Thurston Teal

Infobox Aircraft
name=Teal


caption=
type=Two-seat amphibian
manufacturer=Thurston Aircraft Corporation
designer=David Thurston
first flight=June 1968Wood, Derek: "Jane's World Aircraft Recognition Handbook", page 455. Jane's Publishing Company, 1985. ISBN 0-7106-0343-6]
introduced=
retired=
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variants with their own articles=The Thurston Teal, is a family of two and four seat, all aluminum, amphibious flying boats designed by David Thurston in the United States and first flown in 1968.

A total of 38 Teals were manufactured. cite web|url = http://www.seabee.info/teal/teal_specs.htm|title = THURSTON TEAL SPECIFICATIONS|accessdate = 2008-05-22|last = Saevdal|first = Steinar|authorlink = |year = 2006|month = April]

Development

The Teal design features a high-wing with tip floats for lateral stability. The horizontally-opposed engine is mounted tractor fashion in a strut-supported pylon above the wing root. The T-tail includes a water rudder that swings up against the bottom of the rudder. Conventional undercarriage includes flat, spring-steel main undercarriage legs that rotate up for water landings.

Two crew sit side-by-side under a clear perspex canopy. Side windows slide down into the fuselage sidewalls similar to Ercoupe and Swift airplanes.

One unusual characteristic of the Teal design is that it cruises slightly faster with the landing gear in the down position than with it up. The Teal's wheels do not retract, but instead swing to the rear until the gear is horizontal and clear of the water. The drag produced having the landing gear in the up position is higher than in the down position and this reduces cruise speed. cite web|url = http://www.geocities.com/fodell.geo/teal3.html|title = EXAMPLES OF TEALS STILL IN SERVICE|accessdate = 2008-05-25|last = Odell|first = Frank|authorlink = |year = 2004|month = November]

Production

Initially manufactured by Thurston Aircraft starting in 1968, production shifted to Schweizer Aircraft in 1972 when Thurston was hired to manage the long-time manufacture of sailplanes. In the spring of 1976 the production lines was moved Teal Aircraft Corporation of St Augustine, Florida.

Thurston Aircraft produced 19 aircraft, Schweizer built 12 and Teal Aircraft constructed 7. cite web|url = http://www.seabee.info/teal/teal_production.htm|title = TSC-1 TEAL PRODUCTION|accessdate = 2008-05-23|last = Saevdal|first = Steinar|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = January]

Variants

;TSC-1 T-boatThe TSC-1 T-Boat was a proposed flying boat. The aircraft was to have no landing gear to save weight and folding wings were to be incorporated to aid storage. The model development was discontinued to concentrate on the amphibious TSC-1A instead. cite web|url = http://www.seabee.info/teal/teal_models.htm|title = THURSTON TEAL MODELS|accessdate = 2008-05-23|last = Saevdal|first = Steinar|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = January]

;TSC-1AThe TSC-1A was the first to the series to actually be completed and featured retractable conventional landing gear and non-folding wings. The prototype TSC-1A was registered as N1968T, given serial number 1 and was first flown in June 1968. The TSC-1A certified under FAA Type Certificate A15AE on 28 August 1969 at a gross weight of convert|1850|lb|abbr=on, land and water. An increase in gross weight to convert|1900|lb|abbr=on was approved on 9 December 1969. Fifteen Model TSC-1A Teals were built by the Thurston Aircraft.

;TSC-1A1The TSC-1A1 Teal Amphibian was an improved model with extra range and payload. The aircraft incorporated 23 US gallon fuel tanks in the wing leading edges, which replaced the single 24.5 US gal fuselage tank of the earlier TSC-1A. The gross weight was increased to 2200 lbs (land) and 2100 lbs (water). The prototype TSC-1A, N1968T was upgraded and used as the prototype for the TSC-1A1. The TSC-1A1 was certified on 23 September 1971 and Thurston Aircraft built the first three. Three more were built by Schweizer Aircraft. Six additional existing TSC-1As were upgraded to TCS-1A1 status.

;TSC-1A1/EWThe TSC-1A1/EW introduced wing and tailplane extensions. Wing span was increased four feet to convert|34|ft|11|in|m, producing a wing area of convert|177|sqft|m2|abbr=on. The horizontal tail span was increased by convert|2|ft|m to a total of convert|10|ft|m. The empty weight rose to convert|1435|lb|abbr=on, with a gross weight of convert|2200|lb|abbr=on for both land and water.

