Custer Channel Wing

[1] The arrangement is intended to draw enough air over the wing, even when moving slowly, to create sufficient lift to fly.

Custer claimed that this layout, the channel wing, gave STOL operating capabilities and resulted in a design "which is an aircraft not an airplane.

"[2] The first aircraft to incorporate Custer's concept was the CCW-1 which was fitted with a single-seat and was powered by two 75 horsepower (56 kW) Lycoming O-145 pusher engines.

[2] The prototype was test flown by Frank D. Kelley, who would become a partner in the National Aircraft Corporation with Custer.

The Channelwing concept was demonstrated with scale wind tunnel tests for the United States Army Air Forces in Dayton in June 1944, and again, in 1946, with 53 different configurations.

Despite the claim of "flying better than a conventional aircraft," it was calculated that a stock Piper Cub was more efficient, lifting 18 lb/hp (11 kg/kW) versus the CCW-2's 11 lb/hp (6.7 kg/kW).

Taylorcraft Inc of Conway, Pennsylvania were the first manufacturers to be licensed for the production of both military and private aircraft using the Channel Wing principles.

The aircraft draws air through the channels at high velocity, decreasing pressure over the wings and increasing lift.

-'Performance Analysis and Flow Mechanism of Channel Wing considering Propeller Slipstream'; Xiaoxuan MENG et al. Chinese Journal of Aeronàutics, Vol 36, issue 11, Nov 2023, pages 165-181.