Wittman D-12 Bonzo
type of aircraft
The Wittman D-12 "Bonzo" was an air racer designed by Steve Wittman for the Thompson Trophy races. The aircraft's top speed of 325 mph (523 km/h) made it faster than any United States military aircraft of the era.
Development
Wittman purchased a Curtiss D-12 engine in 1934, and designed "Bonzo" around it. In 1935, it took part in the Thompson Trophy Race. In 1936, a spring steel landing gear was installed. In 1937 a ducted fan was added to the spinner inlet, flaps were added and wingspan was reduced to 17 ft (5 m). Ram air was added for the carburetors, and modified several times to get even fuel pressure.
Design
"Bonzo" featured a mid-winged taildragger design with a small squarish cross-section. The aircraft was finished in red and silver, like Wittman's smaller racer "Chief Oshkosh". The spinner featured a center cut-out to provide cooling air to a radiator.
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