English Electric Ayr: Difference between revisions
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{{Use British English|date=July 2017}} |
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|name=Ayr |
|name=Ayr |
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|type=coastal patrol [[flying boat]] |
|type=coastal patrol [[flying boat]] |
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|manufacturer=[[English Electric]] |
|manufacturer=[[English Electric]] |
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The '''English Electric M.3 Ayr''' was a |
The '''English Electric M.3 Ayr''' was a British three-seat coastal patrol [[flying boat]] designed and built by the [[English Electric]] Company. The aircraft refused to become airborne and the project was abandoned. |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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In 1921, English Electric's chief designer, [[William Oke Manning]] began work on designing an experimental small flying boat intended to meet a requirement for a single-engined four seat aircraft for artillery-spotting for the fleet. The design attracted the attention of the British [[Air Ministry]], and two prototypes were ordered against [[List of Air Ministry specifications#1920–1929|Specification 12/21]].<ref name="eep1467">{{harvnb|Ransom|Fairclough|1987|pp=146–147}}</ref><ref name="Londonp845">{{harvnb|London|2003|pp=84–85}}</ref> |
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While the company were working on the [[English Electric Kingston|Kingston]] they decided to experiment with a design for a small flying boat. The aircraft was a single-engined [[biplane]] flying-boat named the '''Ayr''' and was built in 1924. The hull was designed by [[Linton Hope]] who had designed the Kingston hulls. The lower wing was mounted low on the hull where the root was fully submerged while on the water, and inclined with considerable dihedral. It was designed to both provide lateral stability while on the water, and to carry bombs. During trials the aircraft rolled to the right and was unable to become airborne. |
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Manning's design, the Ayr, was a [[sesquiplane]] with swept (16 degrees) wings and heavy (20 degrees) [[dihedral (aeronautics)|dihedral]] on the lower wings. The watertight lower wings, mounted low on the hull where they were submerged when on the water, were intended to act as stabilising sponsons, eliminating the need for wing-tip floats.<ref name="Londonp845"/><ref name="eep147,1">{{harvnb|Ransom|Fairclough|1987|pp=147, 151}}</ref> A [[Napier Lion]] engine was mounted to the upper wing.<ref name="Londonp845"/> The hull was designed by [[Linton Hope]] who had designed the Kingston hulls, and accommodated the crew of four, with the pilot being provided with a cockpit amidships, positions for gunners in the aircraft's bow and in a dorsal location, while the observer was provided with an open cockpit just aft of the bow gunners position, and an enclosed position for operating the aircraft's radio inside the hull.<ref name="Londonp845"/> Armament consisted of a [[Scarff ring]] carrying a single [[Lewis gun]] fitted in the bow position, with two Lewis guns fitted to the dorsal mount.<ref name="eep148">{{harvnb|Ransom|Fairclough|1987|p=148}}</ref> |
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Construction of the prototypes began in 1923, but was slowed by work on English Electric's larger [[English Electric Kingston|Kingston]] flying boat,<ref name="Londonp85">{{harvnb|London|2003|p=85}}</ref> with the first prototype not being completed until early 1925, being [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 10 March 1925.<ref name="eep150">{{harvnb|Ransom|Fairclough|1987|p=150}}</ref> Taxying at low speeds proved difficult, as the Ayr tended to rock from one wing to the other, although at speeds above {{convert|10|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}, the wings were lifted clear of the water by hydrodynamic forces, although keeping a straight course proved difficult. When take-off was attempted, water thrown off the nose submerged the lower wings, pulling the aircraft down and making take-off impossible. These problems could not be resolved, and the project was stopped, with construction of the second prototype abandoned with it half built. The first prototype's hull was taken to [[RAE Farnborough]] along with that of one of the Kingstons, and was eventually abandoned on the [[Basingstoke Canal]], sinking in the early 1950s.<ref name="Londonp85"/><ref name="eep1501">{{harvnb|Ransom|Fairclough|1987|pp=150–151}}</ref> |
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==Specifications== |
==Specifications== |
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{{Aircraft specs |
{{Aircraft specs |
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|ref=British Flying Boats<ref name="London p260-1">London |
|ref=British Flying Boats<ref name="London p260-1">{{harvnb|London|2003|pp=260–261}}</ref> |
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|prime units?=imp |
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*[[List of |
*[[List of flying boats and floatplanes]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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* The [[Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft]] (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1613 |
* The [[Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft]] (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1613 |
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*London |
* {{cite book |last=London |first=Peter |title=British Flying Boats |year=2003 |location=Stroud, UK |publisher=Sutton Publishing |isbn=0-7509-2695-3}} |
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* {{cite book |last1=Ransom |first1=Stephen |last2=Fairclough |first2=Robert |year=1987 |title=English Electric Aircraft and their Predecessors |location=London |publisher=Putnam |isbn=0-85177-806-2}} |
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{{English Electric aircraft}} |
{{English Electric aircraft}} |
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Latest revision as of 06:42, 17 January 2022
| Ayr | |
|---|---|
| Role | coastal patrol flying boat |
| Manufacturer | English Electric |
| Designer | W.O. Manning |
| Produced | 1924 |
| Number built | 2 |
The English Electric M.3 Ayr was a British three-seat coastal patrol flying boat designed and built by the English Electric Company. The aircraft refused to become airborne and the project was abandoned.
