Colonial Skimmer

{{Infobox aircraft

|name= C-1 Skimmer

|image=Colonial Skimmer three-view silhouette.png

|caption=

|type=two/three-seat amphibian

|manufacturer=Colonial Aircraft Corporation

|designer=David Thurston

|first_flight=1948

|introduction=

|retired=

|status=

|primary_user=private owner pilots

|more_users=

|produced=

|number_built=43

|developed_from =

|variants=Lake Buccaneer

}}

The Colonial Model C-1 Skimmer was an American small single-engined amphibian flying boat built by the Colonial Aircraft Corporation. It was the start of a line of very similar aircraft designed by David Thurston.

Design and development

In 1946 David Thurston established the Colonial Aircraft Corporation at Sanford Maine to build his design for a small amphibian flying boat, the Skimmer.

The resulting design was an all-metal shoulder-wing cantilever monoplane with a single-step hull and stabilizing floats fitted under each wing. A retractable tricycle landing gear allowed land operation. The Avco Lycoming engine with a pusher propeller was pylon-mounted above and aft of the enclosed cockpit.

The cabin had side-by-side seating for a pilot and passenger with room behind for another passenger.

File:Colonial C-1 Skimmer N263B TET 18.09.70 edited-2.jpg New Jersey in 1970.]]

The prototype XC-1 Skimmer first flew on July 17, 1948, powered by a {{convert|115|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-235 engine, but was later re-engined with a {{convert|125|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-290 engine.{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1951-52 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1951 |location=London |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd |page=216c}}{{cite web|url=http://aerofiles.com/_cl.html|title=American airplanes: Cl – Cr: Colonial|work=Aerofiles|access-date=September 13, 2013}}.

24 examples of the C-1 Skimmer were built and these were followed by 18 examples of the higher powered four-seat variant known as the C-2 Skimmer IV,{{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Rod|title=The General Aviation Handbook|year=2005|publisher=Midland Publishing|isbn=1-85780-222-5 |pages=172–173}} which through a succession of companies became the Lake Buccaneer.

Specifications (C-1)

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–1957,{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1956 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd |location=London |pages=252–253}} Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1958 |publisher=Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. |location=London |page=280}}

|prime units?=imp

|crew=1

|capacity=2 passengers

|length ft=23

|length in=6

|span ft=34

|span in=0

|height ft=8

|height in=10

|wing area sqft=150.6

|empty weight lb=1450

|gross weight lb=2150

|fuel capacity={{convert|30|USgal|abbr=on}} normal ; {{convert|39|USgal|abbr=on}} overload

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Lycoming O-320

|eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine

|eng1 hp=150

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=Hartzell

|prop dia ft=6

|prop dia in=2

|prop dia note= constant-speed pusher propeller

|max speed mph=125

|max speed note=at {{convert|5000|ft|abbr=on}}

|cruise speed mph=112-123

|stall speed mph=50

|range miles=500-600

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=700

|wing loading lb/sqft=14.27

|wing loading note=

|power/mass={{cvt|0.0698|hp/lb}}

|more performance=

Take-off run: {{cvt|1500|ft|0}} on water in still air
Take-off run: {{cvt|550|ft|0}} on land in still air

|avionics=

}}

Colonial Skimmer

Design and development

Specifications (C-1)

See also

References

Further reading