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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0652.PDF
FLIGHT. MARCH, IO, 193S. "Flight" photograph. THE LATEST WICKO Interesting Flying Characteristics of an Inexpensive Cabin Two-seater High-wing Monoplane Returns : Constructional Simplicity The IN spite of ever-pressing armament demands, the privateowner has, as yet, no justifiable complaint concerningthe range of types from which he may choose. While more of the bigger firms may or may not eventually show some interest in the manufacture of light and medium-light aeroplanes, there is not likely to be any shortage of such machines from the drawing boards and works of smaller firms who are satisfied with a compara- tively small output. In some measure this is all to the good of the private owner, since the range from which he may choose is likely to be much greater, every designer having his own ideas on the subject of what the owner requires. Furthermore, when* machines are built in batches of half a dozen, or even less, no particular hard- ships are involved in a drastic change of ideas. Old Into New The Wicko (which now, with a Gipsy Major engine, possessesa full-sized performance and pay load) is something of a return to old-fashioned ideas applied in the modern manner. It isa braced high-wing monoplane and the occupants, therefore, have a really good view of the ground—a view which is tosome extent denied them in the case of many high-efficiency types. It is, moreover, fitted with flaps of the not-often-considered contour-changing type. The structure tends to make the best use of old and new ideas, while this is, at thesame time, designed to simplify and consequently to cheapen production. In this country the high-wing machine appears to have dieda natural and somewhat regretted death, and the Wicko pro- vides a quite welcome revival in view of the machine's manygood qualities, not the least of which are stability, viceless- ness and the already-mentioned good view. In Flight of July 8, 1937, the Minor-engined version of themachine was described from the flying point of view, and in many ways the latest model is similar in its characteristics.Nevertheless, quite apart from the extra power, certain im- portant changes in the general layout have made considerableimprovements both to the view and to the amount of avail- able space in the cabin. The new machine is fitted with flapswhich, when in use, transform an already safe and straight- forward near-stall to one of almost unnatural stability. Atthe same time, these flaps do not in any way affect the good side-slipping capacities of the machine, "so that the pilot has,apart Irom the variation in flap angle which may be madei the capacity to adjust an engineless approach within verywide limits. (Continued on next page.) " Flight" phntoqrci:>h*. In this view into the Wicko's cabin the flap lever may be seen behind the nearest of the two control columns. Engine controls are of the "organ-stop" type. (Left) One of the "contour-changing" flaps of the Wicko, which assist considerably its already docile behaviour m the air.
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