The Culver Cadet is an American two-seat light

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

aircraft, also as a radio-controlled

drone Drone most commonly refers to: * Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg * Unmanned aerial vehicle * Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft * Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to: ...

, produced by the Culver Aircraft Company.

Design and development

The aircraft designer Al Mooney developed an improved version of the Culver Dart, to provide improved performance with a smaller

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...

. Originally designated the Culver Model L, the

prototype A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics, and Software prototyping, software programming. A prototyp ...

first flew on 2 December 1939. The aircraft was named the Culver Cadet. Although similar to the previous Dart, the Cadet had a semi- monocoque

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraft t ...

instead of welded-steel-tube, and a retractable

tailwheel undercarriage Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynami ...

. The first variant (the Cadet LCA) was powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Continental A75-8 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine. The 1941 version was designated the Cadet LFA, introducing a number of refinements and more equipment, and was fitted with a 90 hp (67 kW) Franklin engine. Production was brought to an end after the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

entered

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

in December 1941, but the Cadet had found export orders, including to

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

, and had a new military role. The Cadet was one of six models that Al Mooney designed during his eight years at Culver. He would leave to found Mooney Aircraft.

Operational history

In 1940, the Cadet LCA was selected by the

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical r ...

as being suitable for use as a radio-controlled target. The first aircraft was designated the Culver A-8 (later the XPQ-8) and was based on the Cadet LFA, but had fixed tricycle landing gear. After successful tests, a production order for 200 was placed, and designated the PQ-8. Later, another 200 were ordered with a more powerful engine as the PQ-8A. In late 1941, the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

acquired a PQ-8A for evaluation, and then ordered 200 in 1941 as the TDC-2. An enlarged and improved version was later built as the Culver PQ-14. Several Cadets, with both military and civilian origins, are still (2012) airworthy in the United States, and some are preserved in airworthy condition by museums.

Variants

;Cadet LCA:Initial production version powered by a 75 hp (56 kW)

Continental A75-8 The Continental O-170 engine is the collective military designation for a family of small aircraft engines, known under the company designation of A50, A65, A75 and A80. The line was designed and built by Continental Motors commencing in the 194 ...

. ;Cadet LFA:Improved variant with an 80 hp (60 kW)

Franklin 4AC-176-F3 The Franklin O-175 (company designation 4AC-176) was an American air-cooled aircraft engine of the 1940s. The engine was of horizontally-opposed four-cylinder and displaced . The power output was nominally . A later variant was designated O- ...

Franklin 4AC-176-D2 The Franklin O-175 (company designation 4AC-176) was an American air-cooled aircraft engine of the 1940s. The engine was of horizontally-opposed four-cylinder and displaced . The power output was nominally . A later variant was designated O- ...

, or

Franklin 4AC-176-D3 The Franklin O-175 (company designation 4AC-176) was an American air-cooled aircraft engine of the 1940s. The engine was of horizontally-opposed four-cylinder and displaced . The power output was nominally . A later variant was designated O- ...

engine, and a full electrical system and engine starter. ;Cadet LFA-90:Limited edition variant with a 90 hp (67 kW)

Franklin 4AC-199-E3 The Franklin O-200 (company designation 4AC-199) was an American air-cooled aircraft engine of the early 1940s. The engine was of four-cylinder, horizontally-opposed layout and displaced . The power output ranged between and depending on vari ...

engine. ;LAR (Army A-8):Initial designation of military radio-controlled drone version, later redesignated PQ-8. ;LAR-90 (Army PQ-8):Initial production military drone version, 200 built. ;PQ-8A:PQ-8 powered by a 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290 engine, redesignated Q-8A in 1948, 200 built. ;Q-8A:PQ-8A redesignated in 1948. G-LARK (43059413910)

;TDC-1:One PQ-8 for evaluation by the United States Navy. ;TDC-2:Production version of the PQ-8A for the Navy, 200 built. ;Helton Lark 95: Development of Cadet by Helton Aircraft Corporation of

