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Monday, 25 March 2013

Rearwin Airplanes


REARWIN CLOUDSTER:
POONAM SINGH



REARWIN AIRPLANES INC. :

Rearwin Airplanes was a US airplane-manufacturing enterprise founded by Andrew ("Rae") Rearwin in 1928.[1] Rae Rearwin was an American businessman who had developed several successful business ventures in the Salina, Kansas area in the early 20th century. Although he had no experience with aircraft manufacturing (and no pilot training), he felt that he could succeed with his solid business acumen. With his two sons, Ken and Royce, he hired some engineers and built the Ken-Royce in a garage in Salina.
The factory was moved to the Fairfax Airport in Kansas City, KS.

The LeBlond Aircraft Engine Corporation was purchased in 1937 and gave Rearwin a direct source of 5- and 7-cylinder radial engines.
Rearwin Airplanes was sold to Commonwealth Aircraft in 1942, and Commonwealth continued production of the Rearwin-designed Skyranger for one year (through 1946).

REARWIN CLOUDSTER:

The Rearwin Cloudster was a civil utility aircraft produced in the United States in 1939. It was a strut-braced, high-wing monoplane of conventional design with an enclosed cabin and fixed, tailskid undercarriage.
It was a larger and more powerful derivative of the Rearwin Sportster with the 8090 and 8125 models having side-by-side seating instead of the Sportster's tandem seating. The 8135 Cloudster had three seats.
Twenty examples were produced with tandem seating for Pan Am to use as trainers, and another 25 Cloudsters were exported as trainers to Iran.











VARIENTS:


Cloudster 8090:
Version with Ken-Royce 5F 90 h.p. engine - two seat

Cloudster 8125:
Version with Ken-Royce 7F 125 h.p. engine - two seat

Cloudster 8135:
Version with Ken-Royce 7G 125 h.p engine - three seat

Cloudster 8135T:
Tandem version of Cloudster 8135 for Pan Am

Rearwin C-102:
A Cloudster 8135 impressed by the US Army Air Force as the UC-102A.


SPECIFICATIONS:

General characteristics:
Crew: One pilot
Capacity: 1–2 passengers
Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 2 in (10.41 m)
Height: 7 ft 4 in (2.23 m)
Wing area: 162 ft2 (15.0 m2)
Empty weight: 1,140 lb (520 kg)
Gross weight: 1,900 lb (860 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Ken-Royce 7G, 125 hp (93 kW)

Performance:
Maximum speed: 135 mph (216 km/h)
Range: 600 miles (960 km)
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,900 m)
Rate of climb: 860 ft/min (4.4 m/s)

STANDARD EQUIPMENT:
Airspeed Indicator, Altimeter, Tachometer, Oil Pressure Gauge, Oil Temperature Gauge, Compass, Switch, Two Fuel Gauges, Exhaust Manifold, Carburetor Heater, NACA Cowling, Pressure Baffling, Carburetor Air Cleaner, Altitude Mixture Control, Plexiglas Windshield, Brakes, Parking Brake, Tail Wheel - 8 inch, Navigation Lights, Battery, Ball Bearing Controls Throughout, Two Cabin Doors with Yale Type Locks, Dual Controls, Luggage Compartment (size 8 cu feet 50 lbs capacity), Complete Cabin Upholstery, Air Foam Cushions and Seat Backs, Fire Extinguisher, Tool Kit, Engine Manual, First Aid Kit, Safety Belts, and Log Books.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
Cabin Heater, Generator, Landing Lights, Radio, Electric Starter, Flares, Float Fittings, Special Instruments, Wheel Pants, Metal Propellor, Skis, Floats.

COLORS:
Stearman Vermilion with Insignia Blue Trim, Insignia Blue with Red Trim.

REARWIN CLOUDSTER LANDS AT EAA:
 An extremely rare aircraft that's been donated to EAA landed at Pioneer Airport last Saturday, November 17. The 1940 Rearwin Cloudster, now a part of the EAA AirVenture Museum collection, was donated to EAA by Ed McKeown, EAA 212386/Vintage 32087, Village of Lakewood, Illinois.

Only 125 Cloudsters were built, and Ed says his (S/N 828) is the only known airworthy example. The Rearwin Model 8135 Cloudster is powered by a 125-hp, seven-cylinder Ken-Royce 7G engine. Dubbed a "baby Howard DGA" in promotional materials, it's a three-seater, with the single rear seat facing sideways. Top speed is 135 mph, with a range of 600 miles from its twin 17-gallon fuel tanks.

It took seven years - from 2003 to 2010 - for Ed and Roger Shadick, owner of Noble Aviation in Eagle River, Wisconsin, to restore the airplane. Most of the parts come from of Nisswa, Minnesota's Frank Hay, from whom Ed acquired the airplane. "It's a very original aircraft, perhaps not the 100 percent best workmanship," Ed described.

After completing the restoration, the first test flight was done by former EAA staffer and Vintage Aircraft Association director Joe Norris of Oshkosh. (Joe also flew the plane's final flight to Oshkosh on November 17.) Once the bugs were worked out, Ed flew it to the Antique Aircraft Association's 2010 fly-in at Blakesburg, Iowa, where he won a first place classic award.

The following year the Cloudster made its first and only visit to AirVenture Oshkosh. Now, with between 50 and 60 hours flown since being restored, it's back for good and is now parked at one of Pioneer's grand Golden Age hangars.

Ed says that he had an opportunity to sell the plane, but after some consideration ultimately opted to donate it to the EAA AirVenture Museum to ensure others could experience it for years to come. Doing so preserves "a good representation of the species," he said.

Although the Cloudster flies beautifully in the air, Ed said, it's a little different animal at low speeds or on the ground due to minimal rudder authority. "It's not as easy (to fly) as a Cub or a Champ," he said.

The plane will be on display this winter in the AirVenture Museum, but long-range plans are for it to be a part of the Pioneer collection.




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