Cliff Forshey, e-mail, 07.12.2024 19:06 My Dad owned a Culver V NC 80108. In 1955, he crashed it in the treetops trying to climb out of a dead end valley somewhere in WV. Dad survived with only a scar below his lower lip to show for it. I have pictures of the plane before and after the crash. Apparently it didn’t burn up but the pics show the right wing missing and the propeller smashed.

Richard Baker, e-mail, 07.09.2024 00:26 I found a photo of NX44505 in my grandfather's collection - my mother recalls that he and his partner (Jimmy Simpson) were either working on it or had purchased it, it apparently had some significance to him. He was a mechanic at Southern Aviation in Shreveport before he and Jimmy kicked off a crop dusting and chemical business in Gilliam, LA. Would like to get this to you and compare to the picture you have (I need to grab your book!.)

Brian Lott, e-mail, 17.11.2022 04:28 Does anyone have a copy of STC SA1NE that was issued 11/15/1972 to Gerald N. Butterworth? This STC allowed the use of a fixed pitch McCauley 1B90/ECM7151 propellor on the Culver V. The STC also references a Butterworth Report 1000 dated 9/13/1972. Does anyone have a copy of this report? Finally, does anyone know the registration number of the Culver V that Gerald Butterworth owned back in 1972? Appreciate any help you can provide!

Brian Lott, e-mail, 16.11.2022 07:15 Your V is on display at the Mid-America Air Museum in Liberal, Kansas.

Marshall smith- AUVM.net, e-mail, 20.08.2022 23:57 Hi. We have a TD2C-1 culver 14. We are in process of restoring it. We do not have the tailcone, would anybody be willing to let us borrow a tail cone to make a copy? Aviation unman vehicle museum, AUVM. Located 40 minutes east of Dallas in Caddo Mills, TX. Www.auvm.net

Anonymous, 17.11.2021 07:42 Setting the trim tab is critical on a Culver V. It must be set to the takeoff position or else it will probably not rotate for takeoff or if it does, it will not climb.

Brian Lott, e-mail, 21.01.2021 05:30 I would very much like to read your story and see pictures of your Culver V. Thank you!

M. Mulder, e-mail, 30.12.2020 16:06 Dear Richard, Could you send me information about the two Culvers coming up for sale? Kind regards,

Richard Simile, e-mail, 29.10.2020 03:35 Hi All, Just an FYI that I might have a Beautiful Culver Cadet and an amazing Culver LCA for sale shortly. If anyone has any interest please call me at 602-884-2111. The are located in Atmore Alabama. I have enjoyed reading the stories above. Thanks !!

Frank Samples, e-mail, 09.08.2015 00:44 In approximately 1945 a Culver Cadet crashed in Dunbar, WV while attempting a loop. There were two fatalities, Archie Clemmons, the pilot and the son of A.W. Cox.

Will OConnor, e-mail, 01.02.2015 19:25 The Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, TX is in possession of a Culver LFA Cadet from early WWII. It is currently being restored to airworthy status.