Development
[edit]In 1921, English Electric's chief designer, William Oke Manning began work on designing an experimental small flying boat intended to meet a requirement for a single-engined four seat aircraft for artillery-spotting for the fleet. The design attracted the attention of the British Air Ministry, and two prototypes were ordered against Specification 12/21.[1][2]
Manning's design, the Ayr, was a sesquiplane with swept (16 degrees) wings and heavy (20 degrees) dihedral on the lower wings. The watertight lower wings, mounted low on the hull where they were submerged when on the water, were intended to act as stabilising sponsons, eliminating the need for wing-tip floats.[2][3] A Napier Lion engine was mounted to the upper wing.[2] The hull was designed by Linton Hope who had designed the Kingston hulls, and accommodated the crew of four, with the pilot being provided with a cockpit amidships, positions for gunners in the aircraft's bow and in a dorsal location, while the observer was provided with an open cockpit just aft of the bow gunners position, and an enclosed position for operating the aircraft's radio inside the hull.[2] Armament consisted of a Scarff ring carrying a single Lewis gun fitted in the bow position, with two Lewis guns fitted to the dorsal mount.[4]
Construction of the prototypes began in 1923, but was slowed by work on English Electric's larger Kingston flying boat,[5] with the first prototype not being completed until early 1925, being launched on 10 March 1925.[6] Taxying at low speeds proved difficult, as the Ayr tended to rock from one wing to the other, although at speeds above 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h), the wings were lifted clear of the water by hydrodynamic forces, although keeping a straight course proved difficult. When take-off was attempted, water thrown off the nose submerged the lower wings, pulling the aircraft down and making take-off impossible. These problems could not be resolved, and the project was stopped, with construction of the second prototype abandoned with it half built. The first prototype's hull was taken to RAE Farnborough along with that of one of the Kingstons, and was eventually abandoned on the Basingstoke Canal, sinking in the early 1950s.[5][7]
Specifications
[edit]Data from British Flying Boats[8]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 40 ft 8 in (12.40 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
- Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
- Wing area: 466 sq ft (43.3 m2)
- Empty weight: 4,406 lb (1,999 kg)
- Gross weight: 6,846 lb (3,105 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Napier Lion IIB W-12 water-cooled piston engine, 450 hp (340 kW)
- Propellers: 4-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 127 mph (204 km/h, 110 kn)
- Service ceiling: 14,500 ft (4,400 m)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis machine gun in nose
- 1 x 0.303 in Lewis machine gun in rear cockpit
- Bombs:
- Provision for sponson carried bombs
See also
[edit]Related lists
References
[edit]- ^ Ransom & Fairclough 1987, pp. 146–147
- ^ a b c d London 2003, pp. 84–85
- ^ Ransom & Fairclough 1987, pp. 147, 151
- ^ Ransom & Fairclough 1987, p. 148
- ^ a b London 2003, p. 85
- ^ Ransom & Fairclough 1987, p. 150
- ^ Ransom & Fairclough 1987, pp. 150–151
- ^ London 2003, pp. 260–261
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1613
- London, Peter (2003). British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-2695-3.
- Ransom, Stephen; Fairclough, Robert (1987). English Electric Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-806-2.