Howard DGA-8

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
DGA-8, DGA-9, DGA-11, and DGA-12
Airworthy Howard DGA-11 exhibited in 1990
Role Utility aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Howard
Designer
Benny Howard
First flight 1936
Status Still in service
Primary user Private pilot owners
Number built 31
Variants Howard DGA-15

The Howard DGA-8, DGA-9, DGA-11, and DGA-12 were a family of four-place, single-engine, high-wing light monoplanes built by the

Chicago, Illinois
from 1936.

Development

The various models were distinguished by different engine choices and detail changes, and were built and sold in parallel to each other. A number of examples were built as one type and converted to another during their lifetimes. The DGA-11, powered by a nine-cylinder 450 horsepower (340 kW)

Ben Howard
's "DGA" prefix stood for "Damned Good Airplane".

History

The

R-985
.

With America's entry into World War II, most of the civilian Howards were commandeered by the military. The Army used them as officer transports and as ambulance planes. They were used variously as an officer's utility transport and for instrument training. The Howard was and is an excellent instrument platform, very stable and solid, especially compared to modern light aircraft.

A number of these aircraft still fly, and another example of a DGA-11, restored by Jim Younkin, can be seen in the Arkansas Air & Military Museum.


Variants

Howard DGA-9 / DGA-11 at the Arkansas Air & Military Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • DGA-8 - version with
    Wright R-760
    engine (18 built, 1 impressed by USAAF as UC-70C)
  • DGA-9 - version with Jacobs L-5 engine (7 built, 2 impressed by USAAF as UC-70D)
  • DGA-11 - version with
    Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior
    engine (4 built; several more converted from DGA-8, -9 etc.)
  • DGA-12 - version with Jacobs L-6 engine (2 built, both impressed by USAAF as UC-70A)
  • UC-70 - DGA-8/ -9/ -12 and -15 aircraft impressed into service with the USAAC as utility transports.


Specifications (DGA-11)

Data from {name of first source}

General characteristics

  • Crew: one, pilot
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 25 ft 5 in (7.75 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.59 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m)
  • Wing area: 185 sq ft (17.2 m2) [2]
  • Airfoil: NACA 2R212 (reflexed)
  • Empty weight: 2,450 lb (1,111 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4,100 lb (1,860 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 4,100 lb (1,860 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 ×
    Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine
    , 400-450 hp (299-336 kW)

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Notes
  1. ^ Hughes, Mel. "Bio7-All Dressed Up". manyfountains.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  2. DGA-15
    , but the DGA-11 area is calculated omitting the area displaced by the fuselage cabin
Bibliography
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 511.
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. File 896 Sheet 29.
  • Howard Aircraft Foundation website