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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0434.PDF
434 FLIGHT INTRODUCING THE SAFARI J configuration and detailed performance estimates for -•• the Frye F-l DC-3 replacement have been announced by theFrye Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas. Known as the Safari, the machine is designed to carry twice the number of passengersor double the cargo load of a DC-3 at a lower unit cost. Previous news of the progress of the F-l project was given in the September23rd, 1955, October 7th, 1955, and March 23rd, 1956, issues of Flight. The Safari will be offered in three main versions, for all-passenger, all-cargo, and combination cargo-passenger duties, each of which can be equipped with either retractable or fixedlanding-gear. The basic powerplant will be the 600 h.p. Pratt and Whitney S1H1-G Wasp, while the Lycoming T53-L-1 turboprop(825 e.s.h.p.), Alvis Leonides Major (820 h.p.) and Wright R-1300 Cyclone (800 h.p.) are alternatives which can be fitted, withoutalteration to the nacelles aft of the firewall, for improved per- formance. The passenger version will accommodate up to 51 persons ina main compartment 45 ft 2in long, with 39in seat spacing. "The picture-window nose of this version," the company states, "willenclose a 'Vistaramic' lounge that gives passengers a forward look during flights." On average short-haul flights (75-600 miles),direct operating costs are estimated to be between 1.27 and 1.47 cents per seat-mile.The freighter version will have an all-clear compartment 39ft 6in long by 9ft lin floor width, providing a volume of 2,513cu ft cargo space. It will have clamshell front doors giving an opening 106in x 75in in addition to a side door 76in x 75in, bothwith aircraft-floor level at truck-bed height. On a 1,000-mile flight the payload will be over 8,000 lb; over shorter distances,up to 12,000 lb can be carried at a direct operating cost of 10-11 cents per short ton-mile. The normal configuration of the Safari (illustrated) will seat25 passengers in the rear fuselage and will utilize the forward half for cargo. The passenger/freight proportion will be flexible, how-ever, with the use of a movable bulkhead and modular seat-banks and overhead baggage units. Vistaramic lounge furnishings andwindows, it is stated, are optional on this version. A fourth possible version of the basic F-l is an executive/utility transportwhich, also, is flexible in its passenger/cargo proportions. Artist's impression of the Frye F.I Safari (cargo/passenger version powered by four P. and W. Wasps). The flight deck and equipment compartment has a floor areaof 130 sq ft, access being by means of a hatchway from the front of the main fuselage compartment. The Wasp powerplant in-stallation incorporates an ejector cooling system which permits the use of low-drag nacelles. The prototype Safari is expected to fly in February next year, with production deliveries starting In July. PERFORMANCE DATA Frye F-1 Safari powered by four 600 h.p. P. and W. Waipi At grots wt of At gross wt of 37,000 1b 32500 1b Useful cargo load 14,292 Ib 9,792 Ib Take-off ground run ... ... ... ... 1,580ft 1,130ft Distance to SOft (four engines) 2,300ft 1,650ft ,, ,, (one engine out, gear down) 2,800ft 1,940ft Climb at normal rated power (sea level) ... 860 ft/min 1,090 ft/min (8,000ft) ... 840 ft/min 1,070 ft/min (15,000ft) ... 440 ft/min 650 ft/min Time to 8,000ft 9.6 min 7.6 min Service ceiling 21,000ft 24,300ft Absolute ceiling 22,800ft 26.000ft Level speed at normal raced power (sea level) 182 m.p.h. 185 m.p.h. (8,000ft) 198 m.p.h. 201 m.p.h. (15,000ft) 186 m.p.h. 192 m.p.h. Level speed at cruise power (sea level) ... 160 m.p.h. 163 m.p.h, (8,000ft) 171 m.p.h. 175 m.p.h. (15,000ft) ... 169 m.p.h. 177 m.p.h. Landing approach speed 81 m.p.h. 76 m.p.h. Touchdown speed 62 m.p.h. 58 m.p.h. Distance from 50ft 1,700ft 1,520ft Ground run (non-reversing airscrew) ... 800ft 710ft Dimensions: Span, 109ft 6in; length. 