Loose Special
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Loose Special | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Racing aircraft | national origin=America | manufacturer= | first flight= | introduced=1933 | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=1 | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Loose Special, also called the Townsend A-1 Special, the Loose-Siem Special and the Townsend Special is a small air racer developed for the Thompson Trophy races.{{cite web|title=Clarance Ace Bragunier|url=http://www.dmairfield.org/people/bragunier_ac/index.html|accessdate=17 November 2011}}
Design
The Loose Special is a small single seat racer with conventional landing gear and a cable-braced mid-wing.{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|date=October 2001}} The engine was replaced with an {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental to compete in the Formula One air races.{{cite journal|journal=Flying Magazine|date=December 1947}}
Operational history
The Loose Special participated in 1933, 1935 and 1938 air races.{{cite web|title=Thompson Faq|url=http://www.flyingacesclub.com/thompson.pdf|accessdate=17 November 2011}} In the 1948 Goodyear Formula One Air Races pilot Earl Ortman placed fourth at a speed of {{convert|127.339|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|title=Earl Ortman|url=http://goldenageofaviation.org/ortman.htm|accessdate=17 November 2011}}
Specifications (Loose Siem Special)
{{Aircraft specs
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|empty weight lb=530
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|gross weight lb=800
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|prop name=McCaulley
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|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=154
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|stall speed mph=80
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|endurance=3 hr
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|climb rate ftmin=2000
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|wing loading lb/sqft=11
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References
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External links
- [http://www.aerofiles.com/loose-siem.jpg Image of the Loose Special]