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Fairey Long-range Monoplane

December 15, 2023

The Fairey Long-range Monoplane was a British experimental aircraft first flown in 1928. It was single-engine, high-wing aircraft with fixed tail skid landing gear. Two examples were built (Monoplane I and Monoplane II).

Long-range Monoplane II
Role Experimental aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Fairey Aviation
First flight 14 November 1928
Primary user Royal Air Force
Number built 2

Design and development edit

The aircraft was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification 33/27, issued by the Directorate of Technical Development (DTD) in December 1927 after the failure of three attempts by the RAF to break the absolute distance world record flying Hawker Horsley bombers.[1] According to a Ministry spokesman in the House of Commons, this aircraft was to be constructed not just "for a specific record," but as a serious study into methods of increasing the range of aircraft. In order to soothe the anxieties of the Treasury, the aircraft started life as the Postal Aircraft.[2] The pointed nose and sleek lines of the design gave rise to the nickname "Eversharp," after the American company producing mechanical pencils.[3]

Although other configurations were studied, after wind tunnel testing a single high wing was chosen, allowing a gravity feed from the fuel tanks. The wing's spars were of wood with a steel pyramid system of internal bracing intended to add torsional rigidity and ensure that flight loads were evenly distributed between the spars irrespective of the position of the centre of pressure, and were fabric covered. The fuel capacity was 1,043 Imp gals (4,742 L). Fuel flowed by gravity to a small collector tank, from which it was pressure-fed to the engine by a mechanical fuel pump (if the mechanical pump failed, a wind-driven back-up pump could be extended into the windstream). To support long-range flight, there were two pilot-accessible parallel oil filter circuits, allowing one filter to be removed and cleaned with the other in operation. A bed aft of the wing allowed one pilot to sleep. After extensive testing using a Fairey IIIF and a DH.9A, the engine selected for the Monoplane was the Napier Lion XIA of 570 hp (430 kW); this decision was not finalized until Monoplane I was nearly complete.

Operational history edit

Monoplane I, J9479, first flew on 14 November 1928 from RAF Northolt, with an RAF pilot.[4] After correcting a few findings, Fairey transferred the aircraft to RAF operations on 7 December, and testing continued in preparation for the record attempt, including a 24-hour trial on 22–23 March 1929. It was decided to attempt a flight to Bangalore in India, a great-circle distance of about 5,000 mi (8,000 km), comfortably over the existing record of 4,466 mi (7,187 km) set by a Savoia-Marchetti S.64 in July 1928.[4] Squadron Leader A. G. Jones-Williams and Flight Lieutenant N. H. Jenkins set off from RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire on 24 April 1929. Slowed by headwinds, they turned from their destination to land at Karachi after 50:48 hours flight time.[5] Although the flight was the first non-stop flight between Britain and India, the great circle distance of 4,130 mi (6,650 km) was short of the record.[6] It was decided to make another record attempt later that year, although the record had been raised to 4,912 mi (7,905 km) by the French Breguet 19 Point d'Interrogation. This time it was planned to fly from England to South Africa. This second attempt, with the same crew, departed on 16 December 1929, but crashed south of Tunis at 18:45,[7] destroying the aircraft and killing the crew.[8] The navigation log recovered from the crash site gave the aircraft's altitude at 18:00 as 5,000 ft (1,500 m), however, the aircraft's barographs had recorded an altitude of less than 3,000 feet (910 m) at that time. The impact point was 2,300 ft (700 m) above sea level. Either the barometric pressure had dropped significantly between Tunisia and Cranwell, leading them to believe that their altitude was greater than it was, or the altimeter had malfunctioned.[9]

Despite the setback, the Air Ministry ordered a second Long-range Monoplane (K1991) in July 1930, which flew on 30 June 1931. While similar to the first aircraft, it had a number of differences, including an enlarged and redesigned fin and rudder, greater redundancy in flight and navigational instrumentation, an autopilot (pneumatically powered, from an airstream-driven compressor),[7] and lower-drag landing gear including wheel spats.[10][11]

 
Gayford and Nicholetts with Lord Londonderry and Sir John Salmond with Monoplane II

