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Howard DGA 6 "Mr. Mulligan"
by Tommy Traylor
Ben O. Howard, of Chicago, was a familiar figure around the Thompson Trophy Races. He designed the slim single seat Howard "Ike", and the matching "Mike", of the 1932 through 1934 races. In the 1935 race, Ben showed up with a large four place plane named, "Mr. Mulligan." Unlike previous Howard entries, this plane, piloted by Harold Neuman, was to win the race at a speed of 220.19 mph.
Howard DGA-6 Mr Mulligan
Mr. Mulligan is still considered, by many, the fastest cabin monoplane that was ever built. Until its unfortunate accident in the southwest, "Mulligan" was used by Ben and his wife as a high speed transportation craft to promote Howard planes.The Mr. Mulligan was designated a DGA6 for "Darn good airplane"-sixth version. This just might be an understatement considering the success of the plane.
The DGA6 had a span of 31 feet, 8 inches and a length of 25 feet, 1 inch. It was powered by a supercharged Pratt and Whitney Wasp engine of 550 rated hp, but was capable of over 830 hp in bursts. This engine gave the DGA6 "Mulligan" an amazing speed of 287 mph.
A replica of the Mr. Mulligan was built by famed airplane builder Bob Younkin. The replica is currently on display at Arkansas Air Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Replica Howard DGA-6 Mr Mulligan
Just for Fun...
Try your hand at building a wood and tissue model of the "Mr. Mulligan" from plans by world-reknowned model designer Paul W. Lindberg, Model Editor and Model Designer for Popular Aviation magazine in the 1930s. The following link will take you to a wonderful web site with the actual plans scanned from a copy of the magazine:
2002 Wings Publishing
