The Levasseur-Abrial A-1 was a glider built in 1922 as a result of a collaboration between French aerodynamicist Georges Abrial de Péga and constructor Pierre Levasseur. A single example was built, which was destroyed on its fourth flight.
Levasseur-Abrial A-1
The plane Levasseur-Abrial displayed to the aerial meeting of Combegrasse in 1922.
The A-1 had a one piece, cantilever wing with swept leading edges, an unswept trailing edge and blunted tips. It had a reflex, Joukovskyairfoil section and was thick in the centre, thinning outboard where tapered ailerons reached out to the tips. It was built around pairs of swept wooden spars with plywood skin from the forward one around the nose forming a torsion resisting D-box. The rest of the wing was covered with silk (pongée).[1]
The wing was set into the upper part of the flat-sided fuselage, with an open cockpit at its leading edge and behind a short, vertically edged nose. The fuselage tapered aft to large tail surfaces; a lightly swept, cantilever tailplane with angled tips was mounted at mid-height, carrying a one-piece elevator. The rounded profile of the fin merged into that of its rhomboidalrudder, leaving room below for elevator movement.[1]
The A-1's landing gear was based on a pair of ash skids, mounted from the fuselage on aluminium struts and cross-braced. There were light skids below the outer wings to protect the tips. If the terrain was suitable, wheels on a 600 mm (23.6 in) track single axle could be attached to them.[1]
Operational historyedit
The Levasseur-Abrial A-1 took part in the Congrès Experimental de Combegrasse, held in August 1922 near Clermont Ferrand at a time when gliding as a sport was just beginning and before the importance of ridge lift or thermals was appreciated. It made three successful downhill flights after rubber cord launches, the longest lasting 117 s. On the fourth attempt the launching cord fouled the right wing and the glider crashed. Its pilot, Henri Pitot, escaped unhurt but the glider was badly damaged.[1]
The wing survived well enough to be on display on the Levasseur stand at the Paris Salon in November 1922. Its covering was partially removed to show the lightweight structure.[1]
Specificationsedit
Data from Flight, August 1922[2] except where noted
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 6.1 m (20 ft)
Wingspan: 12 m (40 ft) (Les Ailes[1] gives 11.20 m (36 ft 9 in))
Wing area: 20.0 m2 (215 sq ft)
Empty weight: 90 kg (198 lb)
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Levasseur-Abrial A-1.
^ abcdefSerryer, J. (21 December 1922). "Le Planeur Levasseur-Abrial de Péga". Les Ailes (79): 2–3.
^Table of Characteristics of Machines Entered for the French Gliding CompetitionFlight International 31 August 1922
May 08, 2024
levasseur, abrial, glider, built, 1922, result, collaboration, between, french, aerodynamicist, georges, abrial, péga, constructor, pierre, levasseur, single, example, built, which, destroyed, fourth, flight, plane, levasseur, abrial, displayed, aerial, meetin. The Levasseur Abrial A 1 was a glider built in 1922 as a result of a collaboration between French aerodynamicist Georges Abrial de Pega and constructor Pierre Levasseur A single example was built which was destroyed on its fourth flight Levasseur Abrial A 1 The plane Levasseur Abrial displayed to the aerial meeting of Combegrasse in 1922 Role Glider National origin France Manufacturer Levasseur Designer Georges Abrial and Pierre Levasseur First flight 1922 Number built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications 4 ReferencesDesign and development editThe A 1 had a one piece cantilever wing with swept leading edges an unswept trailing edge and blunted tips It had a reflex Joukovsky airfoil section and was thick in the centre thinning outboard where tapered ailerons reached out to the tips It was built around pairs of swept wooden spars with plywood skin from the forward one around the nose forming a torsion resisting D box The rest of the wing was covered with silk pongee 1 The wing was set into the upper part of the flat sided fuselage with an open cockpit at its leading edge and behind a short vertically edged nose The fuselage tapered aft to large tail surfaces a lightly swept cantilever tailplane with angled tips was mounted at mid height carrying a one piece elevator The rounded profile of the fin merged into that of its rhomboidal rudder leaving room below for elevator movement 1 The A 1 s landing gear was based on a pair of ash skids mounted from the fuselage on aluminium struts and cross braced There were light skids below the outer wings to protect the tips If the terrain was suitable wheels on a 600 mm 23 6 in track single axle could be attached to them 1 Operational history editThe Levasseur Abrial A 1 took part in the Congres Experimental de Combegrasse held in August 1922 near Clermont Ferrand at a time when gliding as a sport was just beginning and before the importance of ridge lift or thermals was appreciated It made three successful downhill flights after rubber cord launches the longest lasting 117 s On the fourth attempt the launching cord fouled the right wing and the glider crashed Its pilot Henri Pitot escaped unhurt but the glider was badly damaged 1 The wing survived well enough to be on display on the Levasseur stand at the Paris Salon in November 1922 Its covering was partially removed to show the lightweight structure 1 Specifications editData from Flight August 1922 2 except where notedGeneral characteristicsCrew 1 Length 6 1 m 20 ft Wingspan 12 m 40 ft Les Ailes 1 gives 11 20 m 36 ft 9 in Wing area 20 0 m2 215 sq ft Empty weight 90 kg 198 lb References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Levasseur Abrial A 1 a b c d e f Serryer J 21 December 1922 Le Planeur Levasseur Abrial de Pega Les Ailes 79 2 3 Table of Characteristics of Machines Entered for the French Gliding CompetitionFlight International 31 August 1922 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Levasseur Abrial A 1 amp oldid 1111842063, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
