| WC | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Amphibious aircraftType of aircraft |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Towle Marine Aircraft Engineering Company |
| Designer | Thomas Towle |
| First flight | November 1928 |
| Introduction | 1928 |
| Number built | 2 |
| Variants | Towle TA-2 |
The Towle WC, or Towle TA-1, was a custom built aircraft for a 1929 round-the world flight.
Design and development
Thomas Towle was an engineer who had been involved with many early aircraft designs. Having just co-designed the Eastman-E2 Sea Rover, Towle was commissioned by Henry McCarroll to promote Detroit's aviation production capabilities.
The WC was a flying boat with an aluminum hull. The strut braced parasol wing was fabric covered.
Operational history
The prototype WC flew as far as Brazil before engine reliability issues forced the cancellation of the round-the-world flight attempt.
Variants
- Towle TA-2 Was built as a successor to the WC model
Specifications (Towle WC)
Data from Flight
General characteristics
- Capacity: 4
- Length: 35 ft (11 m)
- Wingspan: 52 ft (16 m)
- Empty weight: 2,750 lb (1,247 kg)
- Gross weight: 4,420 lb (2,005 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Comet R-612 Seven cylinder radial, 150 hp (110 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 100 kn (115 mph, 185 km/h)
- Minimum control speed: 39 kn (45 mph, 72 km/h)
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- Robert F. Pauley. Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers.
- E. R. Johnson. American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history. p. 324.
- Flight: 149. 21 Feb 1929.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - Robert F. Pauley. Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers.
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