Charles Hampton A/P, IA, e-mail, 16.04.2014 06:35 Would like to respond to Jack Carlin e-mail Concern Culver V N3077 owned by Robert H. Hampton my dad which meet its end at Turners Falls Airport Massachusetts in 1957. That aircraft was a wonderful cross country aircraft but as Mr. Carlin said a woeful climber fully loaded and in hot weather. The story goes on that day his passenger was a prospective owner as the aircraft was for sale. Unfortunately this person showed up late after the fuel pumps were closed. Since he had come some distance, Dad didn't want to disappoint this fellow. Dad felt there was enough fuel for once around the patch, or so. Unfortunately in showing the flight charastics a hammer head stall was under taken which resulted in no gas to engine and not sufficient altitude to reach the runway. A wheels up landing was made in short weeds about 300ft short of runway. Airplane not seriously damaged, occupants unhurt, except for Dad's pride, Unfortunately when aircraft was lifted to be placed on its wheels the mahogany fuselage back was broken. So it was sold for parts. As Jack referenced the aircraft was also in other accidents. The other one took place in Elmira New York. Again things added up to do dad in. He had worked on the machine floor set up new machinery for Threadwell Tool and Dye in Greenfield Mass. It was a hot day and floor temps in the plant were 107 degrees. He left that day to fly to Dayton Ohio to visit his family. In Elmira he fueled. The airport manager noticed he was fatigued and suggested he stop there and stay over night. Free bed at the airport was available. No he wanted to push on. After takeoff he forgot to pull up the gears and by that time he had flown into a box canyon. Another wheels up landing and a broken back for injury. As kids working in a cold hangar we helped Dad rebuild. This all happened in 1953 and 1954. In another year flying back to Dayton surrounded by thunder storms he headed for Niagra International, NY. On final some mile out he was told to hurry up by the tower because a 727 was also on final. He did and landed wheels up as the 727 flew low over him. He remarked it was the smooth landing he ever made as the wood prop just splintered. Another time flying to Dayton he iced up just west of Springfield Ohio and declared an inflight emergency and the longest runway possible as aircraft controls were quite heavy. With the controller assistance a vector was made to Wright Patterson SAC base. He claims to have landed the aircraft at over 100 MPH surrounded by fire trucks and APs. Dade was very active in the Mass Civil Air Patrol. After moving to Florida in ended up with that organization as an honorary full colonel. When I added up his flight hours in gliders, sailplanes and light aircraft it was just over 5300 hours. His last private plane was a Stinson 108-3 with metalized wings and fuselage. He was a long time member with EAA. Thanks Jack Carlin for the memories. It was a wonderful bunch of pilots at Turners Falls Airport. Since I retired as a senior Administrator at "The Ohio University" I got an A/P and I/A and still restore airplanes such as cubs ,ercoupes, aeroncas and the like from the classic era. And it all started with Culver V N3077K and Dad rebuilding of it.

Bob Doernberg, e-mail, 01.02.2014 22:01 In 1961, I was home in Spencerville, Ohio for summer vacation from my sophomore year at Culver Military Academy. My dad owned a Stinson Station Wagon and flew it out of Bob Croft’s grass strip just west of town. I had been scraping together a little money from my summer job to take flying lessons in a Cessna 140, went for a lesson one sunny afternoon and saw the coolest plane resting in the shadows of his barn – a low-wing, retractable, smooth skinned, low-wing monoplane. Bob Croft told me he had just purchased it, and that it was a Culver Cadet. When I heard that I had to go up in it. He obliged, and that afternoon I believe I became the only Culver Cadet to fly a Culver Cadet. As I remember, the landing gear became spring-loaded as they were lowered, and retracted almost instantaneously. I plan on attending Oshkosh this July, and that’s the first type I’m going to look for.

Frank Strange, e-mail, 29.01.2014 18:16 Hello Bill Rogers----My Name is Frank Strange and I used to own N8442B back in the mid 80s---I live in Palatka Florida and I stayed pretty close to home with her. She did love the ground but once in the air was a fun little bird---I kind of hated to let her go but did not have a chose. I am like You as I have been around for a while (75 years)---Can't pass a physical any more so it is just a dream and memory now---Thanks for bringing those memories back. Frank

Bob Atol, e-mail, 10.01.2014 12:35 I was in Naval Air at Santa Ana when the war ended and I was shipped to our other base at Lompoc. A civil service worker offered me an aircraft engine and it was a Franklin with dual carbs.I got it in June of 46 and I still have it in 2014 in Pasadena CA. I was going to put it in a dry lakes race car but never did. Some day maybe. Was the service drone hotter than the later model?

Robert Wall, e-mail, 31.12.2013 05:21 I bought SN 444 N41726 Culver Cadet (Franklin 80 hp)in 1954 with a 41 custom Chev coupe and +/- $500. Flew it about a year and sold it 'cause I needed a car. Current owner in OR I believe. The Cadet was more popular than the V but this website doesn't even mention it. How come?

Jack Carlin, e-mail, 25.12.2013 04:36 I overhauled a Cont 85 engine for a Culver V in 1955. It belonged to Bob Hampson,N3077K, It crashed for lack of fuel at the Turners Falls, MA airport in 1957. It had crashed prior to that in Western, Pa or Eastern ohio due to bad wx. Hampson was the pilot both times. I flew N3077K several times after getting out of Navy flight training in 1957. It was underpowered, It would leave the runway and then not climb, especially loaded and in warm wx. I don't see it in the registrations so assume it went for parts Hampson and the passenger Francis Atherton were unhurt luckily.

Old Bob Siegfried, e-mail, 21.11.2013 04:22 Good Evening, I flew with Bob Kaukee (sp?) in one in which he had installed a 115 Lycoming. Something of a ground lover, but not bad once it got airborne. No idea if he ever got it approved with the bigger engine and have no idea where it went. That was in about 1949 or 1950 at Elmhurst airport of suburban Chicago.

