Gabardini biplane
| Gabardini biplane | |
|---|---|
| Role | Advanced military trainer
|
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Società Incremento Aviazione, Cameri |
| First flight | c.1914 |
The Gabardini biplane was an Italian single seat
trainer
and could be fitted with engines of output between about 40 to 80 kW (55 to 105 hp).
Design and development
Intended as an advanced military trainer, the Gabardini was a conventionally laid out
elevators. Though the biplane had a skidless conventional undercarriage, with single mainwheels strut-mounted and wire braced to the lower fuselage near the wing leading edge, the tail skid was unusually long and attached at mid-fuselage just aft of the cockpit. On the ground the aircraft had an attitude closer than usual to that attained in-flight, keeping the elevators, which when deflected reached below the fuselage bottom, well clear of the grass.[1]
Variants of the biplane appeared with a range of different
propeller. The most powerful of these was an 82 kW (110 hp) Le Rhône. A smaller (60 kW (80 hp))) engine of the same make was also fitted, as was a 37 kW (50 hp) Gnôme. Apart from the effect of different engine diameters, these variants were similar in appearance, though at least one of the higher powered Le Rhone aircraft had a rudder which was less upright and also scallop-edged.[1]
Specifications (82 kW (110 hp) trainer)
Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Wingspan: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
- Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 15.85 m2 (170.6 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 535 kg (1,179 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône rotary engine, 82 kW (110 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn) "low down""
- Wing loading: 33.7 kg/m2 (6.9 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.15 kW/kg (0.093 hp/lb)
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gabardini.
- ^ ISBN 1-85170-347-0.
