FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1309.PDF
^f August IQJ/J, 1948 FLIGHT 209 Design and Operational Features of an 8/lO-seater 'K Feeder-line Transport with Leonides Engines WHILST similar in general appearance to its forerunner,the Merganser, the Percival Prince reveals consider-able improvements and advances in design detail. Infact, the Percival company has again produced a feeder- line aircraft with comfort and safety for the passenger and cheap and simple operation for the owner as the main considerations. By this it must not be assumed that high performance has been sacrificed. Outside the United Kingdom, especially where feeder-line aircraft fill an important role in conveying passengers between remote areas and the main trunk routes, it is important for passenger comfort that there shall be as little noticeable restriction of space as possible in the feeder-line aircraft in comparison with the trunk-line aircraft, and also an equal capacity in each for carrying baggage. There is an impression when inside the Prince of a shortened version of a large airliner. The fuselage is deep, the windows are large, and in the company's fully equipped eight-seater version each passenger is allowed ample room, with the convenience of a toilet. From the operator's point of view it may be desirable to increase capacity, and provision has been made for a double seat to be fitted in place of the toilet on the starboard side at the rear. It would even be possible, perhaps (for very short-haul operators), to squeeze-in yet another seat on each side, but by doing so the designer's object of building the aircraft around the passenger would be lost. High-wing design is, of course, particularly popular with passengers, and the large windows in the Prince allow an excellent all-round view from every seated position. At the same time the design results in a low-slung fuselage with a consequent low floor level—an obvious advantage for freight loading. With direct interests in survey work, the constructors have also paid attention to the alternative use of the Prince as a survey aircraft, and a special version with a nose extended 2ft for carrying an operator in the prone position is already in the mock-up stage. Operators' maintenance arid servicing requirements have not been neglected. Thirty-two inspection panels through- out the fuselage, wings and tail unit permit easy access, and in particular, the pneumatic runs can be easily reached throughout their length. The company are also attempting a high interchangeability factor, and a loose-leaf handbook has been produced employing photographs for the identifi- cation of spare parts, the object being simplification when ordering replacements—an important factor, especially in view of the comparative inexperience of engineers with the new Alvis Leonides power plants. Although the semi- monocoque construction of the fuselage is orthodox, pro- duction problems have been studied, and the entire aircraft has been broken down into a number of small assemblies. On the production line, the skeleton construction of frames and longerons will form the first complete stage. The top-hat section stringers, with the light-alloy skin will be assembled in prefabricated sections nbout three stringers deep and up to 14ft long. Throughout the length of the fuselage some frames are attached completely by flush rivets to the skin, whereas others are riveted to the free flanges of the stringers. The main frame carries a massive forged Tht control locking barlon the throttle box is in the locked position.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
