Inter-Wars

Dart Manufacturing Dart / Lambert Aircraft Corporation Monoprep G / Monosport G / Mono Aircraft Corp Monoprep G / Monosport G

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Dart GK

Dart Manufacturing Co was formed 1937 at Columbus, Ohio, to manufacture Dart G two-seat light aircraft. This was a version of the aircraft known originally as the Monosport, designed and built by the Mono Aircraft Corporation. Taken over by Culver Aircraft Company of Columbus in 1939.

Mooney, while working for Monocoupe, designed the Monoprep G which was a low wing monoplane with an open cockpit, seating two side by side. Given a cabin enclosure it became the Monosport G and was to have gone into production in October 1935, but financial problems prevented this.

One was built in 1935, registered NX11791. Power was a 90 Lambert.

Al Mooney left Monocoupe and bought the design and production rights from Lambert Aircraft. He teamed up with K K Culver and they formed the Dart Aircraft Co at Port Columbus, Ohio, in 1939. Several uncompleted airframes were modified to produce an improved version to be known as the Dart. This was certificated in April 1938 as ATC 674.

About fifty Dart Aircraft Co Darts were produced before the war, using one of three engines, the 90hp Lambert R 266 in the model G, the 90hp Ken Royce in the model GK and the 90hp Warner Scarab Junior in the model GW.

Model G

Production of the Model G commenced in 1938 powered by a 90 hp Lambert R-266 radial, and the Model GC was produced in 1939 by a 100 hp Continental engine.

Dart GW N20918

In 1939 the company became the Culver Aircraft Co, and produced the new Culver Cadet. The Dart was not finished, however as rights were acquired by Applegate & Weyant in 1946 and the Dart DC with a 100hp Continental was built. Competition from newer models was too great and only about twelve were sold.

Model G
Engine: 90 hp Lambert R-266
Wing span: 29 ft 6 in
Length: 18 ft 6 in
Height: 7 ft 9 in
Empty weight: 922 lb
Loaded weight: 1550 lb
Max speed: 130 mph
Cruise: 115 mph
ROC: 900 fpm
Range: 500 mi

Model GC
Engine: 100 hp Continental

Model GK
Engine: 90hp Ken Royce

Model GW
Engine: 90hp Warner Scarab Junior

Dart Totternhoe

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A single-seat secondary glider designed and built by Dart Aircraft Ltd, Dunstable. Of conventional wooden construction, the braced wing had two struts on each side, and no air brakes or flaps were fitted.

The first glider had its test flights in May 1936.

Wing span: 11.8 m / 38 ft 8.5 in
Length: 6.55 m / 21 ft 6 in
Wing area: 17.84 sq.m / 192 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 7.75
Wing section: Gottingen 532
Empty weight: 117.94 kg / 260 lb
AUW: 208.66 kg / 460 lb
Wing loading: 11.71 kg/sq.m / 2.4 lb/sq.ft
Max L/D: 23 at 42 kph / 26 mph

Dart Cambridge

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A single-seat sailplane designed and built by Dart Aircraft Ltd, Dunstable, of conventional wooden construction.

It was similar to the German designed Grunau Baby but with a rounded monocoque fuselage. It featured strut-braced wings, with no flaps or airbrakes. The undercarriage was a main and tail skid.

The first flight of the prototype was at Dunstable, on 1 December 1935.

The Cambridge 2 was slightly lighter in weight, but with larger ailerons.

Wing span: 14.12 m / 46 ft 4 in
Length: 6.50 m / 21 ft 4 in
Wing area: 14.86 sq.m / 160 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 13.24
Wing section: Gottingen 535
Empty weight: 111.13 kg / 245 lb
AUW: 204.12 kg / 450 lb
Wing loading: 13.71 kg/sq.m / 2.81lb/sq.ft
Max L/D: 19
Stall: 42 kph / 26 mph
Min sink: 0.91 m/sec / 3 ft/sec

Dart Kitten

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The Dart Kitten Mk.I was a low wing, single seater, powered by a 27 hp Ava 4a-00 engine.

Dart Kitten Article

An improved Mk.II version, G-AEXT, was powered by a 36 hp Aeronca JAP J-99. Awarded an Authorisation to Fly in April 1937. The Kitten II passed through many owners and survived the war. G-AEXT crashed at Willindale in November 1964, killing the pilot. It was rebuilt and restored to the register in 1976.

Kitten II G-AEXT – 27 August 1939

Dart Aircraft Co / Zander & Weyl / Dunstable Sailplane Co

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Founded as Zander and Weyl Ltd at Luton Road, Dunstable in 1934 when E.P.Zander and A.R.Weyl went into partnership to build and repair gliders and light aircraft, along with the Dunstable Sailplane Company in 1935 with works at Hockliffe. W.L. Manuel joined as manager.

In July 1935 the company moved to new premises at the Luton Aerodrome, Barton-in-the-Clay, Bedfordshire, when Latimer-Neeham formed Luton Aircraft Ltd.

Several Zogling gliders were built and in 1935 a series of replicas of early gliders were made for the film “The Conquest of the Air” which was filmed by Alexander Korda at the Denham studios. These replicas included two Lilienthal types, a Wright 1902 glider, and one of Catley’s early gliders. Also, at the time the firm built a ‘Flying Flea’ from approved aircraft materials. This was the first powered aircraft built by Zander and Weyl.

The Flea was followed by the Dunstable Dart which was built after a suggestion, by members of the London Gliding Club, that the Slingsby Falcon 3 would possibly make a reasonable ultralight aircraft if it was fitted with a small engine. Weyl eventually came up with a completely new aircraft.

In 1936 to designs of A. R. Weyl, Zander & Weyl built the Dart Flittermouse single-seat ultralight aeroplane in 1936. Built aircraft subsequently as Dart Aircraft Ltd. First were Dunstable Dart, later named Dart Pup, and Flittermouse, both with parasol wing and pusher propellers. Three Dart Kittens were built in U.K., as well as one in Australia from plans.

In September 1936 the company moved to Phoenix Works at Gerrard Cross, Buckinghamshire, and concentrated on kits and plans for Minor aircraft for home constructors. At the same time Dunstable Sailplane offered kit drawings for the Kestrel sailplane.

In 1936 the company was re-organised financially and the name was changed to Dart Aircraft Ltd. New premises were obtained at 29 High Street North, in Dunstable. The Dunstable Dart aircraft was renamed the Dart Pup, and two new sailplanes were designed and built; the Cambridge and Totternhoe. Also introduced in 1936 was the Dart Flittermouse aircraft and, at the end of the year, the first Dart Kitten ultralight.

In 1937 a revised version of the Kitten was built but financial difficulties followed. E.P. Zander later left the firm to establish another company in Dunstable; Scott Light Aircraft.

Weyl continued to develop the Kitten and in 1938 designed a two-seat version as the Dart Weasel. This was an enlarged version of the Kitten, having tandem seating and a tricycle undercarriage, and was intended for possible Civil Air Guard training but it was not completed.

Operations ceased in 1939 and after the war Weyl continued development of the Kitten and introduced a Mark 3 version for homebuilt construction.

He died in 1965.

Dart Aircraft Article