The Detroit G1 Gull is an American

high wing 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 ...

, cable-braced

primary glider Primary gliders are a category of aircraft that enjoyed worldwide popularity during the 1920s and 1930s as people strove for simple and inexpensive ways to learn to fly.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United Sta ...

that was manufactured by the

Detroit Aircraft Corporation The Detroit Aircraft Corporation was incorporated in Detroit, Michigan on July 10, 1922, as the Aircraft Development Corporation. The name was changed in 1929. The Detroit corporation owned the entire capital stock of the Ryan Aircraft Corp., Air ...

during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

.Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory,

Soaring Magazine ''SOARING'' is a magazine published monthly as a membership benefit of the Soaring Society of America. It was first published in 1937. The headquarters is in Hobbs, New Mexico. The magazine's article topics include safety issues and accounts of in ...

'', page 40.

Soaring Society of America The Soaring Society of America (SSA) was founded at the instigation of Warren E. Eaton to promote the sport of soaring in the USA and internationally. The first meeting was held in New York City in the McGraw–Hill Building on February 20, 1932. ...

November 1983. USPS 499-920 It first flew in 1925. The aircraft's correct designation is not clear.

calls it the Detroit Gull G1 Primary, while the two

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...

registered aircraft are simply Detroit Gulls. ''Henley's ABC of Gliding and Sailflying'' also calls it the Detroit Gull.

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. The Gull is built from wood, with the tail and wing surfaces covered in doped

aircraft fabric Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...

. The wing is cable braced from a

kingpost A king post (or king-post or kingpost) is a central vertical post used in architectural or bridge designs, working in tension to support a beam below from a truss apex above (whereas a crown post, though visually similar, supports items above fro ...

. The

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 ...

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. The Gull was reportedly

type certified A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). It confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production, is in compliance with applica ...

, but no record of the type certificate is on file with the

Operational history

One Gull was started before the

Second World War 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 ...

by Peter Eyrud of

Walla Walla, Washington Walla Walla is a city in Walla Walla County, Washington, where it is the largest city and county seat. It had a population of 34,060 at the 2020 census, estimated to have decreased to 33,927 as of 2021. The population of the city and its two su ...

, but not completed. This aircraft was purchased by

Peter M. Bowers Peter M. Bowers (May 15, 1918 – April 27, 2003) was an aeronautical engineer, airplane designer, and a journalist and historian specializing in the field of aviation.

who completed and flew it. Bowers documented the aircraft project in an article in the March/April 1957 edition of

entitled ''Don't Build a Primary''. In 1983 two other Gulls were reported to be in storage awaiting restoration. In May 2011 there were two G1 Gulls registered with the

in the USA. One was in the

Kansas Aviation Museum The Kansas Aviation Museum is a museum located in Wichita, Kansas, United States, near 31st South and George Washington Blvd. The building was the former Wichita Municipal Airport terminal from 1935 to 1954. The Museum features many display a ...

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. In August, 2013 one was put on display at the W.L Zimmerman's Hardware Store,

Intercourse, Pennsylvania Intercourse is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, in the U.S. state of Pennsyl ...

. This glider has been preserved in original condition from 1931. Detroit G-1 Gull primary glider on display

Aircraft on display

* W.L Zimmerman and Sons Hardware Store,

Specifications (G1)

References

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

Design and development

Operational history

Aircraft on display

Specifications (G1)

See also

References