Breese-Dallas Model 1


The Breese-Dallas Model 1 was a prototype single engine airliner that rapidly changed hands throughout the 1930s. It was also known as the Michigan Aircraft Company Model 1, and the Lambert Model 1344.

Design and development

partnered with Detroit auto salesman, Charles Dallas to produce a modern, transcontinental, all-metal construction cargo aircraft. The aircraft was engineered by Art Mankey with some part-time design work by Jerry Vultee, who would go on to develop a slightly larger concept called the Vultee V-1.
The aircraft is a six-passenger, all-metal, single-engine, low-wing monoplane with hydraulically retractable conventional landing gear. The center fuselage is welded steel tubing. The cockpit used a split forward slanting windshield popular on large aircraft of the period, with rearward sliding canopy panels over the pilots. There is a large passenger doorway just behind the right wing. The aircraft was constructed around an eight-inch steel tube jig that was removed after assembly. The first engine used was sourced from a Boeing P-12E from Selfridge Field using a NACA cowling. Four small passenger windows were expanded for better visibility. The engine was upgraded in 1936 to an Pratt & Whitney SRB-1535 with additional fuel capacity of total.

Operational history

Construction of the Model 1 started in September 1932. The first flight was performed by Vance Breese and Frederick Coe.