Parnall Elf
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| Elf | |
|---|---|
| Type | Two-seat light aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Parnall & Co |
| Designed by | Harold Bolas |
| Maiden flight | 1929 |
| Number built | 3 |
The Parnall Elf was a British two seat light touring aircraft of the 1920s. Built by George Parnall & Co. the Elf was the last aircraft designed by Harold Bolas before he left the company to go to the United States.
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[edit] Design and development
The Parnall Elf was designed by Harold Bolas, chief designer of the reformed George Parnall & Co. The type made its public debut at Olympia in July 1929.[1] The Elf was a biplane of wood and fabric construction with staggered wings set well forward on the fuselage as a feature to assist crew escape in an emergency. The wings were unusually braced with 'vee' interplane struts which dispensed with any flying wires [2] and could be folded for ease of hangarage. The main fuel tank was fitted in the fuselage, a pump raised the fuel to a small tank in the wing centre section where it was then fed to the engine by gravity. An Elf placed fifth in the 1930 King's Cup Air Race out of a field of 88 entrants. The purchase price of the aircraft at this time was between £875 and £890.[3]
[edit] Survivors
- Parnall Elf, G-AAIN, is maintained and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire, England and is flown regularly throughout the summer months.[4]
[edit] Specifications (Elf)
Data from The Shuttleworth Collection, 1969.
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 22 ft 10.5 in ()
- Wingspan: 31 ft 2.5 in (upper wing) 26 ft 9 in (lower wing) 7 ft 2 in (folded) ()
- Height: 8 ft 6 in ()
- Wing area: 195 ft² ()
- Empty weight: 1,140 lb ()
- Powerplant: 1× Cirrus Hermes II in-line, 115 hp ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: 116 mph
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ogilvy, 1989.
- ^ Ogilvy, 1989
- ^ Guttery, 1969. p. 43.
- ^ Shuttleworth Collection, Parnall Elf
[edit] Bibliography
- Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. SBN 901319-01-5
- Ogilvy, David. Shuttleworth - The Historic Aeroplanes. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1989 ISBN 1-85310-106-0
[edit] External links
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