Designed in 1933 by Mike Shelton as the Shelton Flying Wing. It was painted a copper colour and featured green leather upholstery. Funded by stock issued in the Crusader Aircraft Corporation, a parent of American Gyro Company the company was investigated for serious fraud and was wound up in 1938 before the Crusader could enter production.
Power plant 2 x 150 h.p. Menasco C4-S 4 cylinder in line
Accommodation 1 pilot and 3 passengers
Span 36'0" Length 21'7" Height 7'0" Wing area 206 sq ft Empty weight 2,000 lb Gross weight 3,000 lb
Bob, e-mail, 21.05.2013 18:27
Got a Tootsietoy Blue / Silver Crusader in 9.9 condition (1937 model).
Didn't realize it was actually based on a Real Aeroplane!
Thank you.
Bob
Lynn Bond, e-mail, 22.12.2010 21:45
Do you know where I might be able to find more information about this airplane's history? Thank you.
Lynn Bond, e-mail, 22.12.2010 21:36
Do you know where I might be able to find more information about this airplane's history? Thank you.
Linda, e-mail, 09.12.2008 22:17
This write-up comes from the website called Scripophily.com that has a stock certificate for this Aircraft Company. "The American Gyro Crusader was a small, futuristic airplane that astonished and amazed the world during the Great Depression. Its magic touched the hearts and minds of all who came to know it, including Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes and William Randolph Hearst, Jr. Its rich story ranged from aeronautical inspiration, to courtroom drama, to business intrigue. In the end it was unable to raised funds and went into bankruptcy."
There is a book written about the Company called The Story of the Shelton Flying Wing by Alexander Roca. You can find out about it at http://www.rareplanes.com.
