With its elliptical wing and handcrank-operated gear, the Culver Cadet was an interesting little airplane. Its construction was unique, even in its own day, as it was built entirely of wood! It had wood spars, wooden ribs, and an all-wood fuselage structure that was sheeted with plywood! With the Cadet’s sensitive controls and fighter-like feel, pilots frequently praised the quality of its flying characteristics. Employed by both the Civil Air Patrol and the civilian-operated Army Courier Service during World War II, the two-place side-by-side Cadet was an important hardworking asset. The Army Courier Service used them to carry vital paperwork from one facility to another, and, with its 120 mph cruise speed, the Cadet was a perfect choice for the job. The Civil Air Patrol needed reliability in its aircraft even more than speed, and the Cadet proved to be well suited for this role, too.
CULVER CADET
