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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 1895.PDF
OCTOBER 3OTH, I947 FLIGHT 497 An outstanding characteristic of this promising tricycle-equipped prototype is its forward field of view, both on the g Progress with the Newbury Eon First Impressions in the Air : Development and Detail Improvement in Hand• ^ .^W... .-:,:^—•^ MAKING its first public appearance at Radlett this year,the prototype Newbury Eon impressed everyone veryfavourably. Not only is it a very attractive little air- craft, but its modern nose-wheel layout and roomy cabin atonce stimulate interest among private owners. This first prototype, which has a 100 h.p. Cirrus Minor engine, carriesthree passengers in a cabin capable of holding four in comfort. The next machine, which will not, however, be ready for somemonths, will probably have a 145 h.p. Gipsy Major X engine and will carry the four passengers with ease. The design wasthe work of Aviation and Engineering Products, Ltd., of Felt- ham. On a recent visit to Welford, near Newbury, I flew the Eonin company with Mr. Stanbury, who is doing the flight test- ing. I made no attempt myself to assess in detail its per-formance and handling at that stage. This will come later when a number of improvements to the detail design have beenincorporated It should be made quite clear that there is no intention of placing the Eon on the market until the makersare satisfied that it is the best they can offer. This is expected to entail several more months of development. Cruising at about 95 m.p.h., the Eon handles quite well, butthere is at present a lack of crispness about the controls—par- ticularly about the ailerons. An elevator with reduced hornbalance is being tried out and, by comparison with ailerons and rudder it is now over-sensitive. Stated another way, avery small movement of the push-pull wheel produces a very large effect. A different linkage with the same control surfacemight prove satisfactory. Brakes are also under examination and an improved type—probably hydraulic—is to be fitted. View from the cockpit is nothing Jess than outstanding.About the only other vehicle which can compare with it is a motor cycle. If the legs for the main landing wheels areshortened to reduce the pronounced nod as the nose wheel touches down during a landing, the view forward will still bemore than adequate. Both take-off and landing, which are pleasant and simpleactions, are best .made in two stages. For take-off with flap a little lowered, the nose wheel is lifted fairly early and atabout 50 m.p.h. the Eon pops off the ground when it is ready, without any backward movement of the wheel control. Itthen climbs steadily away at about 60 m.p.h. and 500 ft/min with two up. When landing, a "wheeler" in roughly flyingattitude is made following a slight hold off, and the machine is then tipped forward on to its nose wheel, assuming a- quitepronouncedly nose-down attitude. Pleasing Approach The Eon is at its best on the approach, which is made atabout 55 m.p.h., full flap giving a good steep attitude with exceptional view of the landing path. A trickle of engine re-duces the rate of descent, which is quite high, but a good burst is required to check an undershoot. One gets the impressionwhen flying the Eon that rather a lot is being asked of a willing and smooth little engine. This is also reflected in the low rateof climb. The stall is gentle enough but comes without warning at justover 40 m.p.h. Small spoilers on the centre section leading edges should remedy the lack of warning. Spinning tests haveyet to be made and a tail chute will first be fitted. The layout of the cabin and panels has not yet been final- ized, but engine instruments are grouped to the left and a flying panel is placed centrally. A drawing of the Eon's struc- ture and some details appeared in our September 18th issue. There is little doubt that when all the improvements have been incorporated by the makers, Elliots of Newbury, Ltd., and, particularly, if the price can be kept to about £1,750, as is anti- cipated, the Eon will find a ready market. M. A. S. Ihe Newbury Eon three-seater with Cirrus Minor engine is both attractive iiihfjiim li'i nli h I^J'fi all-wpdtienconstruction. \ ( " Flight " photograjih J
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