Cadet
Cadet II
Role Glider
National origin United States
Manufacturer Baker-McMillan
Designer Frank R. Gross
First flight 1929
Introduction 1929
Status Production completed
Primary user Mostly gliding clubs
Produced 1929-circa 1930
Number built at least 30

The Baker-McMillan Cadet is an American, high-wing, strut-braced, open-cockpit, single-seat glider that was designed in 1929 by Frank R. Gross and produced by Baker-McMillan (Different sources variously spell the company name Baker-MacMillen, Baker Macmillen or Baker MacMillen).[1][2]

Design and development

The Cadet was designed by Dr. Gross, a former member of the Akaflieg Darmstadt, in 1929 as an improvement over the primary gliders then in use and as an aircraft that would offer soaring capability.[1][2]

The Cadet is built with a steel tube fuselage and a wooden wing that is supported by dual parallel struts, with jury struts. The tail is a wire-braced wooded structure. The whole aircraft is covered in doped aircraft fabric covering.[1][2]

At least 30 and perhaps as many as 40 Cadets were constructed.[2]

Operational history

The Cadet was the first glider to be flown at Elmira, New York after Wolfgang Klemperer, Warren Eaton and Earl Southee surveyed the area and determined it had potential for soaring flights. One flight was flown by Jack O'Meara, a factory pilot for Baker-McMillan, who had a flight of one hour and 38 minutes from Elmira's South Mountain.[1][2]

One Cadet was flown from water on twin floats. On another occasion four Cadets were towed aloft at the same time and released by a Goodyear Blimp over Akron, Ohio.[1][2]

In March 2011 two Cadets remained on the Federal Aviation Administration registry.[3]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (Cadet)

Baker-McMillen Cadet II 3-view drawing from Aero Digest October,1930

Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
  • Wing area: 162 sq ft (15.1 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 8.7:1
  • Empty weight: 230 lb (104 kg)
  • Gross weight: 410 lb (186 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum glide ratio: 15:1
  • Rate of sink: 210 ft/min (1.1 m/s)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Activate Media (2006). "Cadet Baker-McMillen". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 9. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
  3. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (March 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  4. ↑ National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
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