Dart Flittermouse
Страна: Великобритания
Год: 1936

Единственный экземпляр
Описание:
Самолеты семейства "Dart"
Flight, December 1936
RECRUITS for the LIGHT BRIGADE
Flight, April 1938
MODERN MODIFICATION
Фотографии

Самолеты семейства "Dart"

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   Следующим стал одноместный сверхлегкий моноплан Flittermouse, пилот которого располагался в небольшой гондоле, а прямо за ней находился мотоциклетный двигатель Scott-Squirrel, приводивший во вращение толкающий воздушный винт. Хвостовое оперение было построено по трехбалочной схеме. Самолет был передан заказчику в 1936 году, но вскоре был перепродан другому собственнику, который оснастил самолет трехстоечным шасси. Flittermouse был утилизирован в 1951 году.
   Следующим в 1937 году компания "Dart Aircraft" построила для "International Horseless Carriage Corporation" летающую копию самолета Bleriot Type XI, который в свое время пересек Ла-Манш, оснащенную оригинальным двигателем Anzani мощностью 25 л.с. (19 кВт).
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Flight, December 1936

RECRUITS for the LIGHT BRIGADE
New Approaches to the "Ultra-light" Problem: "Pou" Influence on One Model

The Dart Flittermouse and Kitten

   Dart Aircraft, Ltd., of 29, High Street North, Dunstable, Beds, already known to readers of Flight, tor their intriguing little Pup pusher monoplane, have constructed two more single-seater models.
   One, christened the Flittermouse (a bat, of course), is a pusher design with a lighter wing loading than the Pup, the actual figures being 6.38 lb./sq. ft. and 3.9 lb./sq. ft. The first engine to be installed in the prototype Flittermouse will be a 25 h.p. Scott. Data are: Span 40 ft. 5 in., length 22 ft. 5 in., height 5 ft. 2 in., weight loaded 640 lb., maximum speed 64 m.p.h.
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Flight, April 1938

MODERN MODIFICATION

   THE present owner of the one and only Dart Flittermouse, Mr. A. Carpenter, of Coventry, has made one or two interesting modifications to this machine, which will be remembered as a single-seat high-wing pusher monoplane powered in this case by a 28 h.p. Scott A.S.2 engine. He has moved the original undercarriage towards the rear, and has fitted a castoring nose wheel with as much as 6in. of shock-absorbed travel.
   So far only straight hops have been made with the machine, but the take-off run with the new undercarriage appears to be of the order of 100 yards or so in still air. Apparently the owner hopes that a certain amount of real soaring flight will be possible in suitable regions - the machine has a 40-foot span - and it is interesting, where ground transport is considered, to learn that the machine can be rigged for flight, from the nacelle outwards and upwards, in an hour. The appearance of the nacelle, with its engine and airscrew, sitting somewhat forlornly on a tricycle undercarriage is a distinctly odd one, but if the front wheel was made steerable it might almost be possible to use it as a means of road conveyance!
The Dart Flittermouse G-AELZ seen at Abingdon in May 1937.
The Dart Flittermouse G-AELZ seen at Abingdon in May 1937.
This modified Dart Flittermouse has characteristics which lead its owner to hope that real soaring flight, with the 28 h.p. Scott engine switched off, will be possible in the right atmospheric conditions.
The same aircraft after the skid was removed, the main undercarriage legs moved back behind the wing struts, and a castoring nose wheel fitted.
The Dart Flittermouse (25 h.p. Scott)