General Aircraft Cygnet

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GAL.42 Cygnet II
Cygnet II G-AGAX at Manchester (Ringway) Airport in March 1955 shortly before it was destroyed in a crash
Role two-seat trainer/sporting
Manufacturer
General Aircraft Ltd
Designer C.R. Chronander & J.I. Waddington
First flight 1937
Retired 1988
Status retired
Number built 11

The General Aircraft GAL.42 Cygnet II was a 1930s British single-engined training or touring aircraft built by

General Aircraft Limited at London Air Park, Hanworth
.

History

The Cygnet was designed at

King's Cup Race on 10–11 September that year, finishing 13th.[1][4]

The first Cygnet with original tail and undercarriage

General Aircraft Ltd (GAL).[1][5]

Now known as the GAL 42,[6] the Cygnet was again entered into the King's Cup race on 2 July 1938,[7] but ran of oil late in the race when challenging for the lead and had to retire.[1][8] In November 1938, GAL modified the prototype Cygnet with a new tail assembly, with twin fins and rudders, to improve the efficiency of the aircraft's elevators.[8][9] GAL further modified the prototype early in 1939 with a nosewheel undercarriage, which had already been tested on a Monospar ST-25, with the intention of making the aircraft as safe and easy to fly as possible. Tests proved successful, and production was launched of the GAL 42 Cygnet II. This had cantilever undercarriage legs with oleo struts rather than the braced undercarriage legs of the prototype, a deeper cabin with a sliding cockpit canopy which could be opened in flight, and a more powerful (150 hp (110 kW)) Cirrus Major engine,[9][10] although the Gipsy Six remained an option and two Cygnet IIs were completed with this engine.[11]

The first production aircraft, registration G-AFVR, was flying by July 1939.

Douglas Boston and later as communications aircraft, while another, which was not impressed, was used by GAL as a communications aircraft. Two aircraft were sold to South American customers (one in Brazil and one in Argentina) in 1941.[13]

A trainer version of the Cygnet II was designed with an open cockpit as the GAL.45 Owlet.[14]

Surviving aircraft

Cygnet G-AGBN, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, Scotland (2010)

There are two known survivors of the 11 examples produced. The last flying survivor, company number 111 and registered as G-AGBN (ES915), was retired in 1988 and is now on display at the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, Scotland. It was a part of the Strathallan Collection owned by Sir William 'Willy' James Denby Roberts until the dissolution of the collection. The National Museum of Flight failed to acquire it but the bidding was taken over by Victor Gauntlett who donated to the museum.[15][failed verification]

A civilian version was operated in south Argentina, in Tierra del Fuego province where it was damaged in a landing incident. After being repaired and being flown for several years, it was landed at a short airstrip in Colón and was unable to depart therefrom. It remained there and subsequently was converted into a monument at the Air Club entrance. In 2008 it was reported to be in poor condition.

Military operators

 Canada
    • No. 418 Squadron RCAF[16]
 United Kingdom

Specifications (Cygnet II with Cirrus Major)

GAL Cygnet 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile October 1939

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1940[17]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 1
  • Length: 23 ft 1 in (7.04 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m)
  • Height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
  • Wing area: 179 sq ft (16.6 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,475 lb (669 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 26 imp gal (31 US gal; 120 L) with provision for a 12 imp gal (14 US gal; 55 L) auxiliary tank
  • Powerplant: 1 ×
    Cirrus Major II
    4-cylinder inverted air-cooled in-line piston engine, 150 hp (110 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
  • Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
  • Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 14.6 lb/sq ft (71 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.0685 hp/lb (0.1126 kW/kg)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to General Aircraft Cygnet.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Jackson 1974, p. 221.
  2. ^ a b c Meaden Air Britain Archive Spring 2003, p. 23.
  3. ^ Meaden Air Britain Archive Spring 2003, pp. 23–24.
  4. ^ Lewis 1971, pp. 229, 302–305.
  5. ^ Meaden Air Britain Archive Spring 2003, pp. 25–26.
  6. ^ Meaden Air Britain Archive Spring 2003, p. 25.
  7. ^ Lewis 1971, pp. 312–313.
  8. ^ a b Meaden Air Britain Archive Spring 2003, p. 28.
  9. ^ a b c Jackson 1974, p. 222.
  10. ^ a b Meaden Air Britain Archive Summer 2003, p. 63.
  11. ^ Meaden Air Britain Archive Autumn 2003, p. 134.
  12. ^ Meaden Air Britain Archive Summer 2003, p. 64.
  13. ^ Meaden Air Britain Archive Summer 2003, pp. 64–65, 67.
  14. ^ Meaden Air Britain Archive Winter 2003, p. 171.
  15. ^ "General Aircraft Cygnet". National Museums Scotland. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Meaden Air Britain Archive Summer 2003, p. 65.
  17. ^ Grey, C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1940). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1940. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd.
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