Flight, October 1923

WINNERS OF THE FRENCH "GRAND PRIX"
Two New Types of Farman Four-Engined Aeroplanes

   As recorded in our issue of September 27, 1923, the French "Grand Prix" for commercial aeroplanes, which finished on September 24 last, resulted in first and second places being secured by Farman machines, the Bleriot four-engined biplane obtaining third place.
   The Farman four-engined monoplane is the first machine of its type to be designed and built in France. In a measure the design may be said to be influenced by the German designers of multi-engined aircraft, although the resemblance is by no means strong enough to justify the use of the word "copying." In fact, but for certain features which are reminiscent of Dornier practice, the Farman monoplane is of entirely original conception, both as regards its general lay-out and in the matter of detail design.
   Broadly, the Farman "Grand Prix" winner is a thick-wing, braced monoplane with the four 180 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engines placed in pairs on short wing roots projecting from the bottom of the fuselage. The main plane rests on top of the fuselage, and is braced on each side by two pairs of struts, one of which runs from the engines to the root of the wing on the top longerons, while the other pair slopes outward from the engine bearers to the wing spars. The monoplane wing is of very large chord, and has a pronounced taper both in thickness and chord. Ailerons of high aspect ratio are fitted, and it will be noticed that they are not balanced in spite of the large size.
   The fuselage is of rectangular section, and does not project very far ahead of the leading edge of the wing. The pilots are placed in the nose, in slightly staggered seats, and as there is nothing ahead of them to obstruct the view they probably are able to see in all directions that matter.
   The four Hispano-Suiza engines are neatly cowled-in, the absence of nacelle radiators enabling the cowling to be carried right around the front of the engines. Lamblin radiators of the latest type are fitted on the struts that run from the engines to the top longeron of the fuselage. This type of radiator may now be said to have passed the experimental stage, and is beginning to be fitted on a number of French machines.
   The undercarriage of the Farman monoplane is of very simple type, consisting of a plain Vee under each engine, braced laterally by a bent axle pivoted to the centre of the fuselage.
   The Farman F.3X has an overall length of 14 metres (45 ft. 11 ins.), and a span of 19 metres (62 ft. 4 ins.). The wing area is 81 sq. m. (872 sq. ft.), and the weight empty is 3,000 kgs. (6,600 lbs.).
   In the "Grand Prix" the F.3X was piloted by Coupet, who had with him as second pilot Landry, one of the Farman pilots from the establishment at Toussus-le-Noble.
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Flight, December 1924

The Paris Aero Show 1924

SOCIETE DES AVIONS HENRY AND MAURICE FARMAN

   Two complete machines and the fuselage of a third are exhibited on the Farman stand. Of the two it is difficult to say which is the more interesting, and besides, in spite of the fact that one is a twin-engined and the other a single-engined machine, there are many similarities between them. The one has the advantage of being proved, and of having to its credit the first prize in the last two Grand Prix for commercial aeroplanes, as well as more recently the Coupe Lamblin, while the other is an entirely new type. The former is the famous "Jabiru," photographs and a brief description of which have appeared in FLIGHT, and the latter is a two-seater reconnaissance biplane, or rather "sesquiplan," as the lower wing is of quite diminutive dimensions.
   The "Jabiru" is, as is, of course, well known, a development of the F.3X with 180 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engines, which won the 1923 Grand Prix for commercial aeroplanes, but has been somewhat altered in various details, as well as having two 400 h.p. Lorraine engines substituted for the 180 Hispanos.
   As exhibited at the Salon, the "Jabiru" is a high-performance passenger carrier, being provided with a comfortable saloon with seating accommodation for nine passengers. The leg-room provided appears to be ample, an important consideration for long journeys, but the machine scarcely impresses one as being a commercial proposition with a power expenditure of close upon 90 h.p. for each paying passenger. The Grand Prix, it may be recollected, was flown to a formula, in which speed played an important part, and if high performance is required certainly the "Jabiru" seems to score, as the maximum speed is given as 208 km./h. (130 m.p.h.). The commercial cruising speed is stated to be 180 km./h. (113 m.p.h.), which, if correct, is also a very good figure, but the price paid for this high speed does appear somewhat high.
   The cabin of the "Jabiru," as already stated, has room for nine passengers, a sofa along the front wall seating three, and the remaining six being single chairs. A small table is also provided on the starboard side.
   The original "Jabiru” was fitted with three engines, two on the lower plane and one in the nose of the fuselage. The third engine has been removed in the show machine, and its place is taken by the pilot's cockpit, which forms a "bulge" in the leading edge. The view from the cockpit must be exceptionally good, and the pilot has the further advantage that he can see both engines. In plan view the "Jabiru" is not exactly a pretty machine, resembling as it does a sort of sting-ray with its monoplane wing of tremendous chord and fairly low aspect ratio. However there is no denying the efficiency of the machine, and appearances are, after all, a secondary consideration.
   The two Lorraine engines are mounted on, but well ahead of, the short wing roots that give the machine its title of "Sesquiplan," and in this position they are fairly accessible for inspection or overhauls of a minor character. The wing bracing and undercarriage bracing struts all meet near the tips of the lower wings stumps, the whole being so arranged as to provide triangulation, as indicated in a sketch. Apart from these struts there is no external bracing, and in consequence the machine is of clean outline.
   The main characteristics are as follows: Length o.a. 13-68 m. (44 ft. 9 ins.); wing span, 19 m. (62 ft. 2 ins.); wing area, 90 sq. m. (970 sq. ft.); weight empty, 3,200 kgs. (7,000 lbs.); useful load, 2,000 kgs. (4,400 lbs.). Total loaded weight, 5,200 kgs. (11,400 lbs.); wing loading, 11.8 lbs./sq.ft. Power loading (on 800 h.p.), 14.3 lbs./h.p. Maximum speed, 208 km./h. (130 m.p.h.); cruising speed, 180 km./h. (112.5 m.p.h.). Ceiling 4,250 m. (14,000 ft.).
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