Ann Burns, e-mail, 02.09.2012 20:58 I now own Culver V N3104K since my husband Curtis Burns passed away this year. My plane is undergoing it's annual inspection and a new paint job. I want to sell it as soon as possible. Please read the posting by Curtis Burns on 15.05.2008.

Eric Holverson, e-mail, 28.01.2012 00:13 My dad owned culver v NC80261 circa 1950. He's owned various planes throughout his life but this one is probably the one he remembers most fondly. If anyone has any history on it after my father owned it, he would be elated to hear about it. All i have is a few old faded pics of it. Thanks!

Joe Moreland, e-mail, 13.11.2011 22:31 I own SR# 17 at preaent time. The Government bought 10 i was told and they had 150hp but I have not found any more information about them. I live in southern New Mexico

Scott Boyd, e-mail, 05.07.2011 06:03 I flew a Mooney Mite a few times but never a Culver. With Johnson bar retraction and a 65 hp engine it was not too bad. From the picture I think it was smaller yet.

Jim Thompson, e-mail, 04.07.2011 22:44 I owned Culver V N3074-K, purchased it in Atlanta, Ga, flew it it for 2 or 3 years and sold it to a fellow from the Northeast. Last I knew, he as headed home with it, like in the Boaton area. It was a neat-flying little bird, all one had to do was convince it that it could fly, get it off the ground, get the gear up, and climb out at about 250 feet per minute. Once one got it to altitude, it would trim out in lever flight at just about 120 mph, and lean down to about 5 gallons per hour. I've always wondered whatever became of it.

Stan Henslee, e-mail, 02.06.2011 02:18 Note to Richard Price - your Culver Cadet the Turbulent Twerp belonged to my father, Gene Henslee until he sold it in 1949 - it was named after my sister Patricia. Have many pictures if you want any.

Chuck Blaker, e-mail, 13.05.2011 00:36 Back in the late 50's I bought a neat little airplane called the Culver Cadet for 600 dollars. As I remember, it was powered by a 90 HP Franklin and would cruise at about 145 @ 5000 ft. burning around 6.5GPH. I loved the little bird and would to have another.

Howard Chapman, e-mail, 18.02.2011 04:36 On the V's predecessors - The Cadet was inducted into service with the USAAF as a radio control target drone at the start of WW II - PQ 8. The tail dragger was a problem for ground control. Modified with three legs it became the PQ 8A. If my mammary is still intact it had a larger fin & rudder also. The 8 was replaced with the PQ 14, a severe redesign. Narrow single place fuselage, redone wings. A bunch faster - both to produce and in the air. My brother served his WW II time in the Hawaiian islands repairing the Culvers. He rebuilt, from scrap parts, a custom 14 for his Leut. with a bigger engine, big spinner, clipped wings, that the Leut. chased around the sky with the other pilots training for combat. It was fast. Unfortunately all photos & stuff was lost in a fire.

James Allen, e-mail, 24.01.2011 03:22 Need parts for a V, check out my website allensaero.com

George Ardwin, e-mail, 20.01.2011 01:26 I was part owner of Culver "V" N3116K in the mid sixties while still a student pilot. It was based at Detroit City Airport for awhile, then we moved it to Mettetal airport in Plymouth, Michigan. It was a delight to fly.I had some very interesting flights with it. Lost an engine when it "swallowed" a valve one time.It is now located in a museum in Libral Kansas.

george washburn, e-mail, 18.12.2010 18:06 After a combat tour in B-24"s Assigned to ferry command in Memphis and made 5 trips that summer ferrying PQ-14' from Mississippi to Cal. Great fun thought I was a fighter pilot!! 200+/- mile rangeno radios!!

Bill Rogers, e-mail, 17.12.2010 01:08 My N# was N8442B. Great airplane tried to convert to an O-200 but that engine was never certified for fuel injection as I remember. The nose gear was in the way of the carb. I think the carb may have been able to turn around and fit. I thought about derating an O-200 to a 90 HP version. several versions appeared later as a Superior version. At 80 yrs old my memory is fading some.

