LC-13A "Airmaster" – Registry NX18165, SN 603
Built by: Vearne C. Babcock – 1940
Babcock Aircraft Corporation, DeLand, Florida
 |
| The Babcock LC-13A at Rosemead Airfield, CA, 1946 - photo by William Larkins |
Special thanks to Bob Cannon for the use of this photo
Incorporated on May 12, 1939, the Babcock Aircraft Corp,
setup of the new factory in DeLand, Florida was completed by June 10, 1940 and
construction began on the first prototype of the new LC-13A. Completed later
that year, NX18165, was the culmination of a dream that began in 1924 with
Vearne C. Babcock’s vision of a light, affordable aircraft. [1][2][3][4]
Improving on the first Airmaster (NX20490), the new ship was
equipped with a full Lucite canopy and one of two engines; a Glenn L. Martin
333 rated at 120 horse-power, or the slightly more powerful Franklin
6-AC-298-F3 (130 hp). Boasting a top speed of 150 MPH, a cruising speed of 135
MPH and a range of 450 miles, the LC-13A possessed the same easy handling and
flight characteristics of her predecessors. [5][6]
Several flying schools expressed interest in purchasing the
little monoplane; however, the decision was made by Fred L. Foster, president
of the company, to curtail civilian orders in favor of expected government
contracts for a training ship. The Federal orders never came and the National
Defense Program of 1941 curtailed manufacture of aircraft for the civilian
market. [3][7][9]
The LC-13A project was shelved and Babcock Aircraft Corp,
accepted a government contract to build the WACO CG-4A gliders on April 27,
1942. The project proved a disaster with only 60 of the promised 152 gliders
completed. Unable to secure additional contracts with the government, the
Babcock Aircraft Corp, was reorganized as Del-Air and Vearne Babcock left the
company. [8][9][10][11]
Purchased by William Bartlett, NX18165, the only known
LC-13A completed, was moved to Rosemead Airfield, California where Bartlett
tried to market the ship as the Zephyr 150 following the end of World War 2. Unfortunately,
these attempts failed and Bartlett Aircraft Corp, went out of business without
constructing any new LC-13A’s. [4][12]
NX18165’s registration was cancelled on January 18, 1955. No
final disposition of the ship was found. The LC-13A was to be the last aircraft
built and designed by Vearne C. Babcock.[4]
 |
| Renamed the Bartlett Zephyr 150, NX18165 was destined to be the only one of her kind - photo by William Larkins |
Special thanks to Bob Cannon for the use of this photo
REFERENCES:
1. “Airplane Factory will move here on Sept. 15” – St.
Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Florida – Pg 1 & 4
2. Florida Department of State website: Division of
Corporations: Entity Lookup; Babcock Aircraft Corp.
3. “New Airplane Plant Officially Opened in DeLand” –
Daytona Beach Morning Journal, Daytona, Florida – 11-Jun-1940, Pg 9
4. FAA website: N-Number Search: N-18165
5. Western Flying; Volume 26; Issues 1-6; 1946; Pg 60
6. The Aircraft Yearbook for 1941 – by Aeronautical Chamber
of Commerce of America, Inc – Pg 401
7. “Wings over Florida” – by Lynn M. Homan & Thomas
Reilly – Pg 88
8. “Around the South” – by H.B. “Doc” Kerr – The Akron
Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio – 16-Dec-1941, Pg 11, Col. 1&2
9. Development and Procurement of Gliders in the Army Air
Forces; 1941-1944 – Army Air Forces Historical Studies, No. 47 – Pg 117
10. “Sale of Fair Grounds to Babcock is Completed” –
Daytona Beach Morning Journal, Daytona, Florida – 19-Nov-1943 – Pg 1
11. Activities of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the Post Office Department in Florida – Minutes of the Florida Securities
Commission on 5-Aug-1943 – Pg 214
12. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation - 1989 - Compiled and
edited by Michael J.H. Taylor - Pg 122
No comments:
Post a Comment