On 27–28 October 1931 Squadron Leader O. R. Gayford (the officer in charge of the RAF Long Range Development Unit) with Flight Lieutenant D. Betts as navigator flew K1991 from RAF Cranwell to Abu Seir in Egypt. The 2,557 miles (4,115 km) flight was completed in 31½ hours.[12]

From 6–8 February 1933, Gayford and his navigator Flight Lieutenant G. E. Nicholetts (FLt Betts had died in 1932, after complications from a medical procedure)[7] flew non-stop in the second aircraft, K1991, from Cranwell to Walvis Bay, South West Africa. This was a world long-distance record of 5,410 mi (8,710 km) (the autopilot gave up partway, with the remainder of the flight under full manual control).[7] They then continued on to Cape Town.[13] On their return to RAE Farnborough they were met by Air Minister (Lord Londonderry), Under Secretary for Air (Sir Philip Sassoon) and Sir John Salmond, Marshal of the Royal Air Force.[14]

The distance record only stood for three months; it fell on 7 August 1933, reclaimed by the French with a Blériot 110.[12] Gayford and the Long Range Development Unit would later make long-distance flights with the Vickers Wellesley.

After K1991 flew back to the United Kingdom a number of suggestions to re-engine the aircraft were made and the Air Ministry issued Specification 27/33 for it to be re-engined with a Junkers Jumo diesel engine. Updating work was started, but when it was decided to design a new aircraft instead,[15] Monoplane II was scrapped after a few months in storage.[7]

Operators edit

  United Kingdom

Specifications (Fairey Long-range Monoplane II) edit

 
Fairey Long Range Monoplane I three-view drawing (from L'Aérophile September 1929)

Data from Fairey Aircraft since 1915[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Length: 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
  • Wingspan: 82 ft 0 in (24.99 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 0 in (3.66 m)
  • Wing area: 850 sq ft (79 m2)
  • Max takeoff weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Napier Lion XIa W-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 570 hp (430 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn) [16]
  • Wing loading: 20.7 lb/sq ft (101 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.033 hp/lb (0.054 kW/kg)
  • Take-off run: 4,500 ft (1,372 m)

See also edit

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Taylor 1977, p. 18.
  2. ^ a b Taylor, H.A. (1974). Fairey Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam. pp. 180–192. ISBN 0-370-00065X.
  3. ^ Winchester 2005, p. 37.
  4. ^ a b Taylor 1977, p. 19.
  5. ^ Connes, Keith, ed. (November 1978). "A glimpse into the past". Air Progress. Vol. 40, no. 11. p. 17.
  6. ^ Taylor 1977, pp. 19–20.
  7. ^ a b c d e Rex's Hangar (6 November 2022). "From Tragedy to Triumph". youtube. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  8. ^ Taylor 1977, pp. 20–21.
  9. ^ Taylor 1974, p. 187
  10. ^ Taylor 1977, p. 21.
  11. ^ Cooksley 1993, p. 52.
  12. ^ a b Thetford 1976, p. 246
  13. ^ De Vries, G. Wingfield. A Pictorial History 1991 pp. 81-82; photos ISBN 0620159391
  14. ^ . Hadliegh.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  15. ^ Meekcoms/Morgan 1994, p. 6
  16. ^ Thetford 1957, pp. 208–209.

Bibliography edit

  • Cooksley, Peter. "Long Range Fairey". Air Enthusiast, Fifty-one, August to October 1993.Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0143-5450. pp. 49–53.
  • Meekcoms, K and Morgan, E. The British Aircraft Specification File. Tonbridge, Kent, England:Air-Britain Historians: 1994. ISBN 0 85130 220 3
  • Taylor, H. A. "Record-breaker Extraordinary." Air International, Volume 13, No. 1, July 1977, pp. 18–24.
  • Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918–57. London:Putnam, 1957.
  • Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. London:Putnam: 1975. ISBN 0 370 10056 5
  • Winchester, Jim. X-Planes and Prototypes. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-904687-40-7.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairey Long-range Monoplane.
  • "Bravo - Gayford! Bravo - Nicholetts! Bravo - The RAF! (1933)" on YouTube
  • "Fairey Long Range Monoplane" on YouTube

