From Marshall, TX we received this note from a man with a boy hood personal recollection of the Colt: Our Mystery Plane for March is the Weatherly-Campbell Aircraft Company "Colt. " This prototype was built in Dallas immediately af ter WW-/J with production planned for early 1947. It had a 190 hp Lycoming engine with fixed pitch propeller, throw-over dual controls, all metal construction with monocoque fuselage, single spar, single strut braced compound tapered wing. Thejlaps were mechanically operated with three positions. Lus combe fans will recognize the lineage. It was designed originally by Fred Knack with Don Luscombe and substantially modified for pro duction purposes by Raymond Weatherly and William Campbell. The Colt was unveiled in October, 1946 during the Texas State Fair at Texas Private Flyers Day, coincidentally as Luscombe was announcing its all metal 85 hp single-strut Silvaire. The Luscombe Sedan came a few years later. Specifications for the Colt were impressive for the time. The gear tread width was over seven feet, it cruised at 140+ mph (top at 160). The roomy sound-proof cabin with sloped instrument panel carrying four adults, 120 lbs., ofbaggage with full tanks (60 gals.) was luxuri ous according to the test pilot. The short-field, rough-field, climb (1,000) fpm) and landing speed (52 mph) performance made the Colt a very desirable airplane at its projected $5,000 price. Our father, Dave "Red" Curry was the test pilot. He is visible at the controls ofthe Colt in the enclosed photographs taken at the new Highland Park Airport near the SMU campus. The Colt gathered dust in the back ofthe hangar until sold at auction when the airport was closed. Dad also served as a test pilot for Globe during the de velopment ofthe Swift. His spin testing resulted in the addition of dihedral to the horizontal stabilizer to improve the stability of the Swift. Dad's friends will remember him as an active pilot, instructor, designee, mechanic and aerial applicator in the Dallas, Corsicanna, Gatesville and Mexia areas. Keep up the excellent work on Vintage Airplane.
Yours truly, Doyle Curry (VAA 22762), Marshall, TX James Curry (EAA 445707), Mexia, TX Sandy Curry, Denver, CO
Other correct answers were received from: H. Glenn Buffington, Baldwin, LA; John Kennelley, Norwalk, IA; Ralph Nortell, Spokane, WA; Peter Bowers, Seattle, WA; Jim Montague, Lake Elmo, MN; Dale Rupp, Mahtomedi, MN; Cy Gal ley, Rock Island, IL; Jim Gurr, Alden, MI; Roger Miller, Middletown, OH; Joseph Handelman, Annapolis, MD; Ted Giltner, Tamaqua, PA; William Knox, Woodstock, GA; Kaz Grevera, Swmyvale, CA; Robert Nelson, Bismarck, ND; Harry Barker, West Milford, NJ; Marty Eisenmann, Alta Lorna, CA; Fred Hollaway, Ontario, CA; Larry Knechtel, Seattle, WA; Alan Moyer, Perkasie, PA; Joe Nix, Toccoa, GA; Paul Smoker, Intercourse, PA; Herbert deBruyn, Belle vue, WA; Lowell V. Curtis, Des Moines, IA; John Clark, Eagan, MN; Jerry Carlyle, Winthrop, ME; Steve Wilson, St. Charles, IL; Gene Chase, Oshkosh, WI; Owen Bruce, Richardson, TX; Lester F. Everett, Jr., Crawfordsville, IN; P. Douglas Combs, Phoenix, AZ. The Luscombe Colt does still exist, and is presently being restored by Jim Zazas, author of "Visions of Luscombe - The Early Years." Jim is slowly making headway on the project. For more reading on this four-place Luscombe, we'd recommend pages 246-247 of that book, as well as the aforementioned article in SpOIt Aviation. ......
Doyle Curry sent along these shots which show his father, Dave "Red" Curry during his test flying of the Colt, circa Fall. 1946.
VINTAGE AIRPLANE
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