Bristol Gordon England biplanes
Gordon England biplanes | |
---|---|
G.E.2 with Gnome engine | |
Role | Military utility aircraft |
Manufacturer | Bristol |
Designer | Eric Gordon England |
First flight | May 1912 |
Number built | 5 |
The Bristol Gordon England biplanes were a series of early British military biplane aircraft designed by Eric Gordon England for the Bristol Aeroplane Company that first flew in 1912. Designed for easy ground transport, the aircraft could be quickly disassembled.
Design and development
The first Gordon England design, the G.E.1, was a
After testing during May and June 1912 the fins were removed, and an enlarged aerodynamically balanced rudder fitted. The aircraft was sold to the Deutsche Bristol Werke. However it was found to be unsuitable for use as a trainer, and was returned to the Bristol works at Filton in September 1912 and scrapped.[1]
The G.E.2 was an enlargement and refinement of the previous design. The fuselage was carried on the innermost pairs of interplane struts, so that there was a gap between the fuselage and the lower wing, and a shallow curved
The design was further refined in the G.E.3, of which two were built for the
Variants
- G.E.1
- One built. Powered by 50 hp (40 kW) Clerget inline engine: length 29 ft (8.84 m), wingspan 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m).[8]
- G.E.2
- Two built — one with a 100 hp (80 kW) engine, the other with a 70 hp (53 kW) Daimler
- G.E.3
- Two built. Powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome Lambda engine, length 28 ft 5 in, (8.63 m), wingspan 39 ft (12 m).[8]
Specifications (G.E.2, Gnome engine)
Data from [8]
General characteristics
- Crew: two, pilot and observer
- Length: 31 ft 0 in (9.45 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.20 m)
- Wing area: 400 sq ft (37.2 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,080 lb (480 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,000 lb (907 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome double Omega 14-cylinder twin-row rotary engine , 100 hp (75 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 68 mph (109 km/h, 59 kn)
See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Barnes, C. H. (1988). Bristol Aircraft since 1910 (3rd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-851778-232.
- Bruce, J.M. (1982). The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-370-30084-9.
- Lewis, Peter (1962). British Aircraft 1809–1914. London: Putnam.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 204.