Timeline Flight 9 -- Culver Cadet LCA

With the approach of Civil Air Patrol's 80th anniversary Dec.1, Maj. Ronald C. Finger of the Minnesota Wing's Crow Wing Composite Squadron worked with Col. Frank Blazich of the Col. Louisa S. Morse Center for Civil Air Patrol History, CAP national historian, on a special project -- to create “Timeline Flight” paintings showcasing some of the wide variety of CAP aircraft flown over the years.

The 21 aircraft selected span the Coastal Patrol days of World War II, the postwar years and finally the aircraft Civil Air Patrol aircrews fly today. This is the ninth. Others will be posted every five days.

Culver Cadet LCA NC41701

• Capacity: 2
• Length: 22 feet 5 inches
• Maximum speed: 87 mph
• Cruise speed: 75 mph
• Range: 220 miles
• Service ceiling: 11,500 feet

The Culver Cadet is a two-seat light monoplane aircraft produced by the Culver Aircraft Co. from 1939-1942. Al Mooney’s design featured retractable landing gear and an elliptical wing similar to the RAF Spitfire. This small aircraft became popular with sportsman pilots, its smooth rivetless surface squeezing almost 90 mph out of the 75-horsepower Continental A75-8 flat-four engine.

Civil Air Patrol's historical roster includes more than two ddozen Culver Cadets.

NC41701 was owned and flown by W.B. Matthews for the Texas Wing.

Sikorsky S-39B
Stinson 105-10A Voyager
Beechcraft Staggerwing B-17L 
Waco YKS-6
Fairchild 24-C8F
Grumman G-44A Widgeon
Stinson SR-9C Reliant “Gull Wing”
Culver Cadet LCA
Ercoupe 415-C
Aeronca L-16A