GeeBee R-1

The Gee Bee R-1 was designed and built for the 1932 Races. The Gee Bee R-1 is a fairly constructed aircraft. Only the best materials were used and the workmanship was incredible. The wings were covered with mahogany plywood and covered with "balloon-fabric" for added strength. The most unusual feature was its pilot position just ahead of the vertical fin. The R-1 and R-2 were considerably larger than the previous model Z. The R-1 and R-2 are very similar except that the R-1 has a larger and more powerful Pratt & Whitney R1340 "Wasp" engine and it is specifically made for the Thompson Trophy. The R-2 was built for the Bendix Trophy races. The biggest difference between the two aircraft was that the R-2 had two fuel tanks totaling a 302 gallons versus a single 160 gallon tank in the R-1. The R-2 has a 20-gallon oil tank and the R-2 also has streamlined running lights in the wings and on the tail for night flights. The R-1 has a speed of 294.38 miles per hour and a cruising range of 925 miles.