Jump to content

GeeBee C-8 Eightster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from GeeBee C-8 Airliner)
GeeBee C-8 "Eightster"
Role
National origin United States
Manufacturer Granville Brothers Aircraft
Status Prototype only
Number built 1 (not completed)
Developed from Gee Bee C Sportster

The C-8 Eightster was a single-engine airliner developed by Granville Brothers Aircraft that did not go into production.[1]

Design and development

[edit]

The C-8 was an uncompleted design for a single-engine airliner, a wire-braced low-wing monoplane with conventional landing gear and a radial engine. Entry was from a small left rear door in the fuselage. Passenger visibility came from three semi-circular windows along each side. The main landing gear was faired similar to the Gee-Bee racers.

The Granville brothers also designed a series of sportster derivatives, including the C-4 Fourster and C-6 Sixster. The C-8 was the only one to be constructed, being partially completed by the time the company went into liquidation.

Variants

[edit]
Gee Bee C Sportster
Single-seat sport / racing aircraft; basis for the C family.[2]
C-4 Fourster
Four-seater powered by a 400 hp (300 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior, not built.[2]
C-6 Sixster
Six-seater, not built.[2]
C-8 Eightster
Eight-seater, to have been powered by either a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet or a 700 hp (520 kW) Wright R-1820. The prototype was partially complete at the time of Granville Brothers bankruptcy.[2]

Specifications (C-8)

[edit]

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: eight
  • Length: 32 ft 11 in (10.03 m)
  • Wingspan: 47 ft 9 in (14.55 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 700 hp (520 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed variable pitch metal propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 255 mph (410 km/h, 222 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 190 mph (310 km/h, 170 kn)
  • Range: 870 mi (1,400 km, 760 nmi)

See also

[edit]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Avrum Zier (22 July 1936). "Flying Aces Model Laboratory". Flying Aces.
  2. ^ a b c d e Eckland, K.O. "Gee Bee, Granville". Retrieved 15 April 2014.