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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 2297.PDF
OCTOBER 2ND, 1941. FLIGHT Sixth of the New Series FRIEND or FOE ? Two Opposite Numbers With Distinctive Tails WESTLAND LYSANDERCantilever tailplane set low on fuselage, pronouncedbacksweep to leading-edge, rounded tips. Large finand comparatively small rudder area clear ofelevators. Fixed tail wheel. ALTHOUGH the Westland Ly-l\ sander is a familiar sight in this •• •*• country—and the easiest of allBritish • machines to identify—it is just possible that future events mightbring its German counterpart, 'the Henschel Hs 126, over these shoreswith sufficient frequency to lead to possible confusion between these twoarmy co-operation types. As is already well known to mostof our readers, the Hs 126 greatly resembles our own Lysander in itsgeneral layout (very naturally so, since it was designed for similar func-tions), both being strut-braced, high- wing monoplanes with fixed under-carriage legs and radial engines. It has, of course, a number of informa-tive differences when viewed from any angle, and one of the most readilydiscernible is its tailplane, which is not only quite distinctive in planview, but is very differently mounted from that of the British machine.This latter point of divergence is par- ticularly useful to the spotter becausethere is not a very great deal of differ- ence between their respective fins andrudders in the matter of actual out- line, which leaves the tailplane as thequickest and most positive means of confirming identity. The accompanying pictures anddrawings clearly illustrate the com- pletely different tailplanes of theLysander and the Hs 126. That of the British machine has a pronouncedtaper to its leading-edge and a slight one to its trailing-edge and is of com-paratively low aspect-ratio. The Henschel tailplane, however, hasstraight and parallel edges and semi- circular tips, with a "bite" in thetrailing - edge where the ele-vators are cut away to per-mit rudder movement.The Lysan- der's rudder, however, being completely above theelevators even when the latter are fully raised, does not require a' bite'' in the trailing-edge of the horizontal surfaces. The difference in the manner ofmounting the two tailplanes is just as marked as is the difference in theirrespective outlines. That of the LYSANDER HENSCHEL Hs 126 Lysander is of cantilever constructionand is set very low on .the extremity of the fuselage. The Henschel tail-plane, however, is mounted about half-way up the fin and is externallybraced by double struts. Turning finally to the respectivevertical tail surfaces of these two machines, the illustrations show thatno very marked difference exists. The Lysander, however, has a morepronounced slope to the trailing-edge of its rudder, and the total area issomewhat larger and broader across its base-line than in the case of theHenschel. If conditions are such that details are visible, it will be seen thatthe rudder of the British machine is wholly above the extremity of thefuselage, whereas that of the German extends down between the cut-awayelevators to blend into the base-line of the fuselage. The area of mov-able rudder in relation to the area oi the fixed fin on the Lysander isappreciably less than in the case of the Henschel, but the total area ofthe vertical surfaces is greater on the British aircraft. It will also be notedthat trimming tabs are dispensed with on the Lysander, but are present onboth elevators and rudder of the Hs 126—a minor detail of purely tech-nical interest to the student of design rather than to the spotter. Bothmachines have fixed tailwheels. Next week: LockheedLightning and Focke- Wulf 189. HENSCHEL Hs 126. Doublestrut - braced tailplane, with straight parallel edges androunded tips, set half-way up fin. Vertical surfaces somewhat simi-lar to Lysander but smaller. Rudder extends down betweenelevators to base-line of fuselage. Less slope to leading- andtrailing - edges than Lysander. Fixed tail wheel.
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