The Arpin A-1 was a two-seat low-wing monoplane which was powered by a single radial engine in pusher configuration, mounted behind the cabin between twin booms that carried the tail. An unconventional fixed tricycle undercarriage was fitted. Only one was built.
The Arpin A-1[1][2] was a low-wing monoplane of wooden construction and plywood covered. The empennage was carried on a pair of diamond cross section booms mounted on the rear wing spar at the edge of the centre section. The fins were tall, with a slight extension below the boom and carrying unbalanced rudders. The booms were at wing height but the side by side two seat enclosed cabin sat on the wing with the uncowled 68 hp (51 kW) British Salmson AD.9R radial immediately behind, with its centre line well above the booms and tailplane. The pusher arrangement and a short nose provided good visibility from the cabin.
The Arpin had a fixed tricycle undercarriage at a time when most aircraft used the tailwheel configuration. It was the first British aircraft to be designed for tricycle landing gear.[3] In 1938 a very unusual McClaren type was fitted,[1] which allowed all three wheels to be turned parallel to each other but not to the aircraft, so that cross wind landings could be made with the aircraft pointing into wind. The front wheel could be left to caster or could be steered by the pilot.
In 1939 the A-1 was re-engined with an inverted inline 90 hp (67 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Minor I, which raised the maximum speed to 115 mph (185 km/h).[4][5] With this engine it was known as the Arpin A-1 Mk.2
Operational history
Only one A-1 was built at the company works at Longford, London, with the civil registration G-AFGB,[4][6] it first flew from Hanworth Aerodrome on 7 May 1938. In December 1939 the A-1 was delivered to the School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum too see if it would be suitable as an observation aircraft, it was not ordered into production and by 1946 the A-1 was scrapped.[7][8]
Specifications (Salmson engine)
According to Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938[1]
arpin, seat, wing, monoplane, which, powered, single, radial, engine, pusher, configuration, mounted, behind, cabin, between, twin, booms, that, carried, tail, unconventional, fixed, tricycle, undercarriage, fitted, only, built, 1role, seat, cabin, monoplanena. The Arpin A 1 was a two seat low wing monoplane which was powered by a single radial engine in pusher configuration mounted behind the cabin between twin booms that carried the tail An unconventional fixed tricycle undercarriage was fitted Only one was built A 1Role Two seat cabin monoplaneNational origin United KingdomManufacturer M B Arpin amp Co Designer Morris ArpinFirst flight 7 May 1938Retired 1946Produced 1Development EditThe Arpin A 1 1 2 was a low wing monoplane of wooden construction and plywood covered The empennage was carried on a pair of diamond cross section booms mounted on the rear wing spar at the edge of the centre section The fins were tall with a slight extension below the boom and carrying unbalanced rudders The booms were at wing height but the side by side two seat enclosed cabin sat on the wing with the uncowled 68 hp 51 kW British Salmson AD 9R radial immediately behind with its centre line well above the booms and tailplane The pusher arrangement and a short nose provided good visibility from the cabin The Arpin had a fixed tricycle undercarriage at a time when most aircraft used the tailwheel configuration It was the first British aircraft to be designed for tricycle landing gear 3 In 1938 a very unusual McClaren type was fitted 1 which allowed all three wheels to be turned parallel to each other but not to the aircraft so that cross wind landings could be made with the aircraft pointing into wind The front wheel could be left to caster or could be steered by the pilot In 1939 the A 1 was re engined with an inverted inline 90 hp 67 kW Blackburn Cirrus Minor I which raised the maximum speed to 115 mph 185 km h 4 5 With this engine it was known as the Arpin A 1 Mk 2Operational history EditOnly one A 1 was built at the company works at Longford London with the civil registration G AFGB 4 6 it first flew from Hanworth Aerodrome on 7 May 1938 In December 1939 the A 1 was delivered to the School of Army Co operation at Old Sarum too see if it would be suitable as an observation aircraft it was not ordered into production and by 1946 the A 1 was scrapped 7 8 Specifications Salmson engine EditAccording to Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1938 1 General characteristics Crew one pilot Capacity one passenger Length 23 ft 2 in 7 06 m Wingspan 31 ft 6 in 9 61 m Height 7 ft 1 in 2 13 m Wing area 165 sq ft 15 3 m2 Empty weight 740 lb 336 kg Gross weight 1 261 lb 573 kg Powerplant 1 British Salmson AD 9R 2 9 cylinder air cooled geared radial engine 68 hp 51 kW Performance Maximum speed 108 mph 173 km h 94 kn 9 Cruise speed 95 mph 153 km h 83 kn Endurance 5 hours Rate of climb 600 ft min 3 0 m s See also EditGeneral Aircraft GAL 47References EditNotes Edit a b c Grey 1972 pp 18c 19c a b Combined Virtues Flight 12 May 1938 p 479 Archived from the original on 1 January 2015 British Civil Aviation The Smaller Types Arpin Flight 25 November 1937 p 515 Archived from the original on 5 March 2016 a b Jackson 1959 pp 407 To day s Light Aeroplanes Arpin Flight 7 September 1939 p 218 Archived from the original on 9 August 2017 CAA registration document for G AFGB Meaden Arthur 1990 The Arpin A 1 Safety Pin Archive Air Britain 1999 3 83 86 ISSN 0262 4923 Feedback The Arpin A 1 Safety Pin Archive Air Britain 2000 2 67 2000 ISSN 0262 4923 Estimated performance figures Bibliography Edit Grey C G 1972 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1938 London David amp Charles ISBN 0 7153 5734 4 Jackson A J 1959 British Civil Aircraft 1919 59 Vol 1 London Putnam Publishing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arpin A 1 amp oldid 1050359322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
