The Douglas Cloudster II was an American prototype five-seat light aircraft of the late 1940s. It was of unusual layout, with two buried piston engines driving a single pusherpropeller. Only a single example was built, which flew only twice, as it proved too expensive to be commercially viable.
During the early 1940s, Douglas Aircraft Company developed a configuration for high-performance twin-engined aircraft, in which the engines were buried in the fuselage, driving propellers mounted behind a conventional tailplane, in order to reduce drag by eliminating drag inducing objects such as engines from the wing. This layout was first demonstrated in the Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster bomber, which first flew in 1944, showing a 30% reduction in drag compared with a conventional twin-engined layout, while eliminating handling problems due to asymmetric thrust when flying on one engine.[1][2]
Owing to the initial success of the XB-42, Douglas adopted this promising new layout for a medium-range airliner, the DC-8[3] and a five-seat light aircraft suitable for executive or air charter use, the Model 1015 or Cloudster II.[2][4]
The Cloudster II was a low-winged monoplane with a retractable nosewheel undercarriage. The pilot and four passengers sat in an enclosed cabin well ahead of the unswept, laminar flow wing. Two air-cooled piston engines were buried in the rear fuselage, driving a single eight foot diameter twin-bladed propeller, mounted behind the empennage via driveshafts taken from P-39 fighters. Two air intakes forward of the wing directed cooling air to the engines, which then exhausted beneath the fuselage.[2][5]
Operational history
The Cloudster II made its maiden flight on March 12, 1947. Although the aircraft's performance and handling were good, it suffered from excessive vibration, and overheated when it was on the ground. Further development was abandoned late in 1947, with the prototype having flown only twice, as the post-war civil flying market had not developed as hoped, while the selling price had risen from an originally planned $30,000 to $68,000, rendering the aircraft commercially unviable.[2][5][6]
Specifications
Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920[2]
General characteristics
Crew: one
Capacity: four passengers
Length: 39 ft 10 in (12.13 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 4 in (10.78 m)
Height: 12 ft 0 in (3.66 m)
Empty weight: 3,200 lb (1,451 kg)
Gross weight: 5,085 lb (2,307 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Continental E250 six-cylinder air-cooled piston engine, 250 hp (190 kW) each [nb 1]
Performance
Maximum speed: 229 mph (369 km/h, 199 kn) at 1,200 ft (365 m)
Douglas Cloudster: An aircraft built in the 1920s to attempt the first non-stop coast-to-coast crossing of the United states. It shared the same name, but was otherwise unrelated.
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
^"Tail-Pusher Plane Cruises 200 M.P.H." Popular Mechanics, March 1947, p. 103.
^ abc"Douglas numeric, and A thru C." Aerofiles. Retrieved: November 18, 2010.
^"Here and There: Abandoned." Flight, August 28, 1947, p. 220.
Bibliography
Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN0-370-00050-1.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas Cloudster II.
"5 Passenger Pusher", Popular Science, 1947, p. 35
Photos - Aerofiles
February 21, 2023
douglas, cloudster, american, prototype, five, seat, light, aircraft, late, 1940s, unusual, layout, with, buried, piston, engines, driving, single, pusher, propeller, only, single, example, built, which, flew, only, twice, proved, expensive, commercially, viab. The Douglas Cloudster II was an American prototype five seat light aircraft of the late 1940s It was of unusual layout with two buried piston engines driving a single pusher propeller Only a single example was built which flew only twice as it proved too expensive to be commercially viable Cloudster IIRole Light aircraftNational origin United States of AmericaManufacturer Douglas Aircraft CompanyFirst flight March 12 1947Status Prototype onlyNumber built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 5 3 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign and development EditDuring the early 1940s Douglas Aircraft Company developed a configuration for high performance twin engined aircraft in which the engines were buried in the fuselage driving propellers mounted behind a conventional tailplane in order to reduce drag by eliminating drag inducing objects such as engines from the wing This layout was first demonstrated in the Douglas XB 42 Mixmaster bomber which first flew in 1944 showing a 30 reduction in drag compared with a conventional twin engined layout while eliminating handling problems due to asymmetric thrust when flying on one engine 1 2 Owing to the initial success of the XB 42 Douglas adopted this promising new layout for a medium range airliner the DC 8 3 and a five seat light aircraft suitable for executive or air charter use the Model 1015 or Cloudster II 2 4 The Cloudster II was a low winged monoplane with a retractable nosewheel undercarriage The pilot and four passengers sat in an enclosed cabin well ahead of the unswept laminar flow wing Two air cooled piston engines were buried in the rear fuselage driving a single eight foot diameter twin bladed propeller mounted behind the empennage via driveshafts taken from P 39 fighters Two air intakes forward of the wing directed cooling air to the engines which then exhausted beneath the fuselage 2 5 Operational history EditThe Cloudster II made its maiden flight on March 12 1947 Although the aircraft s performance and handling were good it suffered from excessive vibration and overheated when it was on the ground Further development was abandoned late in 1947 with the prototype having flown only twice as the post war civil flying market had not developed as hoped while the selling price had risen from an originally planned 30 000 to 68 000 rendering the aircraft commercially unviable 2 5 6 Specifications EditData from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920 2 General characteristicsCrew one Capacity four passengers Length 39 ft 10 in 12 13 m Wingspan 35 ft 4 in 10 78 m Height 12 ft 0 in 3 66 m Empty weight 3 200 lb 1 451 kg Gross weight 5 085 lb 2 307 kg Powerplant 2 Continental E250 six cylinder air cooled piston engine 250 hp 190 kW each nb 1 Performance Maximum speed 229 mph 369 km h 199 kn at 1 200 ft 365 m Cruise speed 200 mph 320 km h 170 kn Range 950 mi 1 530 km 830 nmi Ferry range 1 175 mi 1 891 km 1 021 nmi Service ceiling 22 200 ft 6 800 m Rate of climb 1 500 ft min 7 6 m s See also Edit Aviation portalDouglas Cloudster An aircraft built in the 1920s to attempt the first non stop coast to coast crossing of the United states It shared the same name but was otherwise unrelated Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Douglas XB 42 Mixmaster Douglas DC 8 piston airliner Lockheed Big Dipper Planet Satellite Waco AristocraftReferences EditNotes Edit 5 states two Continental W 670 of equivalent rating Citations Edit Francillon 1979 pp 372 377 a b c d e Francillon 1979 pp 432 434 Francillon 1979 pp 714 715 Tail Pusher Plane Cruises 200 M P H Popular Mechanics March 1947 p 103 a b c Douglas numeric and A thru C Aerofiles Retrieved November 18 2010 Here and There Abandoned Flight August 28 1947 p 220 Bibliography Edit Francillon Rene J McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920 London Putnam 1979 ISBN 0 370 00050 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas Cloudster II 5 Passenger Pusher Popular Science 1947 p 35 Photos Aerofiles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Douglas Cloudster II amp oldid 1064607669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
