Culver Screaming Wiener

Screaming Wiener
Role	Glider
National origin	United States
Designer	Irv Culver
Introduction	1946
Status	no longer in production
Number built	One
Developed from	Culver Dingbat
Variants	Culver Rigid Midget

The Culver Screaming Wiener is an American mid-wing, single-seat glider that was designed by Irv Culver in 1938.^[1][2][3]

Design and development

Irv Culver designed the Screaming Wiener with help from Wallace Neugent and Walter Burke in 1938 as an improved version of the Dingbat. The aircraft is made from wood, with the fuselage a wooden monocoque structure and the wings and tail surfaces wooden structures covered in doped aircraft fabric covering.^[1][2]

The aircraft's dimensions were determined by the building space available. The wings were limited to a 36 ft (11.0 m) span by the length of the garage they were built in. The resulting aircraft was small, but had good penetration and maneuverability, with a glide ratio of 21:1.^[2]

Only one Screaming Wiener was built.^[1][2]

Operational history

The aircraft was flown by Ray Parker in the 1946 US Nationals, coming in second. Parker then sold the aircraft to Paul MacCready who also flew it to second place in the 1947 US Nationals, beating Parker that year, who placed third in the Culver Rigid Midget. MacCready also set a world out and return record at the competition.^[2]

The Wiener was then sold to Wally Wiberg who carried out an aerodynamic clean-up on it and renamed it Li'l Dogie. After Wiberg died the aircraft was donated to a museum, who later sold it. MacCready then bought it and was reported in 1983 by Soaring Magazine as planning a complete restoration of the aircraft.^[2]

In June 2011 the Wiener was still on the US Federal Aviation Administration registry and owned by Douglas Fronius of Poway, California. The aircraft is officially registered as a Crown City Robertson and is in the Experimental - Certification compliance category.^[3]

Specifications (Screaming Wiener)

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

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
• Wing area: 97 sq ft (9.0 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 14:1
• Empty weight: 290 lb (132 kg)
• Gross weight: 475 lb (215 kg)

Performance

• Maximum glide ratio: 21:1
• Rate of sink: 306 ft/min (1.55 m/s)
• Wing loading: 4.9 lb/sq ft (24 kg/m²)

See also

Related lists

• List of gliders
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Activate Media (2006). "Screaming Wiener Crown". http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=294. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 63, Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
3. ^ ^{a b} Federal Aviation Administration (June 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=14287. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 

External links

• Photo of the Screaming Wiener in its heyday