The Parnall Heck was a 1930s British four-seat cabin monoplane built by Parnall Aircraft Limited at Yate, Gloucestershire. Originally a Hendy design, few were built. It combined the strength and comfort of a cabin aircraft with the speed of a racer.[1]
Heck
Parnall Hendy Heck G-AEGI at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airfield on 17 June 1950 after being damaged beyond repair by a landing Supermarine Spitfire
The Heck was designed by Basil B. Henderson on commission from Whitney Straight, who specified a high cruising speed along with a very low landing speed.[2] It was a single-engined, conventional low-wing cabin monoplane, built of spruce with a plywood covering, initially a two-seater in tandem layout. It had a manually operated retractable tailwheel undercarriage, leading edge slats and slotted flaps, giving it good short-field performance in spite of its high wing loading compared to contemporary aircraft in this class.[1]
Historyedit
The type was originally designated the Hendy 3308 Heck, with the prototype built by the Westland Aircraft Works at Yeovil. While originally intended to be fitted with a 165 hp (123 kW) Napier Javelin engine, it was completed with a 200 hp (150 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Six engine instead. It was allocated the registrationG-ACTC and first flew in July 1934.[3]
Parnall Aircraft Limited was formed in May 1935 when George Parnall and Company merged with the Hendy Aircraft Company and the armament engineering firm Nash & Thompson. The Heck was redesignated the Parnall Heck. A number of problems with the undercarriage led to it being locked down and covered with 'trouser' fairings. The aircraft set a new record for the flight from Cape Town to England of 6 days, 8 hours and 27 minutes in November 1936.
A small production line was started at Yate, Gloucestershire and the production version was designated the Heck 2C. The production aircraft were three-seaters with fixed spatted undercarriages. None of the aircraft was sold, and four (G-AEGH, G-AEGI, G-AEGJ and G-AEMR) were operated by Parnall Aircraft for communications and liaison with RAF squadrons in connection with Parnall's armament contracts. When the Second World War started, the aircraft were repainted from dark grey to a brown and green camouflage scheme but retained civilian registration markings.[4]
The fifth production Heck 2C, registered G-AEGL, was flown as serial K8853 under contract 486334/36, and was used for trial installations of engines and armaments, including the development of the gun sight installation for the Spitfire and Hurricane. It was later allocated the Maintenance serial 3125M.[5]
In March 1943, G-AEGH was impressed into service with the Royal Air Force as serial NF749 on communications and liaison duties.[6]
The Parnall 382 was a newly designed two-seat open cockpit trainer, with some Heck components to meet Air Ministry Specification T.1/37. It was flown in February 1939 and later assessed at Martlesham Heath as the Heck III, but was not ordered.[5]
The last surviving Heck was G-AEGI, which was damaged beyond repair in a taxying accident on 17 June 1950. The aircraft had just come seventh in the King's Cup Race at Wolverhampton's Pendeford airfield with a speed of [[convert|159|mph|kph|abbr=on) when a landing civil Supermarine Spitfire hit the rear of the Heck. Attempts at reconstruction failed and the aircraft was broken up in 1953.[5]
"Head-On View No. 31: The Hendy Heck". Air-Britain Archive. Summer 2009. pp. 55–60. ISSN 0262-4923.
Jackson, A.J. (1988). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-818-6.
Lukins, A.H. (1944). The Book of Westland Aircraft. Leicester: Harborough.
Moss, Peter W. (1962). Impressments Log Volume III. UK: Air-Britain.
Ord-Hume, Arthur W. J. (2000). British Light Aeroplanes. Peterborough, UK: GMS Enterprises. ISBN1-870384-76-8.
