The Culp Special is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft.
The Culp Special is intended to resemble an aircraft of the 1930s. It features a wire and strut-braced biplane layout, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with dual windshields, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants, and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing and wood, all covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 24.00 ft (7.3 m) span wing has a wing area of 161 sq ft (15.0 m2). The standard engine used is the Russian 360 hp (268 kW) Vedeneyev M14P nine cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke radial engine.
The Culp Special has a typical empty weight of 1,480 lb (670 kg) and a gross weight of 2,100 lb (950 kg), giving a useful load of 620 lb (280 kg). With full fuel of 70 U.S. gallons (260 L; 58 imp gal) the payload for pilot, passengers, and baggage is 200 lb (91 kg).
Specifications Culp Special
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
- Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
- Wing area: 161 sq ft (15.0 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,480 lb (671 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,100 lb (953 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 70 U.S. gallons (260 L; 58 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Vedeneyev M14P nine cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke radial engine, 360 hp (270 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed constant speed propeller
- Maximum speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn)
- Cruise speed: 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kn)
- Stall speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
- Range: 600 mi (970 km, 520 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,500 ft/min (18 m/s)
- Wing loading: 13.0 lb/sq ft (63 kg/m2)