The Great Lakes Sport Trainer is an Americanbiplane trainer and aerobatic aircraft. It was originally produced in large numbers before the company building it went bankrupt in the Great Depression in 1933. Owing to its continuing popularity, however, it was eventually placed back into production in the 1970s and again in 2011 by WACO Classic Aircraft.
The Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio produced a design for a small two-seat sports/trainer in early 1929, with the first prototype flying in March 1929.[1] The resulting aircraft, designated 2-T-1 was a single bay biplane of mixed, fabric-covered construction and with a tailskid undercarriage. Power was by a single 85 hp (63 kW) Cirrus III inline engine (as the Detroit Aircraft Corporation, the holding company for Great Lakes, also held the American rights to the Cirrus, so all Sports Trainers were originally sold with Cirrus engines).[2] Initial testing showed that the aircraft was tail heavy, so after the first four aircraft were built, the upper wing was swept back.
In January 2011, WACO Classic Aircraft announced that it will put the Great Lakes Model 2T-1A-1/2 model biplane back into production. The aircraft had not been available since 1980. The aircraft will incorporate several changes including metal wing spars. It will be offered in two models, a touring model, with a Lycoming IO-360-B1F6 engine and a higher-performance sport model, with a Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 engine. Work on the new production model was completed in June 2013 and the base price announced as US$245,000.[3][4]
Operational historyedit
The aircraft proved very successful, with about 250 built before construction ended. It was highly maneuverable even on the relatively modest power of a Cirrus engine. A 1929 Great Lakes Model 2T1a held for many years the world record for consecutive outside loops, a total of 131, set by Jim Moss flying the Hunt Special which by the early 1930s had been highly modified and re-powered with a Warner Scarab 165 7 cylinder radial engine.[5]
The Great Lakes continued to be popular well after production ended, and many aircraft adopted more powerful engines, particularly the Jacobsradial engines.[5] Eventually, in the 1960s, the rights for the Sport Trainer were acquired by Harvey Swack, who offered plans of the aircraft for sale to homebuilders. In 1972, Swack sold the rights on to Doug Champlin, who set up a reconstituted Great Lakes Aircraft Company to produce a revised version meeting the current airworthiness requirements, powered by modern Lycoming engines and revised materials of construction (including the use of Douglas fir instead of spruce).[2] The first of the new production aircraft, the Model 2T-1A-1, powered by a 140 hp engine was certified in May 1973, with production starting in October that year. A more powerful version, the 2T-1A-2 followed in July 1974.[6] In 1978, production was divided between Wichita, Kansas, and Enid, Oklahoma, with the intent on relocation to Florida.[7]
Rights to the Sport Trainer continued to switch hands, resulting in production moving several times. By 1980, 137 Sport Trainers had been built.[8] Production finally finished in 1985.[9]
Variantsedit
Great Lakes 2T-1A
Model 2T-1
Original production. 85 hp (63 kW) American Cirrus III engine. Small tail. Approximately 40 built.[1]
Model 2T-1A
Revised version with enlarged tail surfaces and 90 hp (67 kW) American Cirrus Ace engine. About 200 built.[1]
Model 2T-1A-1
New production (1973 on) version. Powered by 140 hp (104 kW) Lycoming O-320 engine.
Model 2T-1A-2
More powerful version - powered by 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming IO-360 engine.
Homebuilt variant with a 200 hp (150 kW) Ranger 6-440-5.[12]
Model 2T-2 Speedster
Racing version of 2T-1-A. Powered by 95 hp (71 kW) Cirrus Hi-Drive and straight top wing. Later rebuilt as Model 2T-1E.[13]
2013 Great Lakes 2T-1A-2
WACO Classic 2T-1A-1/2
New production model starting in 2011. There will be two models, a touring model, with a Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 engine and a higher-performance sport model, with a Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 engine[4]
Specifications (Model 2T-1A-2)edit
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77 [6]
Donald, David (editor). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. 1997. ISBN1-85605-375-X.
Taylor, J.W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London: Jane's, 1976. ISBN0-354-00538-3.
Taylor, J.W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980-81. London: Jane's, 1980. ISBN0-531-03953-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Great Lakes 2T-1A Sportster.
