Abbott Farnham sailplane

Abbott Farnham sailplane
Role Competition sailplane
National origin UK
Manufacturer E. D. Abbott Ltd
Designer T.C. Letcher
First flight August 1930
Number built 1


The Abbott Farnham sailplane was a one-off competition sailplane designed and built in the United Kingdom in 1930.

Design and development

The Abbott Farnham sailplane, named after its builders, was designed by T. C. Letcher and first flew in August 1930. It was an all-wood single-seat glider with a cantilever three piece high wing. The central half span had constant chord; outboard long elliptical tips contained the ailerons. No airbrakes or flaps were fitted. The fuselage was roughly elliptical in cross-section, tapering towards the tail where it carried mid-mounted, straight-tapered elevators with rounded tips. The rudder was hinged at the extreme end of the fuselage and was of rounded triangular shape with a steep rising leading edge. The open cockpit was immediately ahead of the wing leading edge. Its undercarriage was a single long skid, reaching from the nose to well behind the wing trailing edge, with a small tailskid.[1]

Operational history

The Abbott Farnham was jointly owned by L. H. Ellis and Russell Taylor. It was entered for the German National Competition of 1930, held at the Wasserkuppe, but failed to turn up.[2] Only one was built, flying with the name "Alert" on the nose.[1]

Specifications

Data from British Gliders and Sailplanes[1]

General characteristics

Performance


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ellison, Norman (1971). British Gliders and Sailplanes. London: A & C Black Ltd. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7136-1189-2.
  2. ↑ The Sailplane, 6 Sept 1930