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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0650.PDF
28o FLIGHT MARCH 26TH, 1942 Thirty-first of the Second Series FRIEND or FOE ? Two Famous British. Trainers : Oxford and Anson THESE two aircraft are very similar in general appearance from almost any angle, although, actually, the Anson is some what the larger machine, especially in overall length. But their respective tail groups provide a quick and certain means of differentiating between them, as is the case with so many otherwise similar designs. The Avro Anson, formerly a recon naissance bomber, was officially trans ferred to the Training Command some time ago. Air Transport Auxiliary nse them as aerial taxis for their ferry pilots, and they are also used on general communications, but a few r'e still in the hands of Coastal Com mand, and operate in the quieter regions. Though obsolescent and slow by present-day standards, they are roomy and thoroughly reliable, and therefore make an admirable training machine. The Airspeed Oxford advanced trainer has about the same speed, but is rather more tricky to land than the comfortable old Anson. Either in plan or side view—or com bination of both—the tail units of these two trtherwise easily confused aircraft will identify them at once. Considering first the vertical surfaces, it will be seen from the accompanying illustrations that the fin and rudder of the Oxford, though of moderate aspect-ratio, rise to an apex so small as to be almost a point. That of the Anson, however, has a broad round apex, the total area of the fin and rudder being noticeably generous in consequence. Their respective tailplane= are equally in contrast, for that of the Oxford is of moderate aspect-ratio, tapers uniformly to round tips, and has a curving " bite" in the trailing- AIRSPEED OXFORD : Pointed apex to fin and rudder. Almost tailplane with trailing-edge bite." Fixed tail wheel. oval ( \ OXFORD ^^ff3 1c r S— \ J ANSON -—rftT^s-, 1 _/ol^3> 7*r\ .-• •- • ^1 i W: "i3" edge, whereas that of the Anson con trasts sharply with its own wings, being of high aspect-ratio and taper ing to very- small tips. The trailing- edge, which has no "bite," has a straight taper, but the leading- edge has a small radis at the tips. Both tailplanes, however, are set level with the base-line of the fuselage, and both aircraft h a v e fixed tail wheels. Next -week : Flying Fortresses, I and II. AVRO ANSON: Large fin and rudder with broad, round apex. Wide-span tailplane tapering to very small tips. Fixed tail wheel.
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