The LWF model V[note 1] is an American two-seat reconnaissance and training biplane built during World War One, and used for a short period afterwards. A variant specially built to test the Liberty L-12 aircraft engine, the model F, was the first aircraft to fly powered by that widely used engine.
LWF model V as initially built, with kingposts supporting outer wings, which were later replaced with struts braced to the lower wing
The model V's most notable feature was its wooden monocoquefuselage, built up of three layers of wooden strips with layers of silk between them.[1] One layer was run fore and aft, while the other two were perpendicular to each other, running in a corkscrew spiral around the fuselage.[1]
The two-bay biplane wings had ailerons on the top wing only,[1] and the span of the upper wing was greater than that of the lower wing, with the extra length braced with the aid of kingposts and wires above the top wing on early examples, and additional struts angled outwards, affixed to the lower wing on later examples. All but the earliest Thomas-powered examples and the model F also had the wings swept back.
The engine was mounted behind an oval car-type frontal radiator, and enclosed in metal panels that streamlined the forward fuselage, although the later versions dispensed with some of the fairing panels.[1]
Both undercarriage and empennage were conventional for the period, with fore and aft vees connected laterally with the axle and a spreader bar.[1]
Operational historyEdit
A modified variant of the V, the F, was the first aircraft to fly with the new Liberty L-12 engine that would find widespread use in the latter part of World War One. The model F in turn led to the "Reconnaissance", an intended production variant of the F, which in turn evolved into the LWF model G, although none of these would see large scale production.
The model V was primarily relegated to training as its performance was not competitive when compared to available French and British military reconnaissance aircraft. As a result, a large number were available when the Czech legions supporting the White Russian (Tsarist) contingent were seeking military aircraft, however by then they were in very poor shape, and only a small number of the 28 that were shipped were even flyable, and even those were found to be of little use, but desperation forced the Czechs to use them for reconnaissance. The sole surviving example was from this contingent.
After the war, LWF attempted to interest the United States Post Office in them as mailplanes, however the sole example doesn't appear to have ever carried the mail, and no orders were forthcoming.
A small number were fitted with floats, with one example being used by the Michigan State Militia until it was overturned in a storm. It does not appear to have been repaired afterwards.
VariantsEdit
LWF VH-1 SeagullLWF model V modified as mailplane
info from www.aerofiles.com (2008)
V
135 hp (101 kW) Thomas engine
V-1
140 hp (100 kW) Sturtevant engine
VH-1 Seagull
floatplane variant
V-2
165 hp (123 kW) Hall-Scott engine
V-3
200 hp (150 kW) Sturtevant engine
F
modified V-2 variant built to test 400 hp (300 kW) Liberty L-12 engine, one built.
The sole surviving example of an LWF model V is made up from parts from several surviving examples that had been used by the Czech legions, and is on display at the Národní technické muzeum in Prague, where it is suspended from the ceiling, marked as number 4.[2]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to LWF Model V.
NotesEdit
^Sources vary on how LWF is to be rendered (LWF vs L.W.F. vs L-W-F), however while some of their published material used hyphens or periods, their logos used only letters. While no earlier LWF aircraft are known, later designs switched to letters, with the V being followed by the model F, G and H, and as E is the fifth letter, it was likely the roman numeral V rather than the letter V.
Faurote, Fay L. (1921). (PDF). Boston: Small, Maynard. pp. 169–181. ASIN B0033HSKZ4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
Stanley Spooner, ed. (9 August 1917). "The LWF Tractor biplane (with scale drawings)". Flight. Vol. IX, no. 32/450. Royal Aero Club. pp. 807–810.
Eckland, K.O. (2 September 2008). "American airplanes: Lo - Lu". aerofiles.com. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
Týc, Pavel (January 1993). "LWF (Lowe, Willard, Fowler) Model V "Tractor"". Letectvi + Kosmonautika (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic. pp. 27–29.
Týc, Pavel (February 1993). "LWF (Lowe, Willard, Fowler) Model V "Tractor"". Letectvi + Kosmonautika (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic. pp. 26–29.
Týc, Pavel (March 1993). "LWF (Lowe, Willard, Fowler) Model V "Tractor"". Letectvi + Kosmonautika (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic. pp. 25–27.
Týc, Pavel (April 1993). "LWF (Lowe, Willard, Fowler) Model V "Tractor"". Letectvi + Kosmonautika (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic. pp. 27–29.
