GEE BEE SUPER SPORTSTER R-1 (EARLY VERSION)

The Granville R-1 Gee Bee was a single-engine sports and racing aircraft, with a metal low wing structure, manufactured in the USA from the interwar period. The drive was provided by a single Pratt and Whitney Wasp Senior engine with 535 HP. The plane made its first flight in 1932. Serial production was carried out in the years 1932-1933. The R-1 Gee Bee was designed and manufactured at Granville Brothers Aircraft. The machine was characterized by a very bulky fuselage, short and small wings, a rudimentary tail tail and a pilot's cabin located far back of the fuselage. She was also incredibly difficult to pilot and was involved in many air accidents. At the same time, however, it had a very good top speed and when piloted by James Doolith in 1932, it set a speed record for this class of aircraft. Mainly for this reason, it became the benchmark for several American sports aircraft designs from this period.