Charles Lewis Freel , Freel Flying Wing and other designs

fightingirish

ACCESS: Top Secret
Senior Member
Joined
3 June 2006
Messages
2,947
Reaction score
3,160
Charles Lewis Freel (b. 1916) learned about aerodynamics under the instruction of LeTain Kittredge in the aircraft rigging/woodshop class at the San Diego High School,
Before his graduation, Freel designed a 36-inch experimental free flight model of a flying wing glider. The model flew well enough to justify moving to a full size piloted glider.
In 1933, construction was begun at the San Diego High School woodshop, on a 52 foot span flying wing glider. It was completed in 1937 and licensed with identification mark 18131. Elevons were mounted on the trailing surface and were controlled via a unique worm drive. Several flights were made by Kittredge and Freel over hillsides near San Diego. The glider suffered from poor directional control in flight.
After graduation, Freel worked for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation and held the title of "junior engineer."
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freel_Flying_Wing
http://www.twitt.org/freel.html



From an Album (AL-71) donated Charles Freel by which shows the "Freel Flying Wing" and mockups for the Convair B-36 [or Model 37 / Convair XC-99].
Link: San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives - AL-71 Charles Freel Album
That tailless bomber looks very much like the Consolidated Vultee Twin-Engine Tailless Patrol-Bomber, published on page 85 & 86 in the book "Secret Projects: Flying Wings and Tailless Aircraft" by Bill Rose. :)
See also this topic "Consolidated Tailless Bomber".
 

Attachments

  • 14253389964_ce8a0ea4c2_z.jpg
    14253389964_ce8a0ea4c2_z.jpg
    136.1 KB · Views: 213
  • 14067102389_545835c435_z.jpg
    14067102389_545835c435_z.jpg
    110.9 KB · Views: 206
  • 14273930233_bcbe47162c_c.jpg
    14273930233_bcbe47162c_c.jpg
    196.4 KB · Views: 204
  • 14273930483_f2f9c9ce06_c.jpg
    14273930483_f2f9c9ce06_c.jpg
    213.6 KB · Views: 194
A truly interesting find. Thanks.
 
Great, great find, fightingirish! A real discovery as far as I'm concerned.
 

Please donate to support the forum.

Back
Top Bottom