Cessna CR-3
| Cessna CR-3 | |
|---|---|
| 300px | |
| Role | Air racer |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
| Designer | Clyde Cessna, Eldon Cessna |
| First flight | June 11, 1933 |
| Introduction | June 17, 1933 |
| Retired | August 1933 |
| Status | Crashed |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Cessna CR-2 |
The Cessna CR-3 was a follow on racing aircraft to the Cessna CR-2 that raced in the 1932 National Air Races.[1]
Development
The CR-3 was ordered by Air racer Johnny Livingston in response to the performance he saw when competing against the Cessna CR-2 in the 1932 National Air Races. The CR-2 was modified with a mid-wing design.
Design
The CR-3 was a mid-wing radial engined taildragger racer with manual retractable landing gear and a tail skid. The propeller was from a clipped wing Monocoupe racer #14. The tail surface was designed to be neutral, without downforce in flight. The elevators experienced significant vibration in test flights without the wing root fairings installed.
Operational history
The CR-3 lasted 61 days, winning every event it competed in.
- Omaha Air Races, June 17, 1933 placed first.[2]
- Competed in the Minneapolis Air Races, June 24, 1933 - First place
- Competed in the Chicago American Air Race, July 1, 1933, the CR-2 first raced against CR-3 at these races. The CR-3 won the Baby Ruth Trophy at a speed of 201.42 mph. It also set a world speed record for aircraft with engines of under 500 cubic inches capacity at 237.4 mph [3]
- The Cessna CR-3 won the Aero Digest Trophy race on July 4, 1933.
En route to an airshow in August 1933, the CR-3 experienced a failure of both the tail skid and a landing gear weld that would not allow the gear to lock. Livingston bailed out over Columbus, Ohio and the CR-3 was destroyed.
Specifications
Data from Sport Aviation
General characteristics
- Length: 17 ft (5.2 m)
- Wingspan: 18 ft 5 in (5.61 m)
- Height: 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m)
- Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Warner Super Scarab Radial, 145 hp (108 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 222 kn; 410 km/h (255 mph) demonstrated
- Stall speed: 56 kn; 105 km/h (65 mph)
See also
- Related development
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cessna CR-3. |
