The White and Thompson company was formed by Norman Thompson and Douglas White in 1912 at Bognor Regis, Sussex to design and build aircraft.[2] It built several models of aircraft in small numbers, before being renamed the Norman Thompson Flight Company in September 1915.
The first aircraft to be produced by the renamed company was a twin-engined patrol flying boat, the Norman Thompson N.T.4. This was a three bay biplane powered by two pusherHispano-Suiza engines mounted between the wings and was fitted with an enclosed, heavily glazed cockpit for its four-man crew.
An initial order for ten aircraft for the Royal Naval Air Service was placed in December 1915, with the first prototype flying in October 1916.[3] Further orders were placed in 1917 bringing the total ordered to 50. Production continued through 1917, but in 1918, following a change in policy on anti-submarine aircraft, the final contract for 20 aircraft was cancelled.[4] Total production was 26 aircraft, continuing until June 1918.[5]
Norman Thompson produced a revised design to meet the requirements of Admiralty Specification N.2C, to replace the N.T.4. This type, designated the Norman Thompson N.2C used the wings of the N.T.4 but with a new hull resembling that of the Porte/Felixstowe boats. Power was by two 200 hp (149 kW) Sunbeam Arab engines. The first prototype attempted to fly on 1 August 1918, but required changes to the hull before it was capable of take-off. Water handling remained poor, and the aircraft was tail heavy in flight. It was abandoned following the end of the war.[6]
Operational history
The N.T.4 entered service with the RNAS in 1916,[7] being operated on anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea and English Channel but were mainly used for training, as larger aircraft were more suitable for patrol purposes.[8] Many of the aircraft produced in 1918 were delivered straight to storage and were never used.[4] Owing to its similarity in size to the Curtiss H-4, it shared the Curtiss flying boat's nickname of America, being renamed Small America when the larger Curtiss H-12 (known as Large America) and Felixstowe F.2 flying boats came into service.[9]
Variants
N.T.4
Initial batch of six aircraft. Powered by two 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engines.
N.T.4A
Main production type. Powered by 200 hp geared Hispano-Suiza engines. 44 built.
Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN1-85605-375-X.
Goodall, Michael H. (1995). The Norman Thompson File. Tunbridge Wells, UK: Air Britain. ISBN0-85130-233-5.
London, Peter (2003). British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN0-7509-2695-3.
Thetford, Owen (1978). British Naval Aircraft since 1912 (Fourth ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
External links
: British Aircraft Directory
March 24, 2023
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The Norman Thompson N T 4 was a twin engined British flying boat of the First World War Although less well known than similar Curtiss and Felixstowe flying boats 50 were ordered for Britain s Royal Naval Air Service N T 4NT4A February 1918 Role Patrol Flying BoatManufacturer Norman Thompson Flight CompanyDesigner Francis Percy Beadle 1 First flight October 1916Introduction 1916Retired 1918Primary user Royal Naval Air ServiceNumber built 26 N T 4 44 N T 4A 2 N2C Variants Gosport Mail Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications N T 4A 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksDevelopment and design EditThe White and Thompson company was formed by Norman Thompson and Douglas White in 1912 at Bognor Regis Sussex to design and build aircraft 2 It built several models of aircraft in small numbers before being renamed the Norman Thompson Flight Company in September 1915 The first aircraft to be produced by the renamed company was a twin engined patrol flying boat the Norman Thompson N T 4 This was a three bay biplane powered by two pusher Hispano Suiza engines mounted between the wings and was fitted with an enclosed heavily glazed cockpit for its four man crew An initial order for ten aircraft for the Royal Naval Air Service was placed in December 1915 with the first prototype flying in October 1916 3 Further orders were placed in 1917 bringing the total ordered to 50 Production continued through 1917 but in 1918 following a change in policy on anti submarine aircraft the final contract for 20 aircraft was cancelled 4 Total production was 26 aircraft continuing until June 1918 5 Norman Thompson produced a revised design to meet the requirements of Admiralty Specification N 2C to replace the N T 4 This type designated the Norman Thompson N 2C used the wings of the N T 4 but with a new hull resembling that of the Porte Felixstowe boats Power was by two 200 hp 149 kW Sunbeam Arab engines The first prototype attempted to fly on 1 August 1918 but required changes to the hull before it was capable of take off Water handling remained poor and the aircraft was tail heavy in flight It was abandoned following the end of the war 6 Operational history EditThe N T 4 entered service with the RNAS in 1916 7 being operated on anti submarine patrols over the North Sea and English Channel but were mainly used for training as larger aircraft were more suitable for patrol purposes 8 Many of the aircraft produced in 1918 were delivered straight to storage and were never used 4 Owing to its similarity in size to the Curtiss H 4 it shared the Curtiss flying boat s nickname of America being renamed Small America when the larger Curtiss H 12 known as Large America and Felixstowe F 2 flying boats came into service 9 Variants EditN T 4 Initial batch of six aircraft Powered by two 150 hp Hispano Suiza engines N T 4A Main production type Powered by 200 hp geared Hispano Suiza engines 44 built N2C Improved version with hull similar to Felixstowe flying boats powered by two Sunbeam Arab engines Two prototypes only built in 1918 10 Operators Edit United KingdomRoyal Naval Air ServiceSpecifications N T 4A Edit NOSE ON VIEW fitted with 2 x 150 h p Hispano Suiza engines February 1918 Data from British Naval Aircraft since 1912 9 General characteristicsCrew 4 Length 41 ft 6 in 12 65 m Wingspan 78 ft 7 in 23 95 m Height 14 ft 10 in 4 52 m Wing area 936 sq ft 87 0 m2 Empty weight 4 572 lb 2 074 kg Gross weight 6 469 lb 2 934 kg Powerplant 2 Hispano Suiza 8B V 6 water cooled piston engines 200 hp 150 kW each Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellersPerformance Maximum speed 95 mph 153 km h 83 kn at 2 000 ft 610 m Cruise speed 69 mph 111 km h 60 kn Endurance 6 hours 11 Service ceiling 11 700 ft 3 600 m Time to altitude 10 000 ft 3 048 m 31 minutes 5 seconds Wing loading 6 91 lb sq ft 33 7 kg m2 Power mass 0 062 hp lb 0 102 kW kg Armament Guns Provision for Lewis guns firing through side window Bombs Bomb racks under lower wingSee also EditRelated development Gosport MailAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Curtiss H 4 Curtiss H 12 Felixstowe F 2Notes Edit Moss Roger Francis Percy Hyde Beadle British Aviation Projects to Production Retrieved 10 February 2017 Goodall 1995 pp 7 8 Goodall 1995 pp 44 45 a b Goodall 1995 p 49 Goodall 1995 pp 49 53 London 2003 pp 39 40 English Heritage Aircraft utilised by the RFC RNAS RAF and US Navy within the UK 1912 18 PDF Retrieved 17 September 2007 Goodall 1995 p 47 a b Thetford 1978 p 266 267 Donald 1997 p 695 Goodall 1995 p 52 References EditDonald David ed 1997 The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Aerospace Publishing ISBN 1 85605 375 X Goodall Michael H 1995 The Norman Thompson File Tunbridge Wells UK Air Britain ISBN 0 85130 233 5 London Peter 2003 British Flying Boats Stroud UK Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 2695 3 Thetford Owen 1978 British Naval Aircraft since 1912 Fourth ed London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 861 5 External links EditNorman Thompson N T 4 British Aircraft Directory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norman Thompson N T 4 amp oldid 1069419094, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
