RAE Scarab
| Scarab | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Single-seat sports aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Aero Club of the Royal Aircraft Establishment |
| Designer | P G N Peters and C R Brewer |
| First flight | February 1932 |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | de Havilland Humming Bird
|
The RAE Scarab was a light single-engined single-seat parasol winged modification of the
de Havilland Humming Bird, flying in the United Kingdom
in 1932. Only one was built.
Development
The Aero Club of the
DH.53, itself a 1923 aircraft. They repositioned the wing on a new fuselage to make a new, parasol winged monoplane, a change that required the creation of a centre section and the struts to support it.[2][3][4]
With its new fuselage,differential ailerons. In contrast to those of the DH.53, the wings of the Scarab folded for transport.[3] The Scarab's undercarriage was also new, a split axle unit with the main legs going to the upper longerons and bracing to the lower ones. The undercarriage track was 5 ft (1.52 m).[2] Like some DH.53s,[7] the Scarab was powered by a 32 hp (24 kW) Bristol Cherub III flat twin.[2]
The sole Scarab was registeredFarnborough until 1938, when it was stored and then scrapped in 1945.[4]
Specifications
Data from Flight 19 February 1932 p.149[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
- Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
- Wing area: 127 sq ft (11.8 m2) swept
- Empty weight: 460 lb (209 kg) [3]
- Gross weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Cherub III flat twin, 32 hp (24 kW) at 3,200 rpm
Performance
- Maximum speed: 78 mph (126 km/h, 68 kn)
- Cruise speed: 68 mph (109 km/h, 59 kn) [3]
- Stall speed: 32 mph (51 km/h, 28 kn)
- Range: 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi) [3]
- Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
References
Citations
- ^ In 1926 they designed and started to build the RAE Sirocco for the Lympne trials, but it was never completed. See Jackson (1960) p.517
- ^ a b c d e Flight 19 February 1932 p.149
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ord-Hume 2000, pp. 456
- ^ a b c d Jackson 1960, pp. 410
- ^ Jackson 1974, pp. 286
- ^ In the 1st edition (1960) of British Civil Aircraft, Jackson says that the DH.52 fuselage was retained, but the 1974 edition makes it clear it was new, in agreement with Ord-Hume
- ^ a b Jackson 1978, pp. 208–9
- ^ Jackson 1978, pp. 203
- ^ Registration of G-ABOH
Cited sources
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAE Scarab.
- Jackson, A.J. (1960). British Civil Aircraft 1919-59. Vol. 2. London: Putnam Publishing.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.
- Jackson, A.J. (1978). de Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 0-370-30022-X.
- Ord-Hume, Arthur W.J.G. (2000). British Light Aeroplanes. Peterborough: GMS Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-870384-76-6.