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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 1491.PDF
II October 1957 581 day, when the uninterrupted space will enhance the sociability and pleasure of the journey, and when a private sleeping facility will not as a rule be needed. It is a layout that makes the most of the available length, from the control cabin to the entrance door and toilet com- partment, to secure the largest possible cabin. The impression of spaciousness is at its maxi- mum. The eight large armchairs are afforded all the length required for reclining; ample room is still available for stowage cabinets. The large shelves behind the entrance door, on the port side of the toilet compartment, accommodate a good deal of light luggage that may be needed during the flight. The folding tables, which can be raised singly or to form two cabin-width spreads, are convenient for conference work." The de Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd., Hatfield, Herts. Edgar Percival E.P.9 Although designed primarily for agri- cultural work, the E.P.9 is suitable for many other types of operation. It can, for instance, function as a six-seat transport or as a light freighter. The high-set wings are metal- covered, as are flaps and ailerons. Steel tubing and fabric covering are used for the fuselage, and the undercarriage can handle vertical velo- cities of 9ft/sec. Flying controls are fully duplicated. Battery and generator, with elec- tric starter, are standard equipment. The construction of the aircraft was described in detail in Flight of December 30, 1955. In the issue of October 26, 1956, its handling characteristics were discussed; and an account of production methods was given in the issue of April 5 last. In the first of these issues the design philo- sophy was presented, and the following are extracts:— "For New Zealand [where Capt. Edgar Percival, the designer had made a first-hand survey], the main types of operations were: (1) aerial fertilizing; (2) anti-pest spraying; (3) supply-dropping to deer shooters (who are permanently employed in the mountain dis- tricts to destroy the large herds of wild deer); (4) the dropping of fence-posts and fencing material in the mountain country; and (5) trans- port of wool bales from remote mountain areas. "In addition to meeting the important requirements of carrying as good a useful load as possible on a given size of engine and having a good performance from small landing strips, the cardinal points of agricultural-aircraft design must include the safety of the pilot. The topdressing work as performed in New Zealand can be considered more hazardous than other forms of regular flying, and there has been much argument in the past concerning the best position for the pilot. In many aircraft at present used for fertilizing, the pilot is located between and on a level with the engine and the load. As a result, he is the 'ham in the sandwich' in the event of a crash following engine failure during take-off or climb-away, especially in mountainous country. In the E.P.9 the pilot sits on a level which is above both the load and the engine. "From the combination of the aircraft con- figuration and the pilot's position, a voluminous cargo space, or cabin space, results. This cargo space, coupled with the low loading platform of the cabin floor, Mr. Percival points out, makes the E-P.9 a true 'flying jeep.' It can be used for transporting sheep or other small animals, standard bales of wool and other goods. The cabin can be loaded through the large side or through the clamshell doors at the rear; standard 45-gal drums of petrol or oil can easily be rolled in and carried. . . . "An important factor when moving from one site to another on topdressing operations is that, in the E.P.9, a ground crew of three persons can be carried in addition to the pilot and the hopper. Capt. Perciyal further told Flight: "Because I was designing an aircraft that had a more universal application than for fertilizing and spraying alone, I decided a metal stressed-skin wing was called for to meet the durability case. After due consideration I decided that without doubt the high-wing layout was most suitable for agricultural and rough-country work; and because of the high-wing layout we were able to make use of light-alloy wing cover- ing, since the fertilizer or spray chemicals were unlikely to come into contact with the wing. The fuselage has been made of steel tubing because this material appears to be the most suitable to combat the corrosive effect of some of the f ertilizers and sprays used in agricultural work. With light-alloy skin covered structures the corrosive effect of the fertilizers used is most marked at the lapped joints and under the rivets." Edgar Percival Aircraft, Ltd., Stapleford Tavmey Aerodrome, Abridge, Essex. Hunting Percival Executive President The think-ing behind the Executive President is contained in this extract from an "open letter" addressed by the makers to an imaginary businessman: "But are the national airlines in fact the quickest and most convenient means of personal travel for your- self and the key members of your staff about the continent of Europe, and perhaps further afield? They are speedy and comfortable, it is true, but do they fully meet your urgent need to travel where you will and when you will, and perhaps to continue with your work as you go? And is not much of your time wasted by the necessity to resort to surface transport to reach destinations often far beyond the airline terminals? You must often have wished that you could command an airliner of your own, routed to your own schedule, taking off and landing to your own timetable . . . with pro- vision for your stenographer and her typewriter . . . maybe a voice recorder ... an airliner in which your head executives can travel with you, so that you can confer with them in com- fort and privacy as you fly to and from your appointments ... a personal airliner which, at your bidding, will carry you from point to point over a far-spread choice of greater and smaller airfields, including many unrecognized by the major airlines. . . ." In standard form the Executive President accommodates up to six passengers in the single cabin, which is notable for its generous head- room. Toilet and wardrobe facilities are pro- vided, together with a refreshment buffet. All passenger seats are adjustable to a semi-reclining position, and the tables between the facing seats can be folded down out of the way if not required. In the nose and rear fuselage are holds for luggage, the latter being accessible in flight. A possible alternative arrangement of the main cabin accommodates four pas- sengers, and a smaller fore cabin seats two others. Telephones can be fitted if required for communication with the cockpit. The President's cabin volume is exceptional for an aircraft of its class, and the high wing gives an entirely unobstructed cabin roof and floor in addition, of course, to affording an excellent field of view for the occupants. The overall length of the interior is 20ft 0.75in and the width is 5ft 6in. The height is 6ft throughout most of its length, and the total available volume is 620 cu ft. The double opening doors provide an aperture measuring 5ft 2in by 4ft 2in. Hunting Percival Aircraft, Ltd., Luton Air- port, Beds. Jackaroo Aircraft Jackaroo Mk 2 The Jackaroo is a conversion of the D.H. Tiger Moth and is claimed to be the cheapest four-seat aircraft in the world. Alternatively it is available as an agricultural machine and this version and the four-seater are fundamentally the same, the one being convertible into the other simply by adding three seats and a cabin top in the case of the agricultural model, and by removing two seats and adding a hopper in the case of the four- seater. Cost of the conversion kit in either case is £150. Three aircraft have been completed to date, and present planned production is for three a month, rising to four by March or April next. Thereafter, the makers say, production can be doubled. They give as "a conservative esti- mate" fifty orders for the agricultural version and about half that number for the crop-duster. A recent fitment is a Fairey metal propeller, which improves take-off performance, and disc brakes can be fitted as an optional extra at a cost of £80. Practically the whole Tiger Moth structure is retained intact, and Tiger Moth spares, which are available almost everywhere, can therefore be used. The overhaul life of the engine is 1,500 hours, and overhauls cost £150. Jackaroo Aircraft, Ltd., Thruxton Aero- drome, Thruxton, Andover, Hants. Hunting Perciyal Executive President (two Alris Leonides 503). Below: Typical interior.
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