Moreland M-1
Role Three-seat light sports and transport biplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Moreland Aircraft Inc.
First flight 1929
Number built 4

The Moreland M-1 was a 1929 American three-seat civil aircraft. Only four were built.

Design and development

The M-1 was the first aircraft built by Moreland aircraft, founded in 1928 and based at El Segundo, California. Led by G.E.Moreland and Orrin Moe,[1] the design also contained Ed Heinemann's first contributions.[2] It was a parasol wing aircraft with wings of rectangular plan apart from rounded tips and a central, trailing edge cut-out to enhance the pilot's field of view. They had wooden structures with spruce box-spars and ribs, were plywood-covered and braced to the fuselage by pairs of outward-leaning N-form struts between the mid- and lower longerons and the wing spars. These struts were quite short, reaching the wings at about 25% span. A cabane provided central wing support.[3]

The M-1's nine cylinder Wright J-5 Whirlwind radial engine was nose-mounted, flown with or without a ring type engine cowling. The fuselage of the M-1 had a welded chrome-molybdenum steel tube structure, like many designs of the time, and was fabric-covered. Zips provided easy access to the rear control connections. Two passengers sat side-by-side close to the wing underside at about mid-chord. They were protected by a large, V-shaped windscreen which projected forward of the leading edge to the engine mounting and rearwards to the hinge of a large access door. The pilot's well-instrumented cockpit was under the trailing edge cut-out, providing views both above and below the wing.[3]

The M-1's vertical rear control surfaces were rather straight and upright, though the balanced rudder was round-tipped. Its tailplane, mounted on top of the fuselage, was adjustable and wire-braced to the fin.[3]

The undercarriage was a split axle design, with the axles hinged from the fuselage central underside. Near-vertical Aerol shock absorber legs were fuselage-mounted at the base of the forward wing struts and drag struts reached rearwards to the lower fuselage.[3]

Operational history

The M-1 first flew in 1929, though the exact date is not known,[1] and received its type certificate in September.[4] It featured at the Cleveland Air Show held in the autumn of 1929.[5] Only four were built.[1]

Specifications

Data from Aero Digest (September 1929)[3] except where noted

General characteristics

Performance

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moreland M-1.
  1. ^ a b c d "Aerofiles: Moreland". Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. ^ Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopaedia of Aircraft Manufacturers: from the pioneers to the present day. Sparkford, Somerset: Patrick Stephens Limited. p. 211. ISBN 9 781852 602055.
  3. ^ a b c d e Horsefall, J.E., ed. (August 1929). "Moreland Monoplane". Aero Digest. Vol. 15, no. 2. New York City: Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corp. p. 146.
  4. ^ Horsefall, J.E., ed. (September 1929). "Recent approved type certificates". Aero Digest. Vol. 15, no. 3. New York City: Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corp. p. 220.
  5. ^ Horsefall, J.E., ed. (September 1929). "Exhibitors at the Cleveland Air Show". Aero Digest. Vol. 15, no. 3. New York City: Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corp. p. 118.
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