Nelson Aircraft
Encyclopedia
The Nelson Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1945 by sailplane pilot Ted Nelson and sailplane designer William Hawley Bowlus
in San Fernando, California
.
Bowlus and Nelson formed the Nelson Aircraft Corporation to build a two-seat, motor glider
version of the popular Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross
. The designers nicknamed this design the Bumblebee but they sold the powered glider under the official moniker, Dragonfly.
The first Nelson-Bowlus glider was the Nelson Bumblebee with a pod-and-boom fuselage two-seat powered sailplane [NX1955]. The Bumblebee in 1945-46 was built with a Righter O-45 16-hp 4-cylinder engine. Nelson Aircraft then developed their own 25-28 hp 4-cylinder, two-stroke H-44
and H-49
engines. These engines were used for a limited production version of the BB-1 Bumblebee called the BB-1 Dragonfly.
and adding side-by-side seating with flight controls
for each occupant. Further, there were improvements in the tricycle landing gear, created a steerable nose landing gear
, added vertical stabilizer
s mounted on the ends of the horizontal stabilizer, and a handy hinged canopy. Ease of operation was with a handle to pull-start the engine; this was added inside the cockpit.
In studying the fuselage design of the Baby Albatross the aft
section of the fuselage pod was an ideal place to install a pusher engine and propeller. A small engine was needed to fix in this location, so Nelson and Bowlus selected a Ryder four-cylinder, two-cycle power plant. Tests were made which determined the engine was under-powered producing about 16 horsepower
, not enough for adequate flight. With this conclusion, the men decided to build a suitable engine from scratch. Their new motor generated 25 horsepower, just enough power for takeoff and a slow climb.
William Hawley Bowlus
William Hawley Bowlus was a designer, engineer and builder of aircraft and recreational vehicles in the 1930s and '40s. Today he is most widely known for his key role in the design of Airstream travel trailers, which followed his prior famed work as the Superintendent of Construction on Charles...
in San Fernando, California
San Fernando, California
San Fernando is a city located in the San Fernando Valley, in northwestern region of Los Angeles, California, United States. The population was 23,645 at the 2010 census, up from 23,564 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.
Bowlus and Nelson formed the Nelson Aircraft Corporation to build a two-seat, motor glider
Motor glider
A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion ,...
version of the popular Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross
Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross
-External links:*...
. The designers nicknamed this design the Bumblebee but they sold the powered glider under the official moniker, Dragonfly.
The first Nelson-Bowlus glider was the Nelson Bumblebee with a pod-and-boom fuselage two-seat powered sailplane [NX1955]. The Bumblebee in 1945-46 was built with a Righter O-45 16-hp 4-cylinder engine. Nelson Aircraft then developed their own 25-28 hp 4-cylinder, two-stroke H-44
Nelson H-44
|-See also:...
and H-49
Nelson H-44
|-See also:...
engines. These engines were used for a limited production version of the BB-1 Bumblebee called the BB-1 Dragonfly.
Designs
The team kept the basic Baby Albatross design but made major changes by widening the cockpitCockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
and adding side-by-side seating with flight controls
Flight controls
Aircraft flight control surfaces allow a pilot to adjust and control the aircraft's flight attitude.Development of an effective set of flight controls was a critical advance in the development of aircraft...
for each occupant. Further, there were improvements in the tricycle landing gear, created a steerable nose landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
, added vertical stabilizer
Vertical stabilizer
The vertical stabilizers, vertical stabilisers, or fins, of aircraft, missiles or bombs are typically found on the aft end of the fuselage or body, and are intended to reduce aerodynamic side slip. It is analogical to a skeg on boats and ships.On aircraft, vertical stabilizers generally point upwards...
s mounted on the ends of the horizontal stabilizer, and a handy hinged canopy. Ease of operation was with a handle to pull-start the engine; this was added inside the cockpit.
In studying the fuselage design of the Baby Albatross the aft
Aft
Aft, in naval terminology, is an adjective or adverb meaning, towards the stern of the ship, when the frame of reference is within the ship. Example: "Able Seaman Smith; lay aft!". Or; "What's happening aft?"...
section of the fuselage pod was an ideal place to install a pusher engine and propeller. A small engine was needed to fix in this location, so Nelson and Bowlus selected a Ryder four-cylinder, two-cycle power plant. Tests were made which determined the engine was under-powered producing about 16 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
, not enough for adequate flight. With this conclusion, the men decided to build a suitable engine from scratch. Their new motor generated 25 horsepower, just enough power for takeoff and a slow climb.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Bumblebee | 1 | Motor glider Motor glider A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion ,... |
|
| Nelson Dragonfly | 7 | Motor glider | |
| Nelson Hummingbird | 7 | Motor glider | |
Engines
| Model name | Introduced | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson H-44 Nelson H-44 |-See also:... |
4-cylinder, 2-stroke, 25 hp at 3,900 rpm | |
| Nelson H-49 | 4-cylinder, 2-stroke, 28 hp at 4,000 rpm | |
| Nelson H-59 | 4-cylinder; 2-stroke, 40 hp at 4,000 rpm | |
| Nelson H-63 Nelson H-63 |-See also:... |
4-cylinder; 2-stroke; 43 hp at 4,000 rpm | |