Beagle Airedale
| A.109 Airedale | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Airedale just after take-off | |
| Role | Civil utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Beagle Aircraft |
| First flight | 16 April 1961 |
| Number built | 43 |
| Unit cost |
£4,750 (1961)[1] |
| Developed from | Auster C.6 Atlantic |
The Beagle A.109 Airedale was a British light civil aircraft developed in the 1960s.
Design and development
The Airedale was a four-seat, high-wing braced monoplane with a fixed, tricycle undercarriage. It was originally designated as the Auster D.8, which was based on the Auster C.6 Atlantic design, built and flown in 1958 (registration G-APHT).[2][3] The first D.8 was in construction when Beagle Aircraft bought the Auster company in 1960. The performance of the Airedale, although faster than the D.6 on the same engine, was decidedly lacklustre, largely due to its comparatively high structural weight, and it was unable to compete in the market with its US competitors. Such competition was also hindered by the out-dated steel tube/fabric construction, compared to the all-metal Piper Cherokee and Cessna 172 designs. Beagle had retained the older construction method as development of monocoque techniques would have extended the design period; the Airedale itself took about four and a half months from starting on the design drawings to first flight.[1]
Production of the A.109 Airedale ceased in 1965.
A single Airedale, the prototype (registration G-ARKE) was refitted with a Rolls-Royce-built Continental GO-300 so that it could be part of the SBAC Display at the 1961 Farnborough Airshow, as the standard Airedale was not eligible on account of its US-built engine. This model was designated A.111.
Specifications (A.109)
Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume I [4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 4 in (11.07 m)
- Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
- Wing area: 185 sq.ft (17.2 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 23012[1]
- Empty weight: 1,630 lb (739 kg)
- Loaded weight: 2,750 lb (1,250 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 hp (134 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 mph (122 knots, 225 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 133 mph (116 kts, 214 km/h)
- Range: 940 miles (8000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 650 ft/min initial (3.3 m/s)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Notes
- 1 2 3 Flight (1961) p593
- ↑ http://www.auster.ukf.net/p34.htm
- ↑ http://www.austerclub.org/austeraircraft.htm
- ↑ Jackson 1974, p.193.
Bibliography
- "Airedale Unleashed: First Pup from the BEAGLE Litter". Flight. No. 4 May 1961. pp. 593–596.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume I. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
- Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 53–55.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 122.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 04.
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