- Freel Flying Wing
The Freel Flying Wing was the creation of
Charles Lewis Freel (b. 1916). As a student ofSan Diego High School , inSan Diego, California , Freel learned about aerodynamics under the instruction ofLeTain Kittredge , in the aircraft rigging/woodshop class.Before his graduation, Freel designed a 36-inch experimental free flight model of a flying wing glider. The model flew well enough to justify moving to a full size piloted glider.
In 1933, construction was begun at the
San Diego High School woodshop, on a 52 foot span flying wing glider. It was completed in 1937 and licensed with identification mark 18131. Elevons were mounted on the trailing surface and were controlled via a unique worm drive. Several flights were made by Kittredge and Freel over hillsides near San Diego. The glider suffered from poor directional control in flight.After graduation, Freel worked for
Consolidated Aircraft Corporation and held the title of "junior engineer."Further reading
* Parade of Youth, July 25, 1937.
* Hilbert, C.L. Consolidator, 1937.
* Fogel, Gary "Wind and Wings: The History of Soaring in San Diego," Rock Reef Pub. Co., 2001, pp. 145-149.
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