Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate Avis

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}} {{Use British English|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate Avis | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Pioneering sport aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United Kingdom | manufacturer = Howard T. Wright | design_group = | designer = W.O. Manning | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 5 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = March 1910 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Scottish Aeroplane Avis''' was a tractor monoplane built by Howard T. Wright in 1909. At that time Wright was one of England's foremost aircraft engineers, and had several monoplane aircraft under development. The Avis was shown at the 1910 Aero Exhibition in London and several examples were successfully flown during 1910.<ref>Lewis 1962 p.313</ref>

==Design and development== The Avis was designed by Wright and William Oke Manning for Alan Boyle's newly formed Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate and was constructed at Wright's Battersea works during 1909. It was a single-seat tractor monoplane with an uncovered wire-braced wooden fuselage using wing-warping for lateral control, resembling the aircraft that Louis Bleriot had used to make the first flight across the English Channel. The wings were braced by wires attached to two pairs of cabane struts, which extended down and outwards to form two A-frames carrying a pair of skids to each of which a pair of wheels was attached using shock cords. It had an all-moving cruciform tail, built as a single assembly articulated on a universal joint. A small sprung tailwheel was fitted.<ref>Ransom 1987 p92</ref> At that time there was no standardised system for control layout and the Avis used foot pedals for lateral control, and a stick with a wheel at the top to control rudder and elevator.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200185.html The Avis monoplane]Flight magazine, 3 March 1910</ref> The prototype, known as the ''Golden Plover'', was fitted with a 30 hp (22 kW) Anzani engine. It was finished in December 1909, but trials at Brooklands were unsatisfactory and the engine was replaced by a {{convert|35|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Anzani driving a wooden propeller manufactured by Wright. The prototype was first successfully flown by Boyle in March 1910. It was sold to Mr Maconie, who used it at Brooklands in August 1910.<ref>Ransom 1987, p.90</ref>

==Operational history== A second aircraft, now called the '''Avis''' and sometimes called the '''Avis II''' because it was the second built, powered by a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} J.A.P. was exhibited by the Scottist Aeronautical Syndicate at Olympia in Jan 1910.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200185.html The Avis Monoplane], Flight magazine, 3 March 1910</ref> This aircraft was bought by R.F. Wickham, who flew it at Brooklands, extensively damaging it after a forced landing caused by engine failure.<ref name="Ransom90">Ransom 1987 p. 90</ref>

The third built, which was powered by {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} E.N.V. engine was officially named the '''Avis I''' and was used as a personal machine by Boyle, who confusingly gave it his personal number "3", which was painted on the tail. He gained his Aero Club certificate (number 13) in it on 14 July, but wrecked the aircraft at the Bournemouth Air display later that month.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200891.html From the British Flying Grounds], Flight Magazine, 29 October 1910</ref>

An example referred to as '''Avis III''' was bought by the racing driver John Herbert Spottiswode, who later sold it as a prop to the London photography studio Campbell–Gray .<ref name="Ransom90"/>

Another, '''Avis IV''', was used by Boyle to replace the aircraft wrecked at Bournemouth, but when the Scottish Aeronautical Syndicate was dissolved at the end of the year this was sold at auction at Brooklands, going for £50 to Eustace Gray, the Brooklands press steward.{{dubious|Eustace Gray|date=January 2023}}<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%201058.html Brooklands Airodrome], Flight magazine, 24 December 1910</ref>

==Specifications == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Lewis 1962, p.314 |prime units?=imp  |genhide= |crew=1 |capacity= |length m= |length ft=27 |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=28 |span in= |span note= |upper span m= |upper span ft= |upper span in= |upper span note= |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |width note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=160 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=430 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=630 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=J.A.P. |eng1 type=8-cylinder |eng1 kw=30 |eng1 hp=40 |prop blade number=2 |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=  |perfhide=Y |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== {{refbegin}}  * Lewis, Peter. ''British Aircraft 1809–1914''. London: Putnam, 1962 * Ransom, S. N. and Fairclough, F. ''English Electric Aircraft and their Predecessors''. London: Putnam, 1987 {{ISBN|0-85177-806-2}}

{{refend}}

Category:1910s British experimental aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1910

Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate Avis

Connections

Linked from

Links to