Gloster Mars, Nighthawk, Nightjar и Sparrowhawk

Самолет компании "Gloster" Mars I/Bamel, на основе которого впоследствии были созданы самолеты Gloster I и II, в свою очередь был разработан на основе модели Nieuport Nighthawk, спроектированной Генри Фолландом. На основе этой же модели появилось и семейство ранних самолетов компании "Gloster", начиная с Mars Mk II, создававшегося как одноместный истребитель для японских ВМС. Соглашение о поставках было достигнуто после посещения Японии британской военно-воздушной миссией в январе 1921 года. Получив от британских специалистов ряд советов, японские военные заказали партию из 50 самолетов, спроектированных на базе модели Nighthawk.
   В серийном варианте Mars Mk II представлял собой довольно изящный биплан с крыльями деревянной конструкции с полотняной обшивкой, с традиционным хвостовым оперением и дополнительным подфюзеляжным килем. Машина также оборудовалась неубирающимся шасси с хвостовым костылем. На самолет был установлен ротативный двигатель Bentley BR.2 мощностью 230 л.с. (172 кВт). Всего были собраны 30 самолетов Mars Mk II, после чего в производство пошла в целом сходная с ним модель Mars Mk III (построено 10 самолетов). Новый вариант отличался тем, что у него были две расположенные тандемно открытые кабины с дублированной системой управления для использования в качестве учебно-тренировочного самолета.
   Mars Mk IV (построено 10 машин) имел тормозной гак, надувные баллонеты и профилированные щитки-параваны, укрепленные с помощью распорок перед основными стойками шасси для уменьшения опрокидывающего момента и снижения возможности переворота самолета при аварийной посадке на воду. Самолет использовался в качестве истребителя корабельного базирования, а позже все указанные модели были переименованы соответственно в Sparrowhawk Mk I, Sparrowhawk Mk II и Sparrowhawk Mk III. Все они зарекомендовали себя во время эксплуатации в японском флоте с наилучшей стороны, оставаясь на вооружении до 1928 года.
   В дополнение к 10 самолетам Mars Mk III (затем Sparrowhawk Mk II), предназначенным для японских ВМС, компания "Gloster" построила один самолет, который использовался в качестве демонстратора, а под обозначением Mars Mk VI Nighthawk компания выпустила небольшое количество одноместных истребителей, которые оценивались в британских ВВС. Данные самолеты представляли собой планеры Nighthawk с новым двигателем Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar II мощностью 325 л.с. (242 кВт), или звездообразным двигателем Bristol Jupiter III, или двигателем Bristol Jupiter IV мощностью 385 л. с. (287 кВт). Кроме самолетов для Великобритании 25 машин с двигателями Jaguar были отправлены в Грецию, где они оставались на вооружении строевых частей вплоть до 1938 года.
   Последней моделью, созданной на базе планера самолета Nighthawk, стал одноместный морской истребитель Mars Mk X Nightjar, предназначенный для британской морской авиации. В целом это был морской вариант Nighthawk, на котором использовался двигатель Bentley BR.2. Самолет также отличался новым ширококолейным шасси с удлиненными стойками и устройствами для крепления на палубе авианосца. Из имевшихся в своем распоряжении 22 самолетов Nightjar командование британских ВВС в июле 1922 года передало морской авиации 12 машин "в аренду" на два года, в самих же ВВС ему на смену пришел Fairey Flycatcher.


ТАКТИКО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

   Gloster Mars Mk X Nightjar

   Тип: одноместный истребитель корабельного базирования
   Силовая установка: один ротативный ПД Bentley BR.2 мощностью 230 л. с. (172 кВт)
   Летные характеристики: макс. скорость на уровне моря 193 км/ч; набор высоты 4570 м - за 20 мин; практический потолок 5790 м; продолжительность полета 2 ч
   Масса: пустого 801 кг; максимальная взлетная 982 кг
   Размеры: размах крыла 8,53 м; длина 5,59 м; высота 2,74 м; площадь крыльев 25,08 м2
   Вооружение: два 7,7-мм пулемета Vickers Mk I в носовой части фюзеляжа