75ft 10in: height, 30ft Oin; wheel base, 20ft 6in; track, 27ft Oin. CLUB AND GLIDING NEWS ESULTS of the first year's operations by the Vickers-Arm-• strongs, Ltd., (Weybridge) Flying Club have shown clearly how successful a works club can be with enthusiasm from membersand an enlightened attitude from the company. A total number of 1,942 flying hours at Fair Oaks was logged by the club betweenApril 1st, 1955, and March 31st last. On formation of the club, the company agreed to pay 90 per cent of the cost of flying,enabling members to fly at only 6s 6d per hour. Membership was limited to 60 during the year, and selection was by ballot becauseof the large number of applications. The original 60 members comprised 11 with current P.P.L.s, 4 with some previous flying ex-perience and 45 with no previous experience. During the year 48 new licences have been obtained and two members haveobtained night-flying ratings. Members have taken part in tea patrol, At Home and competition flying at Fair Oaks, and havebegun aerobatic training and provided a fly-past on the company's sports day. A film of the club's activities has now been completed.The first club year was necessarily an experiment—one which has proved so successful that it has been decided to train another50 ab initio pupils and almost double the membership during the coming year. The continued popularity of the club is indicatedby the present waiting list of no fewer than 160. With the con- tinued generous support of the company, it is planned to increasemarkedly the number of hours flown this year. "•"THE most staggering figures yet produced by any gliding club"•*• claimed in a recent note from Wally Kahn, refer not to the result of another Lasham party but to the gliding activitythere during the month of March. A total of 1,944 launches were made (of which 52 were by privately owned sailplanes), and 245hours were flown, excluding 9 hr by private sailplanes. On Easter Monday 54 hours' thermal soaring were logged by 19 machines,and during the Easter weekend five pilots completed their "Silver C" five-hour duration legs over the South Downs at Cocking.Over 100 launches per day at Lasham is now a frequent occur- rence. With a total club membership there of some 600, member- ship has now been restricted to experienced pilots. For ab initiopupils (apart from the instructional courses) a waiting list is in operation. THE Easter rally organized by the Midland Gliding Club at•*• the Long Mynd, Shropshire, was won by the Surrey Gliding Club's Weihe flown by David Martlew and John Williamson,which gained 231 points. Second was the Olympia IV flown by David Ince, with 203 pts, followed by Richard Prestwich in aSkylark II (198 pts) and Philip Wills in the Skylark III (194 pts). Among the long-distance cross-countries accomplished were goalflights in the Weihe by Martlew and Williamson respectively, to Cardiff (73 miles) and Abingdon (81), and an attempted goal flightto Dunstable (110) by Ince, who landed only four miles short. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Apr. 13. Helicopter Association: "Aerodynamic Aspects of Heli- copter Design," by H. Roberts, Ph.D., B.Sc, D.I.C., A.F.R.Ae.S., A.M.I.Mech.E. Apr. 14. Surrey Gliding Club: Annual General Meeting. Apr. 14. London Gliding Club: Annual Dinner Dance. Apr. 14. British Interplanetary Society (Birmingham): "Astronautics Today," by R. 6. Beard, Grad.l.Mech.E., Grad.l.Prod.E. Apr. 17. R.Ae.S.: Section Lecture: "Investigation of Aircraft Accidents," by E. L. Ripley, O.B.E. Apr. 18. Institute of Navigation: "Relative Movement and the Collision Problem." An analysis by some of the technical committee members. Apr. 18. R.Ae.S. Graduates and Students Section: "Gas Turbines— Propeller or Jet," by R. M. Fitzgerald. Apr. 19. R.Ae.S.: Main Lecture: "High Speed Experimental Test Flying," by Lt-Col. Charles E. Yeager, U.S.A.F. Apr. 21. British Interplanetary Society: Annual General Meeting. R.Ae.S. Branch Fixtures (to April 19th):— Apr. 13. Birmingham, "Prop-Jets in the Navy," by W. H. Lindsey. Apr. 14, Southampton, Annual Dance. Apr. 16, Hal ton, Brains Trust. Apr. 18, Coventry, A.G.M. and films; Preston, A.G.M. and film show; Southampton, "Full-Scale Layout," by J. W. Earle. Apr. 19, Cheltenham, A.G.M. and film; Reading and District, A.G.M. and film show
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