Howard DGA-3

Howard DGA-3 "Pete"
Role	Racing aircraft
National origin	United States of America
Designer	Ben Howard, Gordon Isreal

The Howard DGA-3 "Pete" aka Damned Good Airplane - 3, aka Baker Special was the third aircraft built by Ben Howard, and the first in a series of racing aircraft.

Development

The DGA-3 was started as a side project based on getting the best performing aircraft using an Wright Gipsy engine Howard had available. The aircraft went from drawing board to completion in eight months. ==Design== The fuselage was made of welded steel tubing with fabric covering. The controll surfaces were wood with plywood covering. The cockpit was sized to an absoulute minimum. The axle between wheels was shaped like an airfoil, producing some of the lift. In 1947, "Pete" was rebuilt as the "Baker Special" with a continental engine for midget racing. The aircraft was rebuilt once again by the Experimental Aircraft Association founder Paul Poberezney as "Little Audey". The aircraft was mounted with Luscombe wings and a Continental A-75.

Operational history

• 1930 National Air Races - Howard flew five firsts and two third place finishes at 163mph.
• 1930 Thompson Trophy race, third place.
• 1931 National Air Races - three second, one fourth, and one sixth place finish.
• 1932 National Air Races - one second place at 127.347mph.
• 1933 Chicago Air Race - pilot Joe Jacobson flew to Two second and one fifth place finish.
• 1933 International Air Race - one fourth, one fifth, and one sixth place with pilots Helen Lantz, Gordon Isreal, and Art Gross.
• 1934 National Air Races - Joe Jacobson purchased and flew "Pete" to one forth, and threee fifth place finishes at 159mph.
• 1935 National Air Races - One third and one fourth place finish at 147mph.
• 1947 Goodyear races - As the "Baker Special" The aircraft was partially destroyed in a hanger fire after the races.

In 1953 "Pete" is rebuilt as a homebuilt sportsplane "Little Audrey". The aircraft flew up until a restoration and donation the the EAA Airventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1991.

Specifications (Howard DGA-3)

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

• Capacity: 1
• Length: 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
• Wingspan: 20 ft 1 in (6.12 m)
• Wing area: 63 sq ft (5.9 m²)
• Airfoil: M6
• Empty weight: 669 lb (303 kg)
• Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright Gipsy engine 326 cu. in. Inline four cylnder, 90 hp (67 kW)

Performance

• Wing loading: 14.3 lb/sq ft (70 kg/m²)