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The Capelis XC12 prototype transport [X12762], built after a patent issued to Greek immigrant Socrates H. Capelis, of El Cerrito, in 1930. It was the sole product of the Capelis Safety Airplane Corp., based at Oakland Airport and El Cerrito, Calif. The aircraft was funded by local Greek restaurateurs as a promotional aircraft, and constructed at the Alameda airport with help from University of California students.
The funding, apparently, was insufficient for such an ambitious project, as Capelis ended up in debt. The local sheriff put a padlock on the hangar door and the plane was not to be moved until all bills had been paid. Story has it that Capelis "cut the lock one morning and before the sun was up, he took off for parts unknown". And after landing at Glendale's Grand Central Airport, the C.A.A. and the sheriff were there waiting for him... The XC12 was grounded for good by the C.A.A shortly after that.
The most unusual features of the Capelis design was its triple-fin biplane empennage and its string of narrow rounded windows. Construction of the XC12 presented many faults: The main spar was bolted together and the leading edge and wing fairings were held in place by P.K.'s (sheet metal screws) rather than rivets. These tended to vibrate loose, requiring tightening or replacing every few flights.
Unexpectedly, the XC12 enjoyed a notable career, not as a flying transport but as a movie prop, appearing in ground roles in several motion pictures ("Five Came Back" in 1939, "Flying Tigers" in 1942 and others). The studios just taxied it and used it as a background. A scale model was built and was used in a flying sequence for one of the movies. The XC12 was eventually scrapped.
The funding, apparently, was insufficient for such an ambitious project, as Capelis ended up in debt. The local sheriff put a padlock on the hangar door and the plane was not to be moved until all bills had been paid. Story has it that Capelis "cut the lock one morning and before the sun was up, he took off for parts unknown". And after landing at Glendale's Grand Central Airport, the C.A.A. and the sheriff were there waiting for him... The XC12 was grounded for good by the C.A.A shortly after that.
The most unusual features of the Capelis design was its triple-fin biplane empennage and its string of narrow rounded windows. Construction of the XC12 presented many faults: The main spar was bolted together and the leading edge and wing fairings were held in place by P.K.'s (sheet metal screws) rather than rivets. These tended to vibrate loose, requiring tightening or replacing every few flights.
Unexpectedly, the XC12 enjoyed a notable career, not as a flying transport but as a movie prop, appearing in ground roles in several motion pictures ("Five Came Back" in 1939, "Flying Tigers" in 1942 and others). The studios just taxied it and used it as a background. A scale model was built and was used in a flying sequence for one of the movies. The XC12 was eventually scrapped.
