Armstrong Whitworth Ape
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| Ape | |
|---|---|
| Type | Experimental biplane |
| Manufacturer | Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft |
| Maiden flight | 5 January 1926 |
| Primary user | Royal Aircraft Establishment |
| Number built | 3 |
The Ape was a British biplane experimental aeroplane built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft in the early 1920s and first flown on 5 January 1926 to "answer all the questions of aerodynamics."
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[edit] Development
The aircraft was designed to be "infinitely" adjustable: The fuselage could be lengthened or shortened, different fins and tailplanes could be fitted, the incidence angle of both the tailplane and the wings could be altered and the wings could be additionally changed in stagger, rake and dihedral. It could not be converted to a monoplane configuration, nor be fitted with a more powerful engine. Additionally, the entire tail was a single unit and the incidence angle of the tailplane could not be changed without also changing that of the fin. It was equipped with a comparatively small 180 hp Lynx engine that did not deliver nearly as much power as the relatively heavy plane needed, and certainly prohibited the Ape from experimenting to its full potential. The second Ape had a bigger engine, the Bristol Jupiter, but additional gadgets added weight that mostly negated the extra power.[1]
The Ape would continue to see occasional use throughout the 1920s.
[edit] Specifications (First Ape)
Data from [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 28 ft 3 in to 38 ft 3 in ()
- Wingspan: 40 ft ()
- Height: 13 to 15 ft ()
- Wing area: 473 sq ft ()
- Loaded weight: 2,700 - 3,250 ()
- Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Lynx III radial engine, 180 hp ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: 90 mph
- Service ceiling 6,400 ft ()
- Climb: 11 min to 3,000 ft
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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