01 Custer Channel Wing	02 Custer Channel Wing	03 Channel Wing Engine	04 Channel Wing Channel
05 Custer Channel Wing	06 Channel Wing Engine	07 Custer Channel Wing Nose	08 Custer Channel Wing Prop
09 Channel Wing Engine	10 Channel Wing Engine	11 Custer Channel Wing Tail	12 Custer Channel Wing Tail
13 Custer Channel Wing Data Plate	14 Custer Channel Wing Tail	15 Channel Wing Engine	16 Custer Channel Wing

Custer Channel Wing CCW-5 Specifications:

Length: 28 feet, 8 inches
Wingspan: 41 feet, 2 inches
Height: 10 feet, 9 inches
Crew: 1+4
Weight: Empty - 4,200lbs Max Takeoff - 5,400lbs
Max Speed: 180mph
Cruise Speed: 115mph
Range: 750 miles
Takeoff Roll: 200-250'
Landing Roll: 300'
Landing Speed: 36mph
Power off Stall Speed: 63mph
Power on Stall Speed: 32mph
Service Ceiling: 22,000feet
Fuel Capacity: ? gallons
Powerplant: Two Continental IO-470-T air cooled 6 cylinder engines, fuel - 100LL Avgas, 260hp each driving two bladed contra rotating propellers
First Flight : 1964
Cost: $

According to the museum this aircraft was seen hovering into an 11kt headwind and had a takeoff ground roll of only 200-150 feet! An excellent article from Popular Mechanics back in 1964 of a flight test done by an independent pilot can be found here.

The Custer Channel Wing's remarkable STOL performance is due to the configuration of the wings and propeller. As well as providing forward thrust, the prop creates a low pressure area on the upper side of the wing in the channel ahead of it, providing more lift at lower speeds than a normal wing would. It's too bad the concept was never developed further.

The museum plans to fully restore this Channel Wing.

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