Bowlus Senior Albatross 1-S-2100

A development of the Bowlus Super Sailplane built by the Curtiss Wright Technical Institute in Glendale, CA in 1932, the senior Albatross had a slightly extended spar and gull wing. No two were completely alike, with flaps on at least one version. The design dominated the U.S. Nationals and held many U.S. records through the 1930’s. Senior Albatrosses were owned and/or flown by notables such as Warren Eaton, Richard du Pont and Chet Decker.

Examples belong to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and the National Soaring Museum.

The Senior Albatross has a wood monocoque fuselage, single strut braced wood D-tube wing, wood tail group, and is fabric covered

Wing span: 18.82m / 61.75ft
Wing area: 19sq.m / 204.75sq.ft
Empty Weight: 154kg / 340lb
Payload: 82kg / 180lb
Gross Weight: 236kg / 520lb
Wing Load: 12.42kg/sq.m / 2.54lb /sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 18.72
Airfoil: Go 549 root, symmetrical at tip
No. of Seats: 1
No. Built: 6
L/DMax: 22 @ 64 kph / 35 kt / 40 mph
MinSink: 0.59 m/s / 1.95 fps / 1.56 kt