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. Powered by Continental C90-16F engine. FAA type approved in September 1966. 15 Lark 95s delivered in 1966.Taylor 1967, pp. 273–274. Helton reported as out of business in 1971. ;Helton Lark 95A: Modified Lark 96, with longer fuselage and revised tail surfaces. ;Aero Systems Cadet STF :Plans-built "optimized" Cadet design, offered by

Aero Systems Aero is a Greek prefix relating to flight and air. In British English, it is used as an adjective related to flight (e.g., as a shortened substitute for aeroplane). Aero, Ærø, or Aeros may refer to: Aeronautics Airlines and companies * Aero (P ...

La Mesa, California La Mesa () is a city in San Diego County, located east of Downtown San Diego in Southern California. The population was 61,121 at the 2020 census, up from 57,065 at the 2010 census. Its civic motto is "the Jewel of the Hills." History La Me ...

, United States in 2010. The plans call for a wood and steel structure, with a

Continental O-200 The Continental C90 and O-200 are a family of air-cooled, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, direct-drive aircraft engines of 201 in³ (3.29 L) displacement, producing between 90 and 100 horsepower (67 and 75 kW).''Federal Aviation Admini ...

powerplant, producing a cruise speed of .Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12'', page 90. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

Operators

; *

Surviving aircraft

* On display at the Historical Aircraft Squadron Museum in

Carroll, Ohio Carroll is a village (United States)#Ohio, village in Fairfield County, Ohio, Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. The population was 524 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. History Carroll was laid out in 1829 at the junction of two ...

. It is on loan from the Ohio Historical Society, who acquired it from the Ohio History of Flight Museum in 2000. * 133 – LCA on display at the

Chico Air Museum The Chico Air Museum is a nonprofit aviation museum located at the Chico Municipal Airport in Chico, California. Its mission statement is to "collect, preserve, document and display aircraft, and aviation and space artifacts. The museum’s primar ...

in Chico, California. * 236 – LCA on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon. * 269 – LFA on display at the Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel, Pennsylvania. * 274 – LFA on display at the

Champaign Aviation Museum The Champaign Aviation Museum is an aviation museum in Urbana, Ohio. It is situated on the north end of Grimes Field municipal airport, roughly a mile from central Urbana. The museum is known primarily for its ongoing restoration of a B-17 Flying ...

Urbana, Ohio Urbana is a city in and the county seat of Champaign County, Ohio, United States, west of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus. Urbana was laid out in 1805, and for a time in 1812 was the headquarters of the Northwestern army during the War of 1812. It is t ...

. * 330 – LFA-90 on display at the

Vintage Flying Museum The Vintage Flying Museum is a non-profit aviation museum located at Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The primary mission of the museum is to preserve America's flying heritage in word, deed and action. History In October 2010, t ...

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...

. * 380 – LCA on display at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum in Maryland Heights, Missouri. * 443 – LCA on display at the Airpower Museum in

Ottumwa, Iowa Ottumwa ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,529 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census. Located in the state's southeastern section, the city is split into northern and southern halves b ...

Specifications (Cadet LFA)

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)''. London: Orbis Publishing, 1985. * Mondey, David. ''American Aircraft of World War II'' (Hamlyn Concise Guide). London: Bounty Books, 2006. . * Mormillo, Frank B. "Defenceless Warrior: Culver's PQ-14 Drone." ''Air Enthusiast,'' Issue 93, May/June 2001. * Simpson, R.W. ''Airlife's General Aviation''. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publications. 1991. . * Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1967–68''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1968. * Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1971. .

External links

Culver A-8/PQ-8/TDC Cadet

– Aviation Enthusiast Corner

High resolution panoramic image of a Culver Cadet

www.culvercadet.com
{{USN target drones

Cadet A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...

Target drones of the United States 1930s United States civil utility aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft 1930s United States military utility aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1939