December 20, 2023
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The Parnall Heck was a 1930s British four seat cabin monoplane built by Parnall Aircraft Limited at Yate Gloucestershire Originally a Hendy design few were built It combined the strength and comfort of a cabin aircraft with the speed of a racer 1 HeckParnall Hendy Heck G AEGI at Wolverhampton Pendeford airfield on 17 June 1950 after being damaged beyond repair by a landing Supermarine SpitfireRole Cabin TourerManufacturer Parnall Aircraft LimitedDesigner Basil B HendersonFirst flight 1934Retired 17 June 1950Primary users Parnall AircraftRoyal Air ForceNumber built 6Variants Parnall 382 Contents 1 Design 2 History 3 Operators 3 1 Civil operators 3 2 Military operators 4 Specifications Heck 2C 5 See also 6 References 7 BibliographyDesign editThe Heck was designed by Basil B Henderson on commission from Whitney Straight who specified a high cruising speed along with a very low landing speed 2 It was a single engined conventional low wing cabin monoplane built of spruce with a plywood covering initially a two seater in tandem layout It had a manually operated retractable tailwheel undercarriage leading edge slats and slotted flaps giving it good short field performance in spite of its high wing loading compared to contemporary aircraft in this class 1 History editThe type was originally designated the Hendy 3308 Heck with the prototype built by the Westland Aircraft Works at Yeovil While originally intended to be fitted with a 165 hp 123 kW Napier Javelin engine it was completed with a 200 hp 150 kW de Havilland Gipsy Six engine instead It was allocated the registration G ACTC and first flew in July 1934 3 Parnall Aircraft Limited was formed in May 1935 when George Parnall and Company merged with the Hendy Aircraft Company and the armament engineering firm Nash amp Thompson The Heck was redesignated the Parnall Heck A number of problems with the undercarriage led to it being locked down and covered with trouser fairings The aircraft set a new record for the flight from Cape Town to England of 6 days 8 hours and 27 minutes in November 1936 A small production line was started at Yate Gloucestershire and the production version was designated the Heck 2C The production aircraft were three seaters with fixed spatted undercarriages None of the aircraft was sold and four G AEGH G AEGI G AEGJ and G AEMR were operated by Parnall Aircraft for communications and liaison with RAF squadrons in connection with Parnall s armament contracts When the Second World War started the aircraft were repainted from dark grey to a brown and green camouflage scheme but retained civilian registration markings 4 The fifth production Heck 2C registered G AEGL was flown as serial K8853 under contract 486334 36 and was used for trial installations of engines and armaments including the development of the gun sight installation for the Spitfire and Hurricane It was later allocated the Maintenance serial 3125M 5 In March 1943 G AEGH was impressed into service with the Royal Air Force as serial NF749 on communications and liaison duties 6 The Parnall 382 was a newly designed two seat open cockpit trainer with some Heck components to meet Air Ministry Specification T 1 37 It was flown in February 1939 and later assessed at Martlesham Heath as the Heck III but was not ordered 5 The last surviving Heck was G AEGI which was damaged beyond repair in a taxying accident on 17 June 1950 The aircraft had just come seventh in the King s Cup Race at Wolverhampton s Pendeford airfield with a speed of convert 159 mph kph abbr on when a landing civil Supermarine Spitfire hit the rear of the Heck Attempts at reconstruction failed and the aircraft was broken up in 1953 5 nbsp Operators editCivil operators edit nbsp United KingdomParnall AircraftMilitary operators edit nbsp United KingdomRoyal Air ForceSpecifications Heck 2C editData from British Civil Aircraft 1919 1972 Volume III 7 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 2 passengers Length 26 ft 1 1 2 in 7 96 m Wingspan 31 ft 6 in 9 60 m Height 8 ft 6 in 2 59 m Wing area 105 2 sq ft 9 77 m2 Airfoil NACA 23015 8 Empty weight 1 750 lb 794 kg Gross weight 2 700 lb 1 225 kg Powerplant 1 de Havilland Gipsy Six 6 cylinder air cooled inverted in line piston engine 200 hp 150 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 185 mph 298 km h 161 kn Cruise speed 135 mph 217 km h 117 kn Stall speed 40 mph 64 km h 35 kn 9 Range 605 mi 974 km 526 nmi Service ceiling 16 700 ft 5 100 m Rate of climb 1 100 ft min 5 6 m s See also editRelated development Parnall 382Related lists List of aircraft of the Royal Air ForceReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parnall Heck a b Lukins 1944 Ord Hume 2000 p 439 Air Britain Archive Summer 2009 p 55 Jackson 1988 pp 90 91 a b c Jackson 1988 p 91 Moss 1962 Jackson 1988 p 92 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Air Britain Archive Summer 2009 p 59Bibliography edit Head On View No 31 The Hendy Heck Air Britain Archive Summer 2009 pp 55 60 ISSN 0262 4923 Jackson A J 1988 British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3 London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 818 6 Lukins A H 1944 The Book of Westland Aircraft Leicester Harborough Moss Peter W 1962 Impressments Log Volume III UK Air Britain Ord Hume Arthur W J 2000 British Light Aeroplanes Peterborough UK GMS Enterprises ISBN 1 870384 76 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parnall Heck amp oldid 1188920079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