;TSC-1A1/EW/EPThe TSC-1A1/EW/EP was a project to convert existing TSC-1A1s to TSC-1A1/EW status by incorporating the EW's wing and tail extensions and upgrading the engine to a convert|160|hp Lycoming O-320-B3B. Gross weight would have been 2300 lbs (land) and 2200 lbs (water).

;TSC-1A2 Teal II and Marlin 150

The TSC-1A2 Teal II was a development of the TSC-1A1, It incorporated slotted flaps, a change in horizontal stabilizer incidence and larger elevator trim tab travel. The fitted engine was a convert|150|hp|abbr=on Lycoming O-320-A3B. The new flaps reduced stalling speed and thus permitted an increase in gross weight to convert|2200|lb|abbr=on for land and water operations, as well as shorter take off and landing distances. The TSC-1A2 was certified on 28 June 1973, including IFR in non-icing conditions. Schweizer built nine Teal IIs and seven were built by Teal Aircraft as the "Marlin 150".

;TSC-1A2/EPThe TSC-1A2/EP was a proposed upgrade of the TSC-1A2 a convert|160|hp|abbr=on Lycoming O-320-B3B engine. Empty weight was convert|1435|lb|abbr=on and the gross weight was to be 2300 lbs (land) and 2200 lbs (water).

;TSC-1A3 Teal III and Marlin 180

The TSC-1A3 was a proposed convert|180|hp|abbr=on up-engined version of the TSC-1A2. It was developed by Teal Aircraft and was to be sold by the name "Marlin 180" during 1977-78. The Teal III incorporated aerodynamic and structural upgrades to the engine mounting pylon and the engine cowling. The projected empty weight was to be convert|1450|lb|abbr=on, with a gross weight of 2300 lbs (land & water). No TSC-1A3s were manufactured by the TSC-1A2 prototype was converted to convert|180|hp|abbr=on.

;TSC-1A3/EWThe TSC-1A3/EW was a proposed convert|180|hp|abbr=on engine aircraft with the wings and tailplane extensions of the TSC-1A1/EW. The aircraft was proposed without flaps, but with a gross weight of 2300 lbs (land & water).

;TSC-1A3/EWFThe TSC-1A3/EWF was a proposed aircraft that would have been identical to the TSC-1A3/EW, except with flaps.

;TSC-1A2T Teal II & TSC-1A3T Teal III

In 1983 there was a proposal to form a new company, to be called Advanced Aircraft, which would develop a tricycle version of the Teal, to be designated the TSC-1A2T. This was to be a conversion of existing TSC-1A2 aircraft. The conversion would have included:

* relocating the main landing gear
* removing the tail wheel
* installing a nose wheel
* changing the hull to accommodate the new landing gear
* changing the rudder
* simplifying the flap controls
* installing of new style cabin doors

An up-engined version, designated TSC-1A3T, would have been powered by either 160 Lycoming O-320 or Lycoming O-360 convert|180|hp|abbr=on conversion. In the end the company was not formed and the prototype never completed.

;TSC-1A4 Teal IVThe TSC-1A4 was a 1977 Teal Aircraft proposal for a four seat stretched Teal III, which would have had a gross weight of convert|2700|lb|abbr=on. The plan was for a a convert|210|hp|abbr=on turbocharged Lycoming powerplant, a convert|19|in|mm|sing=on extension for the fuselage, the wingspan increased by convert|4|ft|m and the tailplane by convert|2|ft|m. None were ever built.

pecifications (TSC-1A2 Teal II)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Steinar Saevdal [ cite web|url = http://www.seabee.info/teal/teal_specs.htm|title = THURSTON TEAL SPECIFICATIONS|accessdate = 2008-05-25|last = Saevdal|first = Steinar|authorlink = |year = 2006] & Janes
crew=one pilot
capacity=one passenger
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 23 feet 7 inches
length alt= 7.26 m
span main= 31 feet 1 inch
span alt= 9.56 m
height main=
height alt=
area main= 157 sq ft
area alt= 14.86 m²
airfoil= NACA 4415 cite web|url = http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|accessdate = 2008-05-25|last = Lednicer|first = David|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = October]
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 2200 lbs (land and water)
loaded weight alt= 997 kg
useful load main=
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max takeoff weight main= 2200 lbs (land and water)
max takeoff weight alt= 997 kg
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engine (prop)= Lycoming O-320-A3B
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power main= 150 horsepower
power alt=112.5 kW
power original=
propeller or rotor?=propeller
propellers=1
number of propellers per engine= 1
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cruise speed main= 115 mph
cruise speed alt= 186 km/h
cruise speed more=100 knots
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References

External links

* [http://www.seabee.info/teal.htm Thurston Teal information]
* [http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/2899/teal.html Thurston Teal information and photos]