Beck-Mahoney "Sorceress"
date: label: Date
content: Circa 1970s
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Lee Mahoney
label: Manufacturer
content: S. C. Mahoney
notes: label: Summary
content: Designed and built by Lee Mahoney and his father, S. C. "Mickey" Mahoney, the Sorceress was the first sport biplane to exceed 322 kilometers (200 miles) per hour on a closed course, and it reached 394 kilometers (245 miles) per hour in level flight. The aircraft proved so successful that the rules governing its competition qualification were modified to such an extent that the Sorceress was forced into retirement.
label: Summary
content: Fitted with only a single 135-horsepower Lycoming O-290-D2 engine, this unique metal staggerwing biplane flew to many victories during its distinguished career in the 1970s. Noted air racing pilot Don Beck purchased the Sorceress in 1972 and flew it to many more wins. Beck gave the aircraft to the Museum in 1984.
label: Long Description
content: Designed and built by Lee Mahoney and his father, S. C. "Mickey" Mahoney, the Sorceress was the first sport biplane to exceed 322 kilometers (200 miles) per hour on a closed course, and it reached 394 kilometers (245 miles) per hour in level flight. The aircraft proved so successful that the rules governing its competition qualification were modified to such an extent that the Sorceress was forced into retirement.
label: Long Description
content: Fitted with only a single 135-horsepower Lycoming O-290-D2 engine, this unique metal staggerwing biplane flew to many victories during its distinguished career in the 1970s. Noted air racing pilot Don Beck purchased the Sorceress in 1972 and flew it to many more wins. Beck gave the aircraft to the Museum in 1984.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
label: Exhibit Station
content: Aerobatic Flight
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Donald O. Beck
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19840416000
objectType: label: Type
content: CRAFT-Aircraft
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Dimensions
content: Wingspan: 4.9 m (16 ft)
label: Dimensions
content: Length: 5.2 m (17 ft)
label: Dimensions
content: Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
label: Dimensions
content: Weight, empty: 318 kg (700 lb)
label: Dimensions
content: Top speed: 394 km/h (245 mph)
label: Dimensions
content: Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2, air-cooled, 135 hp