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The Cessna GC-1 was an
air racer Air racing is a type of motorsport that involves airplanes or other types of aircraft that compete over a fixed course, with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a prev ...
built to compete in the Cirrus All American Air Derby in 1930.


Design and development

Cessna built the GC-1 for Blackwell Aviation to compete for a $25,000 prize in the 1930 Cirrus All American Air Derby. Blackwell registered the Cessna GC-1 NR-144V. The aircraft was a mid-wing open cockpit taildragger. The landing gear was attached by struts to both the fuselage, and the wing spar. A more powerful version with a shortened fuselage was built as the GC-2, powered by a
Warner Scarab The Warner Scarab is an American seven-cylinder radial aircraft engine, that was manufactured by the Warner Aircraft Corporation of Detroit, Michigan in 1928 through to the early 1940s. In military service the engine was designated R-420. Vari ...
7-cylinder radial engine.


Operational history

Stanley Stanton placed seventh in the 1930 Cirrus All American Air Derby with the GC-1. The press proclaimed the racer the "Winged Torpedo". E.B Smith flew the aircraft in the 1930 National Air Races placing fourth with an average speed of 137.4 mph. The GC-1 was destroyed in a landing accident, in collision with a mail plane at the
Kansas City Municipal Airport Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport serving Kansas City, Missouri. Located in Clay County, this facility is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, which categorized it as a general aviat ...
.


Variants

;GC-1:The sole GC-1, given the name ''Miss Blackwell'', was completed in 1929, powered by a Cirrus Ensign. the GC-1 had two liveries, the first was Cessna Red with black registration numbers N144V the second was Cessna red with yellow registration numbers and the script "Miss Blackwell" added to the cowling. ;GC-2: A second aircraft almost identical to the GC-1, but powered by a
Warner Scarab The Warner Scarab is an American seven-cylinder radial aircraft engine, that was manufactured by the Warner Aircraft Corporation of Detroit, Michigan in 1928 through to the early 1940s. In military service the engine was designated R-420. Vari ...
and fuselage length of .


Specifications (Cessna GC-1)


See also


References

{{Cessna aircraft Racing aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft 1930s United States sport aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1932