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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0648.PDF
652 FLIGHT THE DART HERALD- ' , * More Details Disclosed by Handley Page "Flight" copyright drawing. AS briefly recorded last week, Handley Page have announceda version of the Herald powered by two Rolls-Royce Darts, to be built in parallel with the Herald with four Alvis LeonidesMajors. The new version will be known as the Dart Herald. Modification of the prototype, G-AODE, is due to start shortlyat the Handley Page (Reading), Ltd., factory at Woodley, centre of Herald design, testing and production. The company hope tohave the Dart Herald ready for flight-testing by March next year, and they are aiming to have airworthiness certification and actualproduction deliveries by the following autumn. This is an uncommonly quick schedule, even taking into accountthe fact that a large part of the certification work for both airframe and Dart is already well advanced. The version of the Dart to be fitted is the Model 527, a memberof the R.Da.7 family which will power the later 810-series Vis- counts. The Dart 527 develops 1,910 s.h.p. or, allowing for a jetthrust of 515 lb, 2,015 e.h.p. Two will provide the Herald with an extra 700-odd equivalent horse-power, while at the same timesaving about 2,400 lb in basic equipped weight. Purchase price will be £175,000 without radio, an increase ofabout £20,000 on the piston-engined version, but still a highly competitive price. Despite the increase in first cost, direct operat-ing costs should work out at rather less than those of the piston- engined version, by virtue of the greater speed (up by 70 m.p.h.to 275 m.p.h.) and reduced engine maintenance costs. Handley Page have not released detailed cost figures, but quote an operating HANDLEY PAGE DART HERALD (Two Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 527, each rated at 1,910 s.h.p.+502 Ib thrust) Dimensions: span, 94ft 9^in; length, 71ft 11 in; height, 22ft 4in; wing area, 886 sq ft; cabin length, 43ft 8in; cabin height, 6ft 3in (75in); cabin width, 8ft 6in (102in); gross cabin volume, 2,152 cu ft. Basic data: fuel capacity, 1,000 Imp. gal (1,200 U.S. gal); oil capacity, 6 gal; main tyres, 34 x 11.75-14 (60 Ib/sq in); nose tyres, 23 x 7.25-10. Weights: basic equipped, 22,808 Ib; zero-fuel, 32,968 Ib; payload (36 seats), 10,160 Ib; maximum take-off and landing, 37,000 Ib. Performance (I.S.A.): take-off and landing atsea level at 37,000 Ib: two engines to 50ft, 717 yd (2,151ft); to 50ft, one engine out at safety speed, 1,390 yd (4.170ft); take-off speed, 109 m.p.h.; landing from 50ft, 730 yd (2,190ft); approach speed 1.3 Vs, 104 m.p.h.; touch-down, 95 m.p.h. Maximum continuous climb, both engines, 37,000 Ib: rate of climb at 10,000ft, 1,250ft/min; time to 10,000ft, 6.7 min; service ceiling, 29,500ft. Level, both engines, 36,000 Ib: at 15,000ft, recommended cruise (13,800 r.p.m.), 275 m.p.h. Range/payload at 15,000ft (full allowances for take-off, climb and descent, but no diversion): range with 10,160 Ib (maximum) payload, 657 st. miles; payload for 800 miles, 9,200 Ib; range with full tanks and 6,090 Ib pay load, 1,325 mites; mean cruising speed, 275 m.p.h.; mean consumption, 206 gal/hr. cost of "less than l^d per passenger-mile and 16d per ton-mile." The market for the piston-engined Herald, encouraging whenthe aircraft was first announced two years ago, has since been more and more influenced by increasing world acceptance of theturbine for local-service operations—a state of affairs brought about solely by the Dart. Among the airlines who have beenassociated with the Herald order-book—A.N.A., Queensland Air- lines, Lloyd Aero Colombiano and Air Kruise—the two Australiancompanies in particular (and, in recent weeks, another Australian operator) have lately said in so many words: "We want Heralds,but we would prefer them with Rolls-Royce Darts." Production of the Leonides Herald will continue (Handley Pagemention the possibility of 25 or more sales), and the company and indeed all the operators with whom they have negotiated recognizethat the Leonides Herald will remain the better aeroplane in many respects, with the notable exception of speed. In field and climbperformance in hot-and-high conditions the Leonides Herald is inevitably superior. The decision to go ahead with the Dart version does not implya Handley Page volte face. It appears to be sensible recognition of the fact that no matter what the maker's slide-rules say, thecustomer is right. It is furthermore an immense tribute to Rolls- Royce.* As G/C. R. C. M. Collard, Handley Page's sales manager,said a few days ago: "It is not simply turbines that operators are interested in—it is the Rolls-Royce Dart." With other turbine competitors already in the field, does theDart Herald appear on the market too late? A potential market for as many as 3,000 aeroplanes in the branchliner class, excludingmilitary requirements, can be foreseen for the next fifteen or twenty years. To date fewer than 100 have been ordered. More-over, it appears from the Dart Herald programme that Handley Page will be able to offer deliveries to operators who are seekingnew branchline equipment before its closest rival, the Friendship, comes off the Fokker production lines. Main airframe differences in the Dart Herald compared withthe Leonides version are: (1) a 19in increase in fuselage length (forward of the wing), made for e.g. reasons; (2) a new productioncentre-section and some airframe strengthening; and (3) outer- wing integral tanks. * Of the ten new European and U.S. turbine transports on the market(Herald, Friendship, Viscount, Vanguard, Electra, Caravelle, Comet, Britannia, DCS, 70T) all but one are being offered with Rolls-Royceengines—Dart, Tyne, Avon or Conway. Below, a "Flight" sketch of a typical payload-range comparison between the Dart- and Leonides-powered Heralds, with allowances for take-off, climb, cruise and descent. Right, general arrangement. The nose is Win longer, and propeller diameter is 12ft 6in, with a fuselage clearance of nearly 2ft. Dimensions are as set out in the table above. 1QOOO 8.OOO3 Q6.OOO 6 v4,OOO 2,000 O : i ' —-*^ : 2OO —*| LEONIDES ;' : f ' i ••x^L DART - ^ 6OO 8OO STAGE DISTANCEfsLm) 1OOO t2OO Pt— \~1 1| 11,40
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