NEW BRITISH AIRPLANE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 474, 2 October 1928, Page 7

NEW BRITISH AIRPLANE

INTERCHANGEABLE WINGS AND AILERONS IDEAL FOR CLUB USE One of Britain’s latest airplanes is the Simmonds Spartan. It is a light biplane, similar to the Avro Avian in the design of its nose, and is powered with the Cirrus Mark 11. engine. It has a cockpit for pilot and observer and a split undercarriage fitted with spring shock absorbers. Us originality, however, lies along other lines, and shows, incidentally, the trend of design in light airplanes. The feature of this plane is the interchangeability of its aerofoil surfaces, that is to say, its wings, ailerons. elevators, rudder and even its main bracing wires. In other planes the left-hand top wing can be assembled only in tbe left-hand top position. In the Spartan, however, the wings are all of uniform size and shape and can be fitted in any position. This interchangeability is achieved by having a symmetrical wing curve section —the same curve on the upper and lower surfaces —-so that a right-hand wing can be used as a left-hand wing by turning it over and joining it to the fuselage with the same metal fitting. The same applies to the ailerons, which are not merely interchangeable among themselves but also interchangeable with the elevator flaps and the rudder. Similarly, the fin can be used either for a right or left tail plane. And, lastly, the main bracing wires are all the same size. The advantages of such a plant-, which so far has stood up to its tests, are obvious. It lends itself admirably to mass production; it keeps the cost of repair, which is apt to be high, down to a minimum; it reduces the number of spares it is necesasry to keep on hand; and, for the pri\*?> owner, it simplifies his repair work i reduces its cost and goes a long way toward delaying him in the event of j minor accident, while he sends to the ! makers for new parts. The machine, it is said, because of both its interchangeable aspect and j its performance, is admirably adapted i for the use of private owners and fly- ! ing clubs.