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Great Lakes

2T-1A
.

Photo: Robert Deering 4/26/2014
NAS Fort Worth JRB (NFW)
Fort Worth, Texas

The Great Lakes Sport Trainer is an American biplane trainer and aerobatic aircraft. Originally produced in large numbers before the company building it went bankrupt in the Great Depression in 1933. Owing to its continuing popularity, however, it was eventually placed back into production in the 1970s and again in 2011 by WACO Classic Aircraft.

The Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio produced a design for a small two-seat sports/trainer in early 1929, with the first prototype flying in March 1929. The resulting aircraft, designated 2-T-1 was a single bay biplane of mixed, fabric-covered construction and with a tailskid undercarriage. Power was by a single 85 hp (63 kW) Cirrus III inline engine (as the Detroit Aircraft Corporation, the holding company for Great Lakes, also held the American rights to the Cirrus, so all Sports Trainers were originally sold with Cirrus engines). Initial testing showed that the aircraft was tail heavy, so after the first four aircraft were built, the upper wing was swept back.

In January 2011, WACO Classic Aircraft announced that it will put the Great Lakes Model 2T-1A-1/2 model biplane back into production. The aircraft had not been available since 1980. The aircraft will incorporate several changes including metal wing spars. It will be offered in two models, a touring model, with a Lycoming IO-360-B1F6 engine and a higher-performance sport model, with a Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 engine. Work on the new production model was completed in June 2013 and the base price announced as US$245,000.

SPECIFICATIONS: (Model 2T-1A-2)	PERFORMANCE:
Span: 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)	Maximum speed: 115 knots (132 mph, 212 km/h) at sea level
Length: 20 ft 4 in (6.20 m)	Cruising speed: 102 knots (118 mph, 190 km/h) (max cruise)
Height: 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)	Range: 260 nm (300 mi, 482 km)
Empty Weight: 1,230 lb (558 kg)	Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,180 m)
Gross Weight: 1,800 lb (816 kg)
Crew: 2
Engines: 1 × Lycoming IO-360-B1F6 4-cylinder horizontally opposed air-cooled piston engine, 180 hp (134 kW)

SOURCE: Wikipedia

Photo: Robert Deering 4/26/2014
NAS Fort Worth JRB (NFW)
Fort Worth, Texas

Variants

Model 2T-1: Original production. 85 hp (63 kW) American Cirrus III engine. Small tail. Approximately 40 built.
Model 2T-1A: Revised version with enlarged tail surfaces and 90 hp (67 kW) American Cirrus Ace engine. About 200 built.
Model 2T-1A-1: New production (1973 on) version. Powered by 140 hp (104 kW) Lycoming O-320 engine.
Model 2T-1A-2: More powerful version - powered by 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming IO-360 engine.
Model 2T-1A-E: Homebuilt Experimental Plans-built
Model 2T-1E: 95 hp (71 kW) American Cirrus Ensign engine. About twelve built.
Model X: A 2T-1E used for aero-engine testing.
Model 2T-1MS: Menasco Pirate powered two-seat version, one example airworthy at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is fitted with Goodyear "airwheel" low-pressure main gear tires.
Model 2T-1R: Homebuilt variant with a 200 hp (150 kW) Ranger 6-440-5.
Model 2T-2 Speedster: Racing version of 2T-1-A. Powered by 95 hp (71 kW) Cirrus Hi-Drive and straight top wing. Later rebuilt as Model 2T-1E.
WACO Classic 2T-1A-1/2: New production model starting in 2011. There will be two models, a touring model, with a Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 engine and a higher-performance sport model, with a Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 engine.