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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0784.PDF
274 FLIGHT. MARCH 24, 1938. A Review of Twenty Makes : Their Charac- teristics & Capabilities Illustrated Mainly with " Flight" photographs. ARPIN WITHIN a few weeks . the Arpinpusher, which was first described in Flight of jS'ovember 25 last year, should be making its test flights. The machine is primarily interesting because the designer has striven for safety and comlort rather than for sheer perform- ance. It is, too, designed around a tri- cycle undercarriage, and, though built of wood, to some degree resembles the .American Stearman-Hammond. The engine fitted to the prototype is a 68 h.p. British Salmson. The two occu- pants are seated in tandem. SPECIFICATION: Span, 31/i. bin.; length, 23/i. 5m.; all-up iveight, 1,260 lb., weight empty, 740 Ib.; maximum speed, 108 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 0.5 m.p.h.; landing speed, 38 m.p.h.; initial rate of climb, b8ojt./min.; range, 475 miles. Makers: M. B. Arpin and Co., Longford, West Drayton, Middlesex. BRITISH AIRCRAFT WITH a, long and well-founded repu-tation for being one of the safest machines on the British market, the B.A Swallow is now used for ab initio training by quite a large number of clubs. Curiously enough, though this machine is, in many ways, very easy to fly, its light wing loading, which involves reasonable care during the approach and landing, gives it considerable merit as a trainer. Furthermore, it is of the low- wing type, and is therefore suitable for accustoming pilots to this layout, which may be expected to be the most common one at least for many years to come. One of the more pleasant features of the machine is that, with its large and carefully designed windscreen, it is pos- sible to fly comfortably -without goggles or even without a helmet. The Pobjoy Cataract, which is fitted in one of the two models, has a hand-starter in the pilot's cockpit, so that the engine can, in fact, be safely stopped in the air if the real pleasures of motorless flying are to be experienced. Many of the later models have been fitted with the Cirrus The first British all-metal stressed-skin a eroplane In the small class—the C-W. Cygnet. An ultra-lightweight with an outstanding performance—the Chilton monoplane. Minor engine, and the figures which are given below apply to this combination. SPECIFIC A TION: Span folded, 15ft. lin.; length, 27ft.; all-up weight, 1,500 Ib.; weight empty, 1,030 Ib.; maxi- mum speed, 104 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 92 m.p.h.; landing speed, 30 m.p.h.; initial rate of climb, yooft./min.; range, 390 miles. In a very different class is the B.A. Eagle, which had the distinction of being the first British light aeroplane to be fitted with a retractable undercarriage. This distinction was, in fact, a rather doubtful one, since at the time such an arrangement was looked upon with some unreasonable doubt by the prospective private owner. Last year a model was produced with a fixed and faired under- carriage for the benefit of those who shirked the slight responsibilities involved in retraction. The cabin arrangements are in the usual three-seater form, with the pilot by himself in front and the two pas- sengers side-by-side behind. The cabin itself is well windowed and very carefully soundproofed, so that at cruising speed the Eagle is certainly one of the quietest machines in its class. SPECIFIC A TION: Span folde d, 14/1. loin.; length, 26ft.; all-up weight, 2,400 lh.; weight empty, 1,450 Ib.; maxi- mum speed. 148 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 130 m.p.h.; landtng speed, 45 m.p.h.; initial rate of climb, 700ft./min.; range, 650 miles; price £1,2^0. Makers: British Aircraft (Sales), Ltd., Hanworth Aero- drome, Feltham, Middlesex. C-W. T is unfortunate that, for the moment - at any rate, C-W. Aircraft do not find it possible to proceed with the produc- tion of the Cygnet, which has a special interest as the first all-metal light aero- plane to appear on the British market. In its latest form, with a Gipsy Mnjor engine and redesigned windscreen ana cabin top, the Cygnet has distinctly handsome lines, and its general perform- ance is well up to that of sinwlar type*- I
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