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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1074.PDF
AUGUST 14; 1919 THE AUSTIN "WHIPPET" UP to now it has been necessary for the " Amateur " pilot to have a certain amount of mechanical knowledge, in addition to knowing how to fly, in order to keep his machine in flying trim and safe—unless, of course, he has the services of a .skilled mechanic or mechanics. In other words, the non- mechanical owner-pilot has only now been catered for in small building or tent', one 8 ft. wide, 18 ft. long, andJS ft. high being sufficient for the purpose. As shown in the accompanying scale drawings, it is fitted with a two-cylindered horizontally-opposed engine, but we understand that a six-cylindered 45 h.p. Anzani engine will be fitted in all future models. Three-quarter front view of the Austin " Whippet. the Austin " Whippet," which has just been produced by the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., of Birmingham, to the designs of Mr. J. Kenworthy—the firm's chief aeronautical engineer, associated in the early days with Mr. G. de Havilland at the Royal Aircraft Factory. The salient points of the Austin " Whippet " are :—It is a small single-seater tractor biplane with an all-steel fuselage, folding wings, no bracing wires, and it is a safe and easy machine to fly. Furthermore, it is proposed to place this The principal dimensions of the " Whippet " are : Span, 21 ft. 6 ins. ; length, 16 ft. ; chord, 3 ft. 8 ins. ; area of main plane, 134 sq. ft. The weight of the machine empty is 500 lbs., and fully loaded 730 lbs. It has a speed range of 30 to 95 m.p.h., and climbs to 5,000 ft. in 6 mins., and'10,000 ft. in 14 mins. Fuel is carried for a flight oi two hours' duration. As previously stated, the fuselage is 01 steel construction throughout, and is built up in two sections, being divided at a point immediately behind the cockpit. The longi- Three-quarter rear view of the Austin " Whippet." machine^on the market at the comparatively low price of £400 to £500. In view of the fact that bracing wires have been practically eliminated, and that the wings are made to fold back, the " Whippet " is a machine that should appeal particularly to the " owner-pilot," for frequent adjustments and rigging— especially when folding the wings in position for flight—are thus avoided, whilst the machine can be housed in quite a tudinals, diagonals and cross-members are of circular-section steel tubing, and are readily replaceable. Bracing wires are entirely eliminated, and it is claimed that the whole frame-work is not affected by climatic conditions. The engine is overhung from the front of the frame, and a special shock-absorbing device, consisting of rubber buffers, is fitted between the fuselage and the engine-bearer-. The engine is enclosed in an aluminium cowling. IO76
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