Official website
Type Certificate
April 10, 2024
great, lakes, sport, trainer, american, biplane, trainer, aerobatic, aircraft, originally, produced, large, numbers, before, company, building, went, bankrupt, great, depression, 1933, owing, continuing, popularity, however, eventually, placed, back, into, pro. The Great Lakes Sport Trainer is an American biplane trainer and aerobatic aircraft It was originally produced in large numbers before the company building it went bankrupt in the Great Depression in 1933 Owing to its continuing popularity however it was eventually placed back into production in the 1970s and again in 2011 by WACO Classic Aircraft Sport TrainerGreat Lakes 2T 1A 1Role Trainer TourerManufacturer Great Lakes Aircraft Company WACO Classic AircraftFirst flight 1929Produced 1929 1933 1973 1982 2011 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Specifications Model 2T 1A 2 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDevelopment and design editThe Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation of Cleveland Ohio produced a design for a small two seat sports trainer in early 1929 with the first prototype flying in March 1929 1 The resulting aircraft designated 2 T 1 was a single bay biplane of mixed fabric covered construction and with a tailskid undercarriage Power was by a single 85 hp 63 kW Cirrus III inline engine as the Detroit Aircraft Corporation the holding company for Great Lakes also held the American rights to the Cirrus so all Sports Trainers were originally sold with Cirrus engines 2 Initial testing showed that the aircraft was tail heavy so after the first four aircraft were built the upper wing was swept back In January 2011 WACO Classic Aircraft announced that it will put the Great Lakes Model 2T 1A 1 2 model biplane back into production The aircraft had not been available since 1980 The aircraft will incorporate several changes including metal wing spars It will be offered in two models a touring model with a Lycoming IO 360 B1F6 engine and a higher performance sport model with a Lycoming AEIO 360 B1G6 engine Work on the new production model was completed in June 2013 and the base price announced as US 245 000 3 4 Operational history editThe aircraft proved very successful with about 250 built before construction ended It was highly maneuverable even on the relatively modest power of a Cirrus engine A 1929 Great Lakes Model 2T1a held for many years the world record for consecutive outside loops a total of 131 set by Jim Moss flying the Hunt Special which by the early 1930s had been highly modified and re powered with a Warner Scarab 165 7 cylinder radial engine 5 The Great Lakes continued to be popular well after production ended and many aircraft adopted more powerful engines particularly the Jacobs radial engines 5 Eventually in the 1960s the rights for the Sport Trainer were acquired by Harvey Swack who offered plans of the aircraft for sale to homebuilders In 1972 Swack sold the rights on to Doug Champlin who set up a reconstituted Great Lakes Aircraft Company to produce a revised version meeting the current airworthiness requirements powered by modern Lycoming engines and revised materials of construction including the use of Douglas fir instead of spruce 2 The first of the new production aircraft the Model 2T 1A 1 powered by a 140 hp engine was certified in May 1973 with production starting in October that year A more powerful version the 2T 1A 2 followed in July 1974 6 In 1978 production was divided between Wichita Kansas and Enid Oklahoma with the intent on relocation to Florida 7 Rights to the Sport Trainer continued to switch hands resulting in production moving several times By 1980 137 Sport Trainers had been built 8 Production finally finished in 1985 9 Variants edit nbsp Great Lakes 2T 1AModel 2T 1 Original production 85 hp 63 kW American Cirrus III engine Small tail Approximately 40 built 1 Model 2T 1A Revised version with enlarged tail surfaces and 90 hp 67 kW American Cirrus Ace engine About 200 built 1 Model 2T 1A 1 New production 1973 on version Powered by 140 hp 104 kW Lycoming O 320 engine Model 2T 1A 2 More powerful version powered by 180 hp 134 kW Lycoming IO 360 engine Model 2T 1A E Homebuilt Experimental Plans built 10 Model 2T 1E 95 hp 71 kW American Cirrus Ensign engine About twelve built 1 X A 2T 1E used for aero engine testing Model 2T 1MS Menasco Pirate powered two seat version one example registration of NC 304Y airworthy at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is fitted with Goodyear airwheel low pressure main gear tires and was a favorite aircraft of Cole Palen the museum s founder 11 Model 2T 1R Homebuilt variant with a 200 hp 150 kW Ranger 6 440 5 12 Model 2T 2 Speedster Racing version of 2T 1 A Powered by 95 hp 71 kW Cirrus Hi Drive and straight top wing Later rebuilt as Model 2T 1E 13 nbsp 2013 Great Lakes 2T 1A 2WACO Classic 2T 1A 1 2 New production model starting in 2011 There will be two models a touring model with a Lycoming IO 360 B1G6 engine and a higher performance sport model with a Lycoming AEIO 360 B1G6 engine 4 Specifications Model 2T 1A 2 editData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 6 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 20 ft 4 in 6 20 m Wingspan 26 ft 8 in 8 13 m Height 7 ft 4 in 2 24 m Wing area 187 6 sq ft 17 43 m2 Airfoil M 12 Empty weight 1 230 lb 558 kg Max takeoff weight 1 800 lb 816 kg Fuel capacity 26 US gal 22 imp gal 98 L Powerplant 1 Lycoming IO 360 B1F6 4 cylinder horizontally opposed air cooled piston engine 180 hp 130 kW Propellers 2 bladed Hartzell HC C2YK 4F FC7666A constant speed propellerPerformance Maximum speed 115 kn 132 mph 213 km h at sea level Cruise speed 102 kn 117 mph 189 km h max cruise Stall speed 50 kn 58 mph 93 km h Range 260 nmi 300 mi 480 km Service ceiling 17 000 ft 5 200 m Rate of climb 1 400 ft min 7 1 m s Take off run to 50 ft 15 m 1 100 ft 335 m Landing run from 50 ft 15 m 1 200 ft 366 m See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bucker Bu 133 Jungmeister Bucker Jungmann Levente II Oldfield Baby Great Lakes a scaled down homebuilt based on the Sport Trainer Pitts S 2References editNotes edit a b c d Donald 1997 p 467 a b History of the Great Lakes Sport Trainer dead link Retrieved 2 April 2008 Grady Mary 11 June 2013 Waco Great Lakes Production Underway AvWeb Archived from the original on 18 June 2013 Retrieved 13 June 2013 a b Grady Mary January 2011 Waco Revives Great Lakes Biplane AvWeb Archived from the original on 23 January 2011 Retrieved 20 January 2011 a b Davisson Budd The Great Great Lakes Air Progress July 1975 a b Taylor 1976 p 290 Air Progress 14 November 1978 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Taylor J W R 1980 p 347 348 The Second Generation Great Lakes 1973 1984 Retrieved 2 April 2008 Air Trails Winter 1971 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome NC304Y Archived 2014 03 21 at the Wayback Machine Air Trails 9 Winter 1971 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Great Lakes Aerofiles Retrieved 29 March 2008 Bibliography edit Donald David editor The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Aerospace Publishing 1997 ISBN 1 85605 375 X Taylor J W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 London Jane s 1976 ISBN 0 354 00538 3 Taylor J W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1980 81 London Jane s 1980 ISBN 0 531 03953 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Great Lakes 2T 1A Sportster Official website Type Certificate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Great Lakes Sport Trainer amp oldid 1092409496, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
