A begoggled Major Petre about to take off in the Tern at the meeting at Balsdean on the South Downs in October 1931.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Tern / AS.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931

The wing of the Tern is seen under construction at York. The deep cantilever wing section with its Warren girder internal bracing and ply-covered leading edge “D”-box gave the structure exceptionally good torsional strength.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Tern / AS.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931

THE "TERN": A new sailplane which has been designed and built by Airspeed, Ltd., of York. It is stressed for auto and aeroplane towing, the latter at 70 m.p.h. A detachable undercarriage is fitted for auto-towing.
This view of the Tern airborne at Scarborough shows the detachable undercarriage which made auto-towing easier.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Tern / AS.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931

With work in progress on the fuselage, the spruce framework and birch ply bulkheads and formers are still visible. Cockpit instrumentation consisted of an air speed indicator and a cross-level.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Tern / AS.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931

The convincing “flying" shot of the Tern model, above, is made more so by the inclusion of a scale pilot in the cockpit. Below the builder of the model, Peter Tiltman, gives us a plan view which is reminiscent of the de Havilland D.H.88 Comet.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Tern / AS.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931