Photograph:
Cessna CC-1 replica on display in Sydney, NSW in 1968 (Eric Allen)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat monoplane
Power Plant:
One 30 kw (40 hp) Anzani three-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8 m (26 ft 2 in)
- Length: 8.6 m (28 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 12.07 sq m² (130 sq ft)
History:
In 1911 Clyde Cessna, a skilled automotive engineer, journeyed to New York where he bought an engineless Bleriot monoplane from the Queens Airplane Company (New York), licensee for the Bleriot company. Into this he installed a 45 kw (60 hp) four cylinder liquid-cooled Elbridge engine in his home state of Oklahoma, but this engine regularly overheated. In this aircraft he attempted to teach himself to fly, often crashing, eventually succeeding after his thirteenth attempt at Enid in Oklahoma on 11 August 1911. The aircraft was rebuilt and modified after each crash, eventually being considered to be the first Cessna.
In the winter months of 1911-1912 Cessna rebuilt and improved his first aircraft, a reliable Anzani radial engine being fitted, the undercarriage including a buggy spring shock absorber. This aircraft became known as the “Silver Wings” and became the star attraction at many country fairs and gatherings throughout Northern Oklahoma and Southern Kansas. In the following years Cessna designed, built and flew other designs along the same lines.
In 1965-1966 Gordon Lewis and four members of the staff at Ross Aviation, Parafield, SA [known as Rossair] built a replica of the “Silver Wings”, fitting it with a 19 kw (25 hp) Anzani engine loaned by an engineering firm, Hannan Bros. This eng9ne had originally been installed in a Bleriot XI monoplane but, because of its historic significance, could not be used for an attempt at flight.
Built as close as possible to the original design, the aircraft was built for static display but eventually it was decided it should fly and a few modifications were made, such as a slightly re-designed rudder to make it more responsive and, to improve durability, aluminium square tubing replaced the original wooden framework. Super Elliott Cycles built and provided modified cycle wheels.
After completion the replica was displayed at a National Air Show held at Parafield on 10 September 1966 and at Edinburgh, SA on 11 September 1966. In February 1968 it was noted at Australia Square in the city Sydney on display, where the Australian Cessna agents were launching the Cessna 177 Cardinal series. At that stage it was not serviceable and could not be flown. It seems it was never flown.
The ultimate fate of this replica aircraft was not known for many years. It was believed it was exported to the United States. However, it seems in 1967 it was placed in storage in a farming shed at Willaston, a suburb of Gawler, SA until the demise of the owner. In 2016 the family ultimately donated the aircraft to the South Australian Aviation Museum. The dismantled machine was conveyed to Adelaide, SA where it was restored and placed on display.
A flying replica of the “Silver Wings” was also built at one stage in the United States by Cessna apprentices for display at the Company’s head office in Wichita, Kansas.