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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0592.PDF
MAY 8, 1919 THE TARRANT GIANT TRIPLANE AT last authentic particulars of the Tarrant triplane, re garding which rumour has been busy for some time, are available for publication. Guarded references to this in teresting machine have been made from time to time, but these have been mostly of such a nature as to stimulate curiosity without satisfying it with facts and figures. A few days ago the veil surrounding the details of the machine was removed, and our> representatives had an opportunity of examining the machine in every detail. The general lay-out of the Tarrant triplane will be gathered from the accompanying illustrations. The chief characteristic is perhaps the triplane arrangement with top and bottom planes of equal span and a middle plane of considerably greater span than that of the other two. Next comes the power plant, which consists of six Napier "Lion " engines, four of which are mounted on the bottom plane, the other two being placed between the middle and the top plane, and ' driving tractor screws. The fuselage is of the monocoque type, and is of a very good stream-line form. Originally the machine was designed for long-distance bombing, but it will now be converted into a passenger carrier. All the woodwork has b:en done at the Tarrant Works at By fleet, but a good proportion of the metal work has been carried out at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Tarn- borough. The most important feature of the Tarrant "Tabor" as regards construction Is the adoption of the Warren type of girder to wood construction. In metal, this girder has long been employed, but practical difficulties, chiefly in regard to terminal attachments, has hitherto delayed its employment where wood is the material. Without actually seeing the machine, the quotation of dimensions is apt to convey only a vague sense of her great size, but when it is^ mentioned that the span of the middle plane is a little over 130 ft., and the height from the ground to the top plane is 37 ft. 3 ins., some idea can be formed o; the magnitude of the task of constructing this machine. The weight of the Tarrant " Tabor," as the machine is named, is approximately 45,000 lbs., of which 9,000 lbs. is available i'or passengers and cargo, while 10,000 lbs. are taken up by the fuel for the six engines, which develop an aggregate of 2,700 to 3,000 h.p. Writh all engines running at full throttle the speed is estimated at no m.p.h., giving a range of about 900 miles, while at the " cruising speed " (the most econo mical speed) the range is calculated to be about 1,200 miles. This is with 10,000 lbs. of petrol on board and carrying 9,000 lbs. of passengers and cargo. If fewer passengers are carried and the tankage increased, the range can be very considerably extended. When the machine was inspected a few days ago, she was nearly ready lor flight, and barring unforeseen accidents she should be ready for testing very soon. Mr. W. G. Tarrant, of Byfleet, Surrey, is to be congratulated upon his courage in tackling such a costly experiment in the interests of 'the development of the large commercial aeroplane of the future, which cannot fail to benefit the cause of aviation not only in this country, but throughout the world. He has associated with him a number of specialists, of whom we mention only a few. Capt. E. T. Rawlings, D.S.C., general manager of the firm, will be remembered as being one of the crew of the Handley Page bomber which flew from London to Constantinople, dropping bombs with good effect on the latter city. Capt. T. M. Wilson, of the Technical Department of the Air Mimstry, was lent to the firm by that Department, and has now le>t the Ministry and joined Mr. Tarrant permanently. It was to a very great extent due to Capt. Wilson that the machine was turned into a practical proposition. The pilot of the Tarrant tri plane will be Capt. F. G. Dunn, A.F.C., who will be remem bered by most readers of FLIGHT as one of the Grahame-White pilots at Hendon before the War. Finally it should be mentioned that Majors Turner and Grinstead, of the R.A.E., have rendered valuable assistance in the construction and erection of the machine. Time does not permit of a more lengthy description of the Tarrant triplane this week, but we hope to publish an illus trated detailed description at an early date. The above photograph, which looks like a tunnel of an underground railway, is really the inside of the fuselage of the big Tarrant flying machine. As will be seen it has an arrangement of circular wooden girders with the longerons passing through each. It is long enough to accommodate a full-size cricket pitch, and is expected to be flying with its engines of 3,000 h.p. in another two or three weeks. With this machine it is claimed it will be easily possible to fly from London to Bombay with but a single stop on route. Another fuselage almost twice the size of this is being designed, and will accommodate about 100 passengers. 592
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