Viking B-8 Kittyhawk
| Viking B-8 Kittyhawk | |
|---|---|
| Viking B-8 Kittyhawk on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut in June 2005 | |
| General information | |
| Type | single-engine open-cockpit biplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Viking Flying Boat Co |
| Designer | Allen Bourdon |
| Status | 1 airworthy, 1 preserved |
| Primary user | private pilot owners |
| Number built | 31 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1930 |
| Developed from | Bourdon B-4 |
The Viking B-8 Kittyhawk was an American single-engine open-cockpit biplane of the early 1930s.
Development
The Viking B-8 Kittyhawk was developed from the Bourdon B-4 Kittyhawk, 31 examples being built during 1930 and 1931 at Viking's factory in New Haven, Connecticut. Some aircraft were fitted with EDO floats for operation from water.
Operators
The Viking B-8 was flown by private pilot owners and by barnstorming firms who utilised the three-seat layout with a twin-passenger cockpit located ahead of separate pilot's cockpit.
Surviving aircraft
In 2015 Viking Kitty Hawk Serial #28 was undergoing restoration to airworthiness following a landing accident in 1973. Viking Kitty Hawk Serial #30 is in storage at New England Air Museum.[1]
Specifications
Data from U.S. Civil Aircraft Vol. 4[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2 passengers
- Length: 22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)
- Wingspan: 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
- Height: 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
- Wing area: 233.4 sq ft (21.68 m2)
- Airfoil: USA-27
- Empty weight: 1,178 lb (534 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,950 lb (885 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 35 US gal (29 imp gal; 130 L)
- Powerplant: 1 × Kinner B-5 5-cylinder radial , 125 hp (93 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 112 mph (180 km/h, 97 kn)
- Cruise speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
- Stall speed: 42 mph (68 km/h, 36 kn) (landing speed)
- Range: 425 mi (684 km, 369 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 14,500 ft (4,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 730 ft/min (3.7 m/s)
References
- ^ "Collections: Aircraft". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ Juptner 1967, pp. 286.
- Juptner, Joseph P. (1967). U.S. Civil Aircraft Vol. 4 (ATC 301–ATC 400). Fallbrook, California, US: Aero Publishers, Inc.
Further reading
- Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd.