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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 1802.PDF
JCLY 2, 1936. FLIGHT. 13- CONVERTIBLE PERFORMANCE The First of Seven Airspeed Envoys for South Africa Military Guise in Three Hours. From Civil to Although actually flying at 10,000 ft above the thunder clouds, Fit. Lt. Colman lowers the under carriage and flaps of the first South African Envoy for the benefit of Flight's photographer. PROBABLY for the first time—in this country, at any rate—a real transport aeroplane has been produced which is capable of rapid conversion into a useful military type. Some time ago it was announced that the South African Government had ordered seven Airspeed Envoys with split flaps and Siddeley Cheetah IX engines. Of these, four were primarily for use with South African Airways, but capable of rapid conversion, and three for use with the South African Air Force as fast medium bombers. On Thursday of last week the first—one of the S.A.A.F. machines—was publicly aired, and the others are well on their way. Mr. Errington, the firm's chief test pilot, should also be on his way to South Africa by now with at least one of the machines, and Capts. Donnelley and Wilson, of the S.A.A.F., have been at Portsmouth for some time, watching the construction and flying "—MT." Both civil and military versions will, or can, carry an unspecified load of bombs in racks under the wing, with an Armstrong revolving gun turret above the fuselage (over the place normally taken by the lavatory), and a single fixed gun in a trough immediately behind and beside the pilot, who has the normal bead and ring sights in front of his screen. In its military guise the Envoy carries as crew a pilot, who operates the bomb gear and forward gun, a radio operator and navigator, who also clears any jams in this gun, and a rear gunner in his revolving conservatory. As a transport machine the Envoy is well known and, for South African use, will carry six passengers and a pilot, who in this case will normally act also as radio operator. "Radio " weather, as we know it, is not a commonplace
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