General-Western P-2 Meteor

Meteor
Role Parasol aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer General-Western Aero Corp
Designer Albin Peterson
Introduction 1932
Number built 6

The General-Western Meteor, also called the Air Transport Mfg Meteor, Phantom Meteor and the Bantam Meteor was a parasol wing aircraft.

Design and development

The P-2-S was built at Goleta Airport after development of the P-1 at the General-Western plant at Santa Barbara Municipal airport. It received its American type certificate on 6 May 1932. The aircraft was one of the earliest examples built with all-metal propellers.[1][2] Rights to the design were sold to the Air Transport Mfg Co. in 1935[3]

The P-2-S is a high-wing, conventional landing gear equipped, parasol-wing aircraft powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Kinner radial engine.[4]

Operational history

The prototype was destroyed in testing in 1930.[5]

Variants

P-1
single seat prototype
P-2-S
Two seat sport model
P-2-T
Trainer model
Crop duster
  • One example was modified into a cropduster with a 220 hp (164 kW) Continental engine upgrade.[6]

Specifications (General-Western P-2-S Meteor)

Data from American airplane specifications[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 1 passenger
  • Length: 24 ft 2 in (7.37 m)
  • Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
  • Wing area: 146.8 sq ft (13.64 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,137 lb (516 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,750 lb (794 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Kinner K-5 radial engine, 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
  • Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
  • Range: 420 mi (680 km, 360 nmi)

References

  1. ^ Neal Graffy. Historic Santa Barbara: An Illustrated History.
  2. ^ "Santa Barbara Airport History" (PDF). Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  3. ^ Skyways. October 2001. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "Meteor P-2-S". Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Meteor P-2-S". Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  6. ^ Joseph P. Juptner. U.S. civil aircraft, Volume 5.
  7. ^ "American Aircraft specifications". Aviation. July 1932. pp. 314–315.