Bob Owens, e-mail, 03.12.2010 07:07 I owned a Culver V, S/N V13, N44516. Loved it but it just didn't have HP to climb well. If anyone wishing a copy of my personal story with photos contact me via email. I once did a formation flight with a friend in his Globe Swift GC-1B with a similar engine. The Swift was considerably slower than the "V". Actually the Culver had an uprated C-85FJ-12 rated at 87.5 HP thanks to the fuel injection.

Sparky Sparks, e-mail, 10.11.2010 02:13 I have an insturment panel that I just put on e-bay. I think it is from a Culver V.

Richard Price, e-mail, 03.11.2010 20:04 In July 1949 I bought Culver Cadet N34866 while going to school L.A.. and it was a good little plane to fly, hot compared to flying J-3 Cubs and Cessna 140's. Fortunately I have a few pictures and it was named "Turbulent Twerp". Being a student I was unable to keep it very long Last one I saw was located in an aviation museum located in Birmingham, Alabama. It was in cherry condition when I was there in 2007.

James Alexander, e-mail, 07.10.2010 08:58 Bud Owens left a comment about the Culver PQ14B. In Col. Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson's book To Fly and Fight he talks about a Culver Q-14 they used in tests connecting aircraft together at the wing tips (page 185)

Bud Owens, e-mail, 23.09.2010 22:22 Any comments on a CulverPQ14B. It may have been a WWII drone.

Eugene Balon, e-mail, 07.08.2010 07:15 I owned a Culver V, 3116K in late 50s and early 60s. It was the most beautiful handling aircraft I ever flew. I think a 0-200 with the adjustable Beech-Roby prop, would have given it the horse power it really needed. There are times when I have wished that I had never sold it. I wonder where it is today, anyone know.

John Cilio, e-mail, 05.08.2010 16:56 Thanks for verifying the factory photo Culver cockpit Ken. It's now included in the book: Portals into the Sky along with 100 other vintage cockpits. Wished that I had your tail number in my collection. If anyone has these aircraft tail numbers happy to make copies of original photos for $15 including the postage. The tail numbers I have are: 120340, 120339, NC44514, NC44507, NC3151K, NC80117, 44503, 422520,139347, NX80128, NC209948, ??7838, NX44504, NC80144, NC44507. I also have many other factory photos of the Culver V. Does anyone have the original luggage made for the bird?

John Cilio, e-mail, 15.05.2010 18:24 I have a cockpit photo that I 99.9% sure is a Culver V but have never seen one in person. I would like to ask someone who has seen it to verify before I post.

Gary VandeVoorde, e-mail, 25.02.2010 15:56 My grandfather owned N80276 when it was new and he and a partner(N3030K) were Culver dealers after the war. If anyone has information on this airplane, location, condition or if for sale please contact me. The last I new of it the airplane was in California. I have a few photos of the airplane and even some video that was made from 8MM film too. Illinois

Frank Grose, e-mail, 21.02.2010 15:29 I was fortunate enough to get a ride in the only Culver V I've ever seen. That was back in the early 60s. I've loved the looks of it ever since. Always wanted to build a scale model, and did so awhile back. For you Culver V lovers, take a look at a video of the model flying at: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1197422 That should bring back a few good memories for you.

Russ Chambers, e-mail, 14.02.2010 04:36 I have owned a V for about 36 years. It's a nice airplane but you can't leave then out in the weather, like so many people did. (What a shame). The plane is made of spruce covered with birch plywood, and it doesn't take much rain to ruin a good airplane. The fuel tanks were bladder cells and they get old and rot and need replacing. (I made aluminum tanks as replacement tanks and they worked well) I wish someone would get busy and increase the HP to 125 or more.

Frank Walker, e-mail, 05.02.2010 02:27 On June 20th, 1959, I bought N80289, Culver V , (just happened to run across the original bill of sale), After many years , and many hours of flying, in many diferent types of planes, I look back, and that airplane was built ahead of its time. A cont.85hp, contl prop, fuel injection,retract gear,(up in 5 seconds, and down in 4 seconds), as Curtis Burns, points out, the trim wheel moves the flaps, and horizontal stabilizer, this was the Simply Fly System, Cruise at 130 mph, great airplane,

Gene Whitehead, e-mail, 01.02.2010 07:19 A friend and I rebuilt a Culver Cadet in 1957. The power plant was a Continental C-75. It had no electrical system, hand operated retractable gear,a non stearable tail wheel,and a wood prop. It was a fine flying little airplane.