December 15, 2023
fairey, long, range, monoplane, british, experimental, aircraft, first, flown, 1928, single, engine, high, wing, aircraft, with, fixed, tail, skid, landing, gear, examples, were, built, monoplane, monoplane, long, range, monoplane, iirole, experimental, aircra. The Fairey Long range Monoplane was a British experimental aircraft first flown in 1928 It was single engine high wing aircraft with fixed tail skid landing gear Two examples were built Monoplane I and Monoplane II Long range Monoplane IIRole Experimental aircraftNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Fairey AviationFirst flight 14 November 1928Primary user Royal Air ForceNumber built 2 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications Fairey Long range Monoplane II 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign and development editThe aircraft was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification 33 27 issued by the Directorate of Technical Development DTD in December 1927 after the failure of three attempts by the RAF to break the absolute distance world record flying Hawker Horsley bombers 1 According to a Ministry spokesman in the House of Commons this aircraft was to be constructed not just for a specific record but as a serious study into methods of increasing the range of aircraft In order to soothe the anxieties of the Treasury the aircraft started life as the Postal Aircraft 2 The pointed nose and sleek lines of the design gave rise to the nickname Eversharp after the American company producing mechanical pencils 3 Although other configurations were studied after wind tunnel testing a single high wing was chosen allowing a gravity feed from the fuel tanks The wing s spars were of wood with a steel pyramid system of internal bracing intended to add torsional rigidity and ensure that flight loads were evenly distributed between the spars irrespective of the position of the centre of pressure and were fabric covered The fuel capacity was 1 043 Imp gals 4 742 L Fuel flowed by gravity to a small collector tank from which it was pressure fed to the engine by a mechanical fuel pump if the mechanical pump failed a wind driven back up pump could be extended into the windstream To support long range flight there were two pilot accessible parallel oil filter circuits allowing one filter to be removed and cleaned with the other in operation A bed aft of the wing allowed one pilot to sleep After extensive testing using a Fairey IIIF and a DH 9A the engine selected for the Monoplane was the Napier Lion XIA of 570 hp 430 kW this decision was not finalized until Monoplane I was nearly complete Operational history editMonoplane I J9479 first flew on 14 November 1928 from RAF Northolt with an RAF pilot 4 After correcting a few findings Fairey transferred the aircraft to RAF operations on 7 December and testing continued in preparation for the record attempt including a 24 hour trial on 22 23 March 1929 It was decided to attempt a flight to Bangalore in India a great circle distance of about 5 000 mi 8 000 km comfortably over the existing record of 4 466 mi 7 187 km set by a Savoia Marchetti S 64 in July 1928 4 Squadron Leader A G Jones Williams and Flight Lieutenant N H Jenkins set off from RAF Cranwell Lincolnshire on 24 April 1929 Slowed by headwinds they turned from their destination to land at Karachi after 50 48 hours flight time 5 Although the flight was the first non stop flight between Britain and India the great circle distance of 4 130 mi 6 650 km was short of the record 6 It was decided to make another record attempt later that year although the record had been raised to 4 912 mi 7 905 km by the French Breguet 19 Point d Interrogation This time it was planned to fly from England to South Africa This second attempt with the same crew departed on 16 December 1929 but crashed south of Tunis at 18 45 7 destroying the aircraft and killing the crew 8 The navigation log recovered from the crash site gave the aircraft s altitude at 18 00 as 5 000 ft 1 500 m however the aircraft s barographs had recorded an altitude of less than 3 000 feet 910 m at that time The impact point was 2 300 ft 700 m above sea level Either the barometric pressure had dropped significantly between Tunisia and Cranwell leading them to believe that their altitude was greater than it was or the altimeter had malfunctioned 9 Despite the setback the Air Ministry ordered a second Long range Monoplane K1991 in July 1930 which flew on 30 June 1931 While similar to the first