October 19, 2023
model, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2021, learn, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources LWF model V news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The LWF model V note 1 is an American two seat reconnaissance and training biplane built during World War One and used for a short period afterwards A variant specially built to test the Liberty L 12 aircraft engine the model F was the first aircraft to fly powered by that widely used engine LWF model VRole trainer reconnaissanceNational origin United StatesManufacturer Lowe Willard amp Fowler Engineering CompanyDesigner Chas F WillardStatus retiredPrimary user Aviation Section U S Signal CorpsNumber built 130 including model F Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Survivors and aircraft on display 6 Specifications model V 1 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Citations 7 3 BibliographyDesign and development Edit nbsp LWF model V as initially built with kingposts supporting outer wings which were later replaced with struts braced to the lower wingThe model V s most notable feature was its wooden monocoque fuselage built up of three layers of wooden strips with layers of silk between them 1 One layer was run fore and aft while the other two were perpendicular to each other running in a corkscrew spiral around the fuselage 1 The two bay biplane wings had ailerons on the top wing only 1 and the span of the upper wing was greater than that of the lower wing with the extra length braced with the aid of kingposts and wires above the top wing on early examples and additional struts angled outwards affixed to the lower wing on later examples All but the earliest Thomas powered examples and the model F also had the wings swept back The engine was mounted behind an oval car type frontal radiator and enclosed in metal panels that streamlined the forward fuselage although the later versions dispensed with some of the fairing panels 1 Both undercarriage and empennage were conventional for the period with fore and aft vees connected laterally with the axle and a spreader bar 1 Operational history EditA modified variant of the V the F was the first aircraft to fly with the new Liberty L 12 engine that would find widespread use in the latter part of World War One The model F in turn led to the Reconnaissance an intended production variant of the F which in turn evolved into the LWF model G although none of these would see large scale production The model V was primarily relegated to training as its performance was not competitive when compared to available French and British military reconnaissance aircraft As a result a large number were available when the Czech legions supporting the White Russian Tsarist contingent were seeking military aircraft however by then they were in very poor shape and only a small number of the 28 that were shipped were even flyable and even those were found to be of little use but desperation forced the Czechs to use them for reconnaissance The sole surviving example was from this contingent After the war LWF attempted to interest the United States Post Office in them as mailplanes however the sole example doesn t appear to have ever carried the mail and no orders were forthcoming A small number were fitted with floats with one example being used by the Michigan State Militia until it was overturned in a storm It does not appear to have been repaired afterwards Variants Edit nbsp LWF VH 1 Seagull nbsp LWF model V modified as mailplaneinfo from www aerofiles com 2008 V 135 hp 101 kW Thomas engine V 1 140 hp 100 kW Sturtevant engine VH 1 Seagull floatplane variant V 2 165 hp 123 kW Hall Scott engine V 3 200 hp 150 kW Sturtevant engine F modified V 2 variant built to test 400 hp 300 kW Liberty L 12 engine one built F 7 Reconnaissance production variant of model F one or two built Mailplane extensively modified for the United States Postal Service one built Operators Editinfo from www aerofiles com 2008 nbsp LWF model V survivor on display in Prague nbsp CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakian Air Force bought 28 well worn second hand examples from the USAAS nbsp Soviet UnionGlavvozduhflot captured a small number of examples from the retreating Czechoslovakians nbsp United StatesUnited States Army Air Service purchased 135 examples United States Post Office tested one example Michigan State Militia operated a VH 1 until damaged in a stormSurvivors and aircraft on display EditThe sole surviving example of an LWF model V is made up from parts from several surviving examples that had been used by the Czech legions and is on display at the Narodni technicke muzeum in Prague where it is suspended from the ceiling marked as number 4 2 Specifications model V 1 Edit nbsp LWF model V 3 view drawingData from Flight magazine 3 General characteristicsCrew Two Length 27 ft 0 in 8 23 m Upper wingspan 46 ft 6 in 14 17 m Wing chord upper 80 in 2 0 m Lower wingspan 38 ft 8 in 11 79 m Wing chord lower 80 in 2 0 m Height 11 ft 4 in 3 45 m Wing area 490 sq ft 46 m2 Airfoil L W F No 1 Empty weight 2 134 lb 968 kg Gross weight 3 129 lb 1 419 kg Fuel capacity 81 US gal 310 L 67 imp gal Oil capacity 8 US gal 30 L 6 7 imp gal Undercarriage track 5 ft 6 in 1 68 m Powerplant 1 Sturtevant model 5 liquid cooled V 8 140 hp 100 kW Performance Maximum speed 95 mph 153 km h 83 kn Cruise speed 81 mph 130 km h 70 kn Minimum control speed 42 mph 68 km h 36 kn Endurance 4 hours Service ceiling 15 500 ft 4 700 m Time to altitude 10 mins to 3 800 ft 1 200 m References Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to LWF Model V Notes Edit Sources vary on how LWF is to be rendered LWF vs L W F vs L W F however while some of their published material used hyphens or periods their logos used only letters While no earlier LWF aircraft are known later designs switched to letters with the V being followed by the model F G and H and as E is the fifth letter it was likely the roman numeral V rather than the letter V Citations Edit a b c d e Spooner 9 August 1917 p 810 National Technical Museum 2016 Military airplane L W F model V Tractor www ntm cz Prague Spooner 9 August 1917 pp 807 810 Bibliography Edit Faurote Fay L 1921 Aircraft Year Book 1919 PDF Boston Small Maynard pp 169 181 ASIN B0033HSKZ4 Archived from the original PDF on 2020 01 02 Retrieved 2020 03 04 Stanley Spooner ed 9 August 1917 The LWF Tractor biplane with scale drawings Flight Vol IX no 32 450 Royal Aero Club pp 807 810 Eckland K O 2 September 2008 American airplanes Lo Lu aerofiles com Retrieved 3 March 2020 Tyc Pavel January 1993 LWF Lowe Willard Fowler Model V Tractor Letectvi Kosmonautika in Czech Prague Czech Republic pp 27 29 Tyc Pavel February 1993 LWF Lowe Willard Fowler Model V Tractor Letectvi Kosmonautika in Czech Prague Czech Republic pp 26 29 Tyc Pavel March 1993 LWF Lowe Willard Fowler Model V Tractor Letectvi Kosmonautika in Czech Prague Czech Republic pp 25 27 Tyc Pavel April 1993 LWF Lowe Willard Fowler Model V Tractor Letectvi Kosmonautika in Czech Prague Czech Republic pp 27 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LWF model V amp oldid 1157676398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
