Chester Jeep

Chester Jeep
The Chester Jeep on display
Role Air racer
National origin United States of America
Designer Art Chester
Introduction 1932
Number built 1


The Chester Jeep aka the Chester Special #1 was an air racer built by Art Chester for the 1932 National Air Races. The aircraft once held the world's speed record for aircraft at 237 mph (381 km/h).[1]

Design and development

The Chester Jeep was named after "Eugene the Jeep" from the Popeye comics of the time.[2] Chester created a compact airframe in order to maximize speed from a small engine. Art Chester later designed the nose and cowling of the P-51 fighter for North American Aviation.[3]

The Jeep was a mid-wing taildragger racer using a Menasco engine. The wings were supported with small struts. The Jeep was modified with a new prop, spinner and less sharp angles for the 1934 National Air Races. The aircraft's wings were removed and reinstalled for trailering to air events.[4] In 1947 the aircraft was retrofitted ("butchered" by some)[5] with an 85 hp (63 kW) engine to meet the power requirement for the Goodyear races.[6]

Operational history

A Replica of the Chester Jeep

The green and cream colored aircraft was intended to compete in the 1932 National Air Races, but was finished too late. It saw its first race in 1933.

In 1977 the aircraft was donated to the EAA Airventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where it is now restored.

Specifications (Chester Jeep)

Data from EAA

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development


References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chester Jeep.
  1. Don Vorderman. The great air races.
  2. "Chester Jeep". Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  3. Norm Goyer. Air sports: the complete guide to aviation adventure.
  4. Thomas G. Matowitz, Jr. Cleveland's Legacy of Flight.
  5. Harold Mills. Hangar Sweepings.
  6. Sport Aviation. May 1958. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. Ronald T. Reuther, William T. Larkins. Oakland Aviation.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, December 01, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.