Freel Flying Wing
Encyclopedia
The Freel Flying Wing was the creation of Charles Lewis Freel (b. 1916). As a student of San Diego High School
, in San Diego, California
, Freel learned about aerodynamics under the instruction of LeTain 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."
San Diego High School
San Diego High School is an urban public educational complex comprising six small schools located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District and one of the...
, in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, Freel learned about aerodynamics under the instruction of LeTain Kittredge, in the aircraft rigging/woodshop class.
Before his graduation, Freel designed a 36-inch experimental free flight
Free flight (model aircraft)
The segment of model aviation known as free flight is the original form of the aeromodeling hobby, extending back centuries.- Description :...
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
San Diego High School
San Diego High School is an urban public educational complex comprising six small schools located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District and one of the...
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.