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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 0997.PDF
4X6 FLIGHT. APRIL 23, 1935, BRITISH AIRCRAFT NOW that several flying clubs have adopted the B.A. Swallow as a trainer, this interesting little machine may be said to be coming iully into its own. Not that its value lies solely in the fart that it is one of the safest and easiest machines to fly; its performance at the top end of the s'-.ale is extraordinarily good when the com- paratiwiy low power and extremely low landing speed tre remembered. Furthermore, its cruising range V\ of the order required for Continental touring. A small gravity tank is fed by pump from 1he main tanks, and the total fuel supply suffices, for 4^ hours' flying. With a cockpit starter it is possible, at a safe height, to stop the Pobjoy radial altogether and to soi»r about the sky with no sound other than the faint whistle of the wind, and the cockpits are so well-screened that it is a pleasure to fly without helmet or goggles. The handling quali ties, though not quite perfect in the matter of control harmonisation, are excellent in their absence of vice, and the pilot can hold the stick rignt back and apply full rudder with no worse results than a spiral. Consequently, the Swallow can. be held at or near the stall with perfect safety vsh'le making a short approach, provided that the nose is dipped at the last in order to obtain full control for the landing. One or two amateur pilots who have been unable to "solo" safely on other machines have been passed out on the Swallow—a fact which speaks for itself. The specification of the Pobjoy-Swallow is as follows: Span folded, 15ft. lin ; length, 27ft.; weight empty, 9301b.; disposable load, 570I0.; maximum speed, 112 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 98 m.p.h.; landing speed, 30 m.p.h.; initial rate of climb, 8oo ft.-min.; endur ance at cruising speed, 4.5 hr. Price, £725. In a different category, though also a low-wing monoplane, is the Eagle, a three-seater cabin machine with a D.H. Gipsy Major engine and a retractable undercarriage. Work by Rum- bold has made the latest version of the Eagle one of the quietest cabin machines on the market, and it is, withal, comfortable and easy to fly. During last season it was successful in a number of races in this country, and it will be remembered that this machine put up a temporary record for the South Atlantic crossing. As in the case of the Swallow, the Eagle is of all-wood con struction, the wings being capable of folding to reduce storage space. The retractable undercarriage is manually operated by means of an easily turned handle on the pilot's right and, until it is in the down position, the throttle cannot be fully closed. Retracting takes a matter of seconds. Although still in the experimental stage, the new Double Eagle may be mentioned as a machine which is likely to be The amount of transparent area is particularly notice able in this sketch of the interior of the B.A. Eagle. The undercarriage handla can be seen on the right of the pilot's seat, while the diagram shows the seating and luggage arrangements. LUSCAGE of interest to the private owner as well as to the small air line operator Primarily a high-wing monoplane, with all its advantages in the matter of passenger view, the Double Eagle will exhibit a number of interesting control and constructional features. The specification of the Eagle is as follows: Span folded, 14ft. ioin.; length, 26ft.; weight empty, 1,4501b.; disposable load 9501b.; maximum speed, 148 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 130 m.p.h.; landing soeed. 45 m.p.h.; initial rate of climb, 700 ft.-min.; range at cruising speed, 650 miles. Price, £1,250. Makers: The British Aircrait Mfg. Co., Ltd., Hanworth Aerodrome, Feltham, Middlesex. fV ! COMFORT j SECURITY : POPULAR FROM THE AND | TWO j TYPES B.A. j FACTORY Two extremes in one class from the same factory. Above is the B.A. Swallow and on the right is the Eagle, which, with three occupants and their luggage, cruises at 130 m.p.h. The Swallow has an enviable reputation for safe and easy handling.
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