Chester Goon
title: "Chester Goon" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["racing-aircraft", "mid-wing-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1938", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft"] topic_path: "arts/film" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Goon" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Chester Goon |
| image | Chester Goon photo L'Aerophile November 1938.jpg |
| aircraft_type | Air racer |
| national_origin | United States of America |
| designer | Art Chester |
| introduction | 1938 |
| :: |
| name = Chester Goon | logo = | logo_size = | image = Chester Goon photo L'Aerophile November 1938.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Air racer | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States of America | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = Art Chester | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1938 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded =
The Chester Goon aka The Chester Special #2 was a single-engine taildragger-configuration monoplane racer built for the 1938 National Air Races.
Design and development
Art Chester followed on his successful air racer the "Jeep"" with the Goon. "Goon", like "Jeep" was named after characters in Popeye cartoons and comic strips.
The Goon was built with a conventional welded steel tube frame and fabric covering. The wings used spruce spars and plywood covering. The mid-wing taildragger aircraft featured short-legged retractable landing gear. The engine was prepared to turn clockwise (as normal for some British inlines of the era) in anticipation of mounting a custom French propeller, but the propeller was also customized for American engines, and the engine needed to be modified again to rotate normally.
During the 1956 rebuild, a 190 hp Lycoming O-435-1 engine was installed in place of the Menasco, including a cut down Beech-Roby propeller and wheel brakes.
Operational history
- 1938 Placed second in the Greve Trophy Races of the National Air Races with a speed of 250.42 mph.
- 1938 Thompson Trophy - Has to drop out after failure of prop.
- 1939 National Air Races - First place at 263.39 mph, winning the Greve Trophy and $9000.
- 1939 Thompson Trophy - Dropped out with engine trouble.
In 1939 20th Century Fox featured the Goon in the movie series Tailspin Tommy. By 1956, the Goon was purchased in unflyable condition. On December 23, 1957, the rebuilt Goon was test flown by Harvey Mace at Sacramento, California.
The Goon was purchased in 1991 by the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum and was awaiting restoration in Macedonia, Ohio.
Specifications (Chester Goon)
|ref=EAA |prime units?=kts General characteristics
|genhide=
|crew=One |capacity= |length m= |length ft=20 |length in=6 |length note= |span m= |span ft=18 |span in=6 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Menasco C-6-S Buccaneer |eng1 type= 6-cyl. air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=450
|prop blade number=2 |prop name=French Ratier Controllable |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
Performance
|perfhide=Y
|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=263.39 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=
References
References
- "Chester Goon".
- https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/greve-trophy/nasm_A19820414000
- Thomas G. Matowitz. "Cleveland's National Air Races".
- Sport Aviation. (June 1958)
- (5 May 2011). "1937 Chester Special".
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