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The Loose Special, also called the Townsend A-1 Special, the Loose-Siem Special and the Townsend Special is a small air racer developed for the Thompson Trophy races.[2]

Loose Special
Role	Racing aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	America
Designer	Chet Loose[1]
Introduction	1933
Number built	1

Design

The Loose Special is a small single seat racer with conventional landing gear and a cable-braced mid-wing.[3] The engine was replaced with an 85 hp (63 kW) Continental to compete in the Formula One air races.[4]

Operational history

The Loose Special participated in 1933, 1935 and 1938 air races.[5] In the 1948 Goodyear Formula One Air Races pilot Earl Ortman placed fourth at a speed of 127.339 mph (205 km/h).[6]

Specifications (Loose Siem Special)

Data from Skyways, Flying

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 13 ft (4.0 m)
• Wingspan: 19 ft (5.8 m)
• Empty weight: 530 lb (240 kg)
• Gross weight: 800 lb (363 kg)
• Propellers: 2-bladed McCaulley

Performance

• Maximum speed: 134 kn (154 mph, 248 km/h)
• Stall speed: 70 kn (80 mph, 130 km/h)
• Endurance: 3 hr
• Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s)
• Wing loading: 11 lb/sq ft (54 kg/m²)

References

External links

• Image of the Loose Special

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