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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 0678.PDF
256 FLIGHT. MARCH 18, I937 pilot is the Dart Kitten, which is a sturdy low-wing single-seater at present fitted with a 27 h.p. Ava flat-four two- stroke. The machine has very good fly ing and control characteristics and, by means of a change in the aerofoil section from root to tip, has very safe and con trollable stall. A large number of pilots with widely varying experience have flown the machine without difficulty. The cock pit is roomy, and the whole structure is of a robust and straightforward nature. The firm was originally founded in 1934 under the name of Zander and Weyl, and have had considerable experi ence in the manufacture of sailplanes and the like. In addition to the Kitten they have made two other ultra-light aeroplanes known as the Pup and the Flittermouse. Both are pusher high- wing monoplanes designed not only to- have safe flying characteristics, but also to give the pilot a maximum range of visibility in all directions. Whereas the former has a normal type of fuselage and a pronounced sweep back, the latter is more of the true pusher type with a boom-supported tail. The specification of the Kitten is as fol lows: Span, 31 ft. 9 in.; length, 21 ft. 4 in.; weight empty, 440 lb.; disposable load, 242 lb.; maximum speed, 75/80 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 65 m.p.h.; stalling speed, 37 m.p.h.; initial rate of climb, 400 ft./ min.; range, 260 miles; price. £345. Makers: Dart Aircraft, Ltd., 29, High Street North, Dunstable, Beds. De Hav'dtand W ITH a longer experience than anv other firm in the design and manu facture of light aeroplanes, the De Havilland firm decided, some two years ago, that the days of the open tandem two-seater were numbered and that the time had come to produce a new type which would suit both the private owner and club. After the Puss and Leopard came the Hornet Moth, designed to pro vide the best possible compromise be tween the somewhat conflicting demands of a large number of prospective pur chasers. The Hornet Moth, particularly in its latest form, is easy to fly and land—to the point of being adequately control lable in the air on either stick or rudder As might be expected, the Hornet Moth has an excellent performance as a seaplane With two occupants and more than 100 lb. of luggage, the machine has a range of 316 miles while cruising at 95 m.p.h. Tests on a Canadian lake, lying some 1,500 ft, above sea level, showed that the Hornet was off a glassy surf ace after a 30-second run. alone—it is quiet, it has a light and roomy cabin which is easily entered from either side, and there is ample lug gage space. More important Still, this machine can, with two heavy occupants and their luggage, be taken safely out of almost any field in which it is possible to land. It has, moreover, a range which is more than adequate for Con tinental or even for extra-Continental touring. More recently it has been put on floats for Canadian use and in this form has shown itself to have an excep tionally good performance. The specification of the Hornet Moth is as follows: Weight empty, 1,255 lb.; dis posable load, 695 lb.; folded span, 9 ft. 9 in.; length, 25 ft.; maximum speed, 121- 124 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 103-105 m.p.h.; landing speed, 40 m.p.h.; climb to 5,000 ft., S.25 min.; range, 750 miles; price, ^775. Originally produced for luxury private ownership and charter work, the D.H. Dragonfly has, during the past year, been used very successfully for twin- engined training. Its flying characteris tics sufficiently resemble those of its larger brothers to make it an excellent machine for this purpose, particularly as it is equipped with flaps, Sperry blind- flying equipment, and so forth. Further more, a hood arrangement can be in stalled to enable the pupil to become accustomed to real blind flying in a full- sized machine. For the private owner the Dragonfly is luxuriously equipped, and the nor mally skilful amateur has little difficuitv in being passed off on the machine after three or four landing circuits. Apart from furnishing comfort, exhaust and airflow noises have been reduced to aiich a remarkable extent that it is possible to talk in a normal tone of voice. For more serious flying two-way radio can, of course, be fitted. The specification of the Dragonfly is as follows: Weight empty, 2,500 lb.; dispos able load, 1,500 lb.; span, 43 ft.; length, 31 ft. 8 in.; maximum speed, 144-147 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 127-130 m.p.h.; climb to 5,000 ft., 7.5 min.; range, 885 miles. For ab initio and intermediate train ing the now well-known Tiger Moth has lost none of its popularity. Apart alto gether from those used at clubs and schools in this country, there are, for instance, some sixty of these machines in daily use at the Irani military flying school at Teheran alone. The specification of the Tiger Moth is as follows: Span, 29 ft. 4 in.; length, 23 ft. 11 in.; weight empty, 1,115 lb.; disposable load, 655 lb.; maximum speed, 109 m.p.h.; stalling speed, 45 ni.p.h.; climb to 5,000 ft, 9 min.; range, 285 miles. Makers: De Havilland Aircraft Co., Hatfield, Herts. • ".•• For luxury ownership : The D.H. Dragonfly, aptly described as " an air liner in miniature," cruises at 127 m.p.h. tor 88S mies with five occupants and their luggage. (Flight photograph.)
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