Flight, July 1921

THE WINNER OF THE DERBY
   Some Notes on the Mars I

   As the only really new machine to start in the Derby at Hendon on Saturday last (July 16), more than usual interest attaches to the Mars I, designed by Mr. H. P. Folland and built by the Gloucestershire Aviation Co., of Cheltenham. With its 450 h.p. Napier "Lion" engine, the Mars I was the highest-powered machine in the race, and the manner in which Mr. Folland had managed to build such a relatively large engine into a small and, let it be admitted from the very outset, very pretty machine, was most interesting. Hitherto most of the really pretty aeroplanes have been designed in France, but with the Mars I Folland has shown that he can design a machine which is pleasing to the eye, while at the same time being "right" structurally and aerodynamically. It is an old saying that if a machine looks right it is right. If that contention is accepted then the Mars I is very much "right." The speed attained by it in the Derby proves it to be very fast, although we are convinced that it did not attain the maximum speed of which it is capable when properly tuned up and "cleaned up."
   Concerning the birth of the Mars I it is not without interest to make a note of the fact that about a month ago the machine existed in Mr. Folland's brain only; nothing had been put on paper (or should one say tracing cloth?). Nearly a week ago the machine won the Derby. This is pretty good going and to those who realise the problems attending the production of a machine of this type, the fact speaks volumes for Mr. Folland's capabilities as a designer. So far as we can learn from Mr. James, whose masterly handling of the machine piloted it to victory, there is nothing to be desired in the stability and general handling of the machine. A look at the accompanying general arrangement drawings will tell those who are familiar with the British Nieuport machines (''Nighthawks," "Nieuhawks," "Goshawks," etc.) that from the pilot's cockpit aft the fuselage is standard. This helps to explain the rapidity of production,, but does not account for the extraordinarily pleasing lines of the machine, nor does it necessarily promise to give a short cut to good balance. That the balance is good cannot be doubted, for even fitted with a trimming tail such a machine would be distinctly unpleasant if the trim was wrong. Incidentally the standard rear portion of the fuselage, including the entire empennage, seems to indicate that a certain amount of standardisation need not necessarily hamper design to any great extent.
   As the Nieuport machines have been dealt with very fully in the past in our columns, we need not devote much space to a description of the fuselage and tail. These were illustrated in our issue of November 27, 1919. The front portion of the fuselage has been rebuilt to accommodate the 450 h.p. Napier "Lion" engine. Instead of the multi-ply engine plate of the "Nighthawk," the Mars I has cradles of the same material, supporting the ash engine bearers, which are attached to them by angle plates and braced diagonally by steel tubes. The manner of mounting the engine is illustrated in one of the accompanying sketches, which indicates most of the details. The mounting of the radiator underneath the fuselage should be noted, as this position helps to a very great extent to give the machine the clean nose, which lends to it its graceful appearance.
   The placing of the petrol tank is unusual, and might at first give the impression that the pilot's view was entirely obstructed in a forward direction. This is probably true, but then the pilot could see but little over a relatively wide engine in any case, and the placing of the petrol tank where it is results in a simplified petrol system. Whether the gravity feed is sufficient when the tank is nearly empty, and there is consequently a small "head" might be open to-doubt, and as a safeguard a pressure system is incorporated. Mounted on the front of the petrol tank is, it will be observed, a small water tank which is ribbed, or rather corrugated, on the front to assist in the cooling. The same principle is applied to the oil tank, which is mounted underneath the engine, and has corrugations formed in its lower part which projects through the very neat engine cowl.
   As in other machines of Mr. Folland's design, the "spinner" on the propeller is made integral with the screw. The result is a very clean entry and smooth run for the air, and the cowl is so shaped that only the top of the cylinder blocks project beyond it. The whole is exceptionally clean and neat, and proves that it is possible to install a "Lion" in a relatively compact engine housing. Incidentally we might mention that the propeller was designed by Dr. H. C. Watts, of Ogilvie and partners, and Mr. Folland has nothing but praise for it. It was, he informs us, satisfactory in every way.
   The under-carriage is identical in its details with that of the Nieuport "Nighthawk." That is to say, the struts are of spruce and are attached to the lower longerons by links, so that a slight discrepancy in alignment does not matter. To reduce resistance, the shock absorbers are partly enclosed in streamline casings, as shown in one of our sketches.
   Generally speaking, the wings do not present any unusual features. The section is normal, and is not a specially thin racing section, there being ample room for spars of reasonable depth. The spars and ribs are of normal construction also, and the only feature which calls for comment is the use of single I-struts in a machine with staggered wings. We frankly admit that this is a practice with which we are not particularly in love. At the time of the Gordon-Bennett race last year we commented on this feature in the American machine flown by Major Schroeder. The stagger in the Mars I is not, however, as great as it was in the Verville-Packard, and carried out as it is in this machine it is probably quite satisfactory in practice. At the extremities of the spruce struts these are attached, by a mortice joint, to walnut "feet," spreading out to meet the two wing spars, to which they are attached by steel plates and brackets. The lift and anti-lift wires are, of course, attached to the spars at the points where the "feet" meet the spars.
   The wing tips of the top plane are rounded off, as no ailerons are fitted to the top plane. The lower wing tips, on account of the ailerons, are square, with just the corners rounded off. This system, which we first noticed on the Spad machines at the last Paris Aero Show, has much to recommend it, provided sufficient lateral control can be obtained with one set of ailerons only. The ailerons are easily get-at-able, and the absence of ailerons on the top plane allows of thinning down the wing tips, and thus improves the efficiency of the wing which most affects the performance.
   The weight of the Mars I fully loaded is 2,500 lbs., giving a wing loading (for 205 sq. ft.) of just over 12 lbs./sq. ft. and a power loading (on 450 h.p.) of about 5 1/2 lbs./h.p. In the Derby the machine covered the course at the rate of about 163 m.p.h., but this does not, of course, represent her actual speed, which must have been in the neighbourhood of 170, at least. Even this is not, we should imagine, anything like the best of which the machine is capable. We believe that the radiator was too small to allow of running the engine all-out for any length of time, and that, as a matter of fact, James was flying well throttled down most of the time. With a larger radiator and various refinements incorporated here and there the machine should, in our opinion, be capable of a speed of about 185 m.p.h. However, time did not allow of those extra little touches which mean so much when such speeds are concerned, but later on we hope to hear that the machine has been through the official tests at Martlesham and has handsomely beaten the previous record, also set up by a machine designed by Mr. Folland - the "Goshawk." In the meantime we congratulate the Gloucestershire Aviation Co. on their rapid production of such a fine machine; Mr. Folland on a very excellent design; and last, but by no means least, Mr. James on a splendid piece of flying. His get-off was not, perhaps, spectacular, but it was extremely sound, and he was playing for safety by allowing himself a good run. His landing at the end of the race was magnificent, considering that the machine is loaded to the tune of 12 lbs./sq. ft., being practically a "three-point" landing, with engine stopped. "Jimmy" has worked hard and persistently since we first knew him - round about 1910 out in Gloucester - and he thoroughly deserves his victory.