDS">{{Cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet|title = Type Certificate Data Sheets Inquiry Results|accessdate = 7 May 2011|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |date = May 2011|archive-date = October 16, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151016140121/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Operational history== One Gull was started before the Second World War by Peter Eyrud of Walla Walla, Washington, but not completed. This aircraft was purchased by Peter M. Bowers who completed and flew it. Bowers documented the aircraft project in an article in the March/April 1957 edition of Soaring Magazine entitled ''Don't Build a Primary''.<ref name="SoaringNov83" />

In 1983 two other Gulls were reported to be in storage awaiting restoration.<ref name="SoaringNov83" />

In May 2011 there were two G1 Gulls registered with the Federal Aviation Administration in the USA. One was in the Kansas Aviation Museum and the other was still registered to Peter M. Bowers, even though he died in April 2003. Soaring Magazine reports that this aircraft too is actually in an unnamed aviation museum.<ref name="FAAReg1">{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=41775|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 7 May 2011|author= Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = Federal Aviation Administration|date=May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120727174040/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=41775|archive-date= 27 July 2012|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="FAAReg2">{{Cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=52Y |title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 7 May 2011|author= Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = Federal Aviation Administration|date=May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190223131500/https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=52Y|archive-date= 23 February 2019|url-status= dead}}</ref>

In August, 2013 one was put on display at the W.L Zimmerman's Hardware Store, Intercourse, Pennsylvania. This glider has been preserved in original condition from 1931.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

thumb|right|G1 Glider on display thumb|right|G1 Glider on display

==Aircraft on display== * Kansas Aviation Museum<ref name="FAAReg1" /> * W.L Zimmerman and Sons Hardware Store, Intercourse, Pennsylvania{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

==Specifications (G1)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Soaring and Henley<ref name="SoaringNov83" /><ref name="Henley's">Page, Major Victor W.: ''Henley's ABC of gliding and sailflying'', page 123. 1931.{{Cite web|url =http://www.lakesgc.co.uk/mainwebpages/eBook%20Library/Batch%203/ABC%20of%20Gliding%20and%20Sailflying.pdf |title = Henley's ABC of Gliding and Sailflying}}</ref> |prime units?=imp  |genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=17.5 |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=34.5 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft=7.0 |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=170 |wing area note= |aspect ratio=7:1 |airfoil=USA 35 |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=200 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=400 |gross weight note= |more general=  |perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=103 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio=8:1 at 30 mph (48 km/h) |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=2.36 |wing loading note= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= * Elliotts Primary EoN * Jongblood Primary * Schweizer SGP 1-1 * Stamer Lippisch SG-38 Zögling |lists= * List of gliders }}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Detroit aircraft}}

Category:1930s United States sailplanes Category:Detroit Aircraft Corporation aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1925 Category:High-wing aircraft