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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0127.PDF
JANUARY 15TH, 1942 FLIGHT Twenty-first of the Second Series FRIEND or FOE? Two Four-engined Transports : . Liberator and A.W. Ensign HERE are two big four-engined aircraft, regularly seen over this country, which should be fairly easy to identify even without the help of their#very different tails. The Consolidated Liberator is more than well known; it has become famous for its magnificent service on the Atlantic ferry, but it must not be forgotten that another version of the same aircraft, mounting some very effective armament, is now play ing its part in the Battle of the Atlantic. It is the transport version, however, with which we are con cerned at the moment. The Armstrong-Whitworth Ensign, also employed as a communication aircraft, does not possess the range of the American Liberator, although it is appreciably the larger machine, having a span and length of 123ft. and 114ft. respectively, as compared with the 11 oft. and 63ft. of the Liberator. Any plan or side view of the Ensign, in fact, which shows up the great Length of the fuselage to advantage, will make identification quite a simple matter, but it will be noted that from a foreshortened view—such as the rear, underneath angle depicted here —the characteristic proportions of the Ensign are practically lost, and so the design of the tail at once assumes major importance to the spotter. Both these aircraft, of course, are of the shoulder-wing type, but this similarity is countered to some extent by the different methods of undercar riage retraction, as shown in the accompanying illustrations. Dealing now with their respective tail assemblies, the Liberator is of the twin fin and rudder type, while the Ensign employs a single vertical sur face. The Liberator's tailplane, of com paratively high aspect-ratio, lies across the upper surface of the extremity of the fuselage which is rounded in plan. It is of the cantilever type and has straight, parallel edges, the outer tips of the elevators being cut away to permit rudder clearance. The fins and rudders, which are outrigged on the square tailplane tips, form straight- sided ovals of symmetrical outline and are attached on their horizontal centre-line—that is to say, there is an equal surface area above and below the plane of the horizontal surface. The single tail of the Ensign is a perfectly conventional affair and nicely proportioned. The tailplane, set level with the base of the fin, has a straight taper to leading and trail ing edges. The tips are moderately broad and have straight edges, with rounded corners, that slope inwards towards the rear. Long trimming tabs adorn almost the entire span of the elevators, whose inner tips are sloped away from the rudder. The fin of the Ensign (the fin and rudder present quite a large area) has a straight slope of some 45 degrees to its leading-edge. A comparatively small, rounded apex of constant radius, almost all of which is on the rudder, is matched by a similar curve where the heel of the rudder blends smoothly into the underside of the fuselage. The trailing-edge of the rudder is straight and vertical. A mass-balance projects from the apex and a long tab occupies the trailing- edge. The Liberator has a tricycle under carriage and the Ensign a non- retracting tail wheel. Next Week: Miles Magister and Junkers Ju 87B.
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