Jack Radford, e-mail, 12.10.2009 00:03 I'd like to ask a question, as I was riding in a Culver V in the late 1940's and the pilot pulled a full 90 degree turn at the tightest possible turn and I always wondered how many G's we pulled. Anybody know? It was plenty, for sure. Thanks, Jack.

Ken Kinsler, e-mail, 19.08.2009 21:17 I bought Culver V N80276 in 1977 as a basket case. My friend Jerry Drake and I fixed it up and put it back into service. We test flew it in the evening (aug 10 1978) the day before my first son Weslee was born. It flew very well with very responsive control inputs. Jerry and I flew it about 50 hours before it was sold. I now (aug 18 2009) have 4 Culver V projects N3057K, N1027L, N6211Q and N80273. I am hopeing to have N3057K flying in the near future.

curtis culver, e-mail, 07.05.2009 03:05 I was surprised to find this web site of the culver aircraft , my father was a pilot & his plane was` mooney.A 4PLACE SMALL BUT EASY TO FLY. now my my younger brother is F-16 pilotwith the AF.

Jeff, e-mail, 21.03.2009 05:55 Still one of the cutest airplanes ever built. Very comfortable to fly. Under-powered aircraft were common back then. Remember the Swift GC1A at 85hp.?

fighter jock, e-mail, 21.02.2009 17:22 I recall the Culver drone well. They were all painted red and when I was instructing at Norman Oklahoma they stopped in for refueling while being ferried to point of destruction. They were radio controlled and the best man at my wedding had a tour of duty flying them with a control box in the cockpit to check out the operations before turning them over to the fleet for target practice

Ralph McComb, e-mail, 24.01.2009 01:32 My Dad (Bruce McComb) and his brother Kenneth crashed a Culver V in the Hollywood Hills near what is now Forrest Lawn Cemetary on July 4, 1949. Dad said the oil pump shaft sheared. Dad broke his back and Kenneth was seriously injured but recovered. I used to have his Log Book and photos of the crash site but lost them over the years.

Ron Miller, e-mail, 16.12.2008 03:24 I just came into possession of (4) Sensenich C276A2 prop blades; researching these blades led me to the Culver V. It seems like another one of those neat little designs that should have made it big in the post-war market. Now, I've got to go out and find one to photograph.

George Teske, e-mail, 21.08.2008 08:50 The Culver I flew in 1947 was a TAIL DRAGGER and was owned by a friend whom said it had been a drone. Never did check this out. But....the little thing flew quite nicely.

Robert V. Ricard, e-mail, 10.07.2008 17:04 I remember Culvers at the Detroit City Airport right after WWII. They had a remputation for the landing gear collapsing.

Harry L Crosby, e-mail, 02.07.2008 21:08 I owned Culver V N44513 in early 1953. At the time I went from about 30 hours in J3's and Champs to the "V" with no problems and flew it for about 50 hours with no problems before I was shipped off to Korea with the US Army. It was a nice flying little airplane that would have been a great airplane with 125 HP instead of the 85 Continental. I sold the airplane in El Paso in May of 1956 on my way overseas and often wonder what became of it.

Jesse Callahan, e-mail, 16.05.2008 20:34 Prior to WWII, the Culver Cadet was one of the most popular two place singles on the market. During WWII, Culver was in the market producing the Target Drones used by the military for gunnery practice. Some of the PQ-13 design can be seen in the Culver V, which turned out to be a big disappointment for the post war flying community. It did not last for any length of time. I believe that a more powerful engine would have helped.

Curtis Burns, e-mail, 15.05.2008 22:53 I own a Culver V, N3104K. I agree that it needs more power, maybe 125 HP. Mine has a fuel injection 85 HP Continental, electrically retracted tricycle gear, the trim wheel repositions the horizontal stabilizer and has positions for takeoff, climb, cruise, descend and land. For stability, instead of having a constant dihedral of the wing joined at the center fuselage, the center 2/3 of the wing is flat with a solid main spar, the outside 1/3 of each wing panel has increased dihedral with a bit of forward sweep. The prop was available either with a Sensenitch two-position prop or a pilot adjustable Beech-Roby, which my aircraft has. In short, Al Money's design has a lot of advanced aerodynamic features for 1946.

George Vose, e-mail, 12.01.2008 03:48 I owned two Culver Vs in the 1940s-1950s. All the V needed was more horse power. Al Mooney's design was ahead of its time. (Both of my airplanes are apparently gone, since the N numbers have been re-assigned.