aircraft it had a number of differences including an enlarged and redesigned fin and rudder greater redundancy in flight and navigational instrumentation an autopilot pneumatically powered from an airstream driven compressor 7 and lower drag landing gear including wheel spats 10 11 nbsp Gayford and Nicholetts with Lord Londonderry and Sir John Salmond with Monoplane IIOn 27 28 October 1931 Squadron Leader O R Gayford the officer in charge of the RAF Long Range Development Unit with Flight Lieutenant D Betts as navigator flew K1991 from RAF Cranwell to Abu Seir in Egypt The 2 557 miles 4 115 km flight was completed in 31 hours 12 From 6 8 February 1933 Gayford and his navigator Flight Lieutenant G E Nicholetts FLt Betts had died in 1932 after complications from a medical procedure 7 flew non stop in the second aircraft K1991 from Cranwell to Walvis Bay South West Africa This was a world long distance record of 5 410 mi 8 710 km the autopilot gave up partway with the remainder of the flight under full manual control 7 They then continued on to Cape Town 13 On their return to RAE Farnborough they were met by Air Minister Lord Londonderry Under Secretary for Air Sir Philip Sassoon and Sir John Salmond Marshal of the Royal Air Force 14 The distance record only stood for three months it fell on 7 August 1933 reclaimed by the French with a Bleriot 110 12 Gayford and the Long Range Development Unit would later make long distance flights with the Vickers Wellesley After K1991 flew back to the United Kingdom a number of suggestions to re engine the aircraft were made and the Air Ministry issued Specification 27 33 for it to be re engined with a Junkers Jumo diesel engine Updating work was started but when it was decided to design a new aircraft instead 15 Monoplane II was scrapped after a few months in storage 7 Operators edit nbsp United KingdomRoyal Air ForceSpecifications Fairey Long range Monoplane II edit nbsp Fairey Long Range Monoplane I three view drawing from L Aerophile September 1929 Data from Fairey Aircraft since 1915 2 General characteristicsCrew Two Length 48 ft 6 in 14 78 m Wingspan 82 ft 0 in 24 99 m Height 12 ft 0 in 3 66 m Wing area 850 sq ft 79 m2 Max takeoff weight 17 500 lb 7 938 kg Powerplant 1 Napier Lion XIa W 12 liquid cooled piston engine 570 hp 430 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Cruise speed 110 mph 180 km h 96 kn 16 Wing loading 20 7 lb sq ft 101 kg m2 Power mass 0 033 hp lb 0 054 kW kg Take off run 4 500 ft 1 372 m See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bernard 80 GR Bleriot 110 Bristol Type 138 Dewoitine D 33 Emsco B 8 Flying Wing Gasuden Koken Tupolev ANT 25Related lists List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force Flight distance recordReferences editNotes edit Taylor 1977 p 18 a b Taylor H A 1974 Fairey Aircraft since 1915 London Putnam pp 180 192 ISBN 0 370 00065X Winchester 2005 p 37 a b Taylor 1977 p 19 Connes Keith ed November 1978 A glimpse into the past Air Progress Vol 40 no 11 p 17 Taylor 1977 pp 19 20 a b c d e Rex s Hangar 6 November 2022 From Tragedy to Triumph youtube Retrieved 6 November 2022 Taylor 1977 pp 20 21 Taylor 1974 p 187 Taylor 1977 p 21 Cooksley 1993 p 52 a b Thetford 1976 p 246 De Vries G Wingfield A Pictorial History 1991 pp 81 82 photos ISBN 0620159391 Oswald Gayford Hadliegh s World Record Breaker Hadliegh org uk Archived from the original on 2 January 2014 Retrieved 28 June 2020 Meekcoms Morgan 1994 p 6 Thetford 1957 pp 208 209 Bibliography edit Cooksley Peter Long Range Fairey Air Enthusiast Fifty one August to October 1993 Stamford UK Key Publishing ISSN 0143 5450 pp 49 53 Meekcoms K and Morgan E The British Aircraft Specification File Tonbridge Kent England Air Britain Historians 1994 ISBN 0 85130 220 3 Taylor H A Record breaker Extraordinary Air International Volume 13 No 1 July 1977 pp 18 24 Thetford Owen Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918 57 London Putnam 1957 Thetford Owen Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918 London Putnam 1975 ISBN 0 370 10056 5 Winchester Jim X Planes and Prototypes London Amber Books Ltd 2005 ISBN 1 904687 40 7 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairey Long range Monoplane Bravo Gayford Bravo Nicholetts Bravo The RAF 1933 on YouTube Fairey Long Range Monoplane on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fairey Long range Monoplane amp oldid 1120416196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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