Parnall Elf

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use British English|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Elf | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Parnall Elf in flight.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Two-seat light aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = Parnall & Co | design_group = | designer = Harold Bolas | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 3 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1929 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} thumb|Parnall Elf G-AAIN, Shuttleworth

The '''Parnall Elf''' is a British two seat light touring aircraft of the 1920s. Built by George Parnall & Co. the Elf was the last aircraft designed by Harold Bolas before he left the company to go to the United States.

==Design and development== The Parnall Elf was designed by Harold Bolas, chief designer of the reformed George Parnall & Co. The type made its public debut at Olympia in July 1929.<ref name=Ogilvy>Ogilvy, 1989.</ref> The Elf was a biplane of wood and fabric construction with staggered wings set well forward on the fuselage as a feature to assist crew escape in an emergency. The wings were unusually braced with 'vee' interplane struts which dispensed with any flying wires<ref name=Ogilvy/> and could be folded for ease of hangarage. The main fuel tank was fitted in the fuselage, while a pump raised the fuel to a small tank in the wing centre section where it was then fed to the engine by gravity. An Elf placed fifth in the 1930 King's Cup Air Race out of a field of 88 entrants. The purchase price of the aircraft at this time was between £875 and £890.<ref>Guttery, 1969. p. 43.</ref>

==Survivors== * Parnall Elf, ''G-AAIN'', is maintained and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire, England and may be flown regularly throughout the summer months. 'G-AAIN' flew at the "At The Movies" Drive-In airshow on 2 August 2020, hosted by the Shuttleworth Collection

==Specifications (Elf Mk.II) == thumb|Parnall Elf 3-view drawing from Aero Digest January,1930 {{Aircraft specs |ref=Parnall Aircraft since 1914<ref name=Wixey>{{cite book |last1=Wixey |first1=Kenneth E. |title=Parnall Aircraft since 1914 |year=1990 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-55750-930-7 |pages=181–189}}</ref> |prime units?=imp  |crew=2 |capacity= |length ft=22 |length in=10.5 |length note= |upper span ft=31 |upper span in=3.5 |upper span note= |lower span ft=26 |lower span in=9 |lower span note= |height ft=8 |height in=6 |height note= |width ft=7 |width in=2 |width note=folded |wing area sqft=195 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight lb=900 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=1700 |gross weight note=<br> ::::{{cvt|1500|lb|0}} for aerobatics |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity={{cvt|21|impgal|USgal l|0}} in a fuselage main tank and centre-section gravity tank |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Cirrus Hermes II |eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled in-line piston engine |eng1 hp=120 |eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed-pitch propeller |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note=  |max speed mph=116 |max speed note=at sea level ::::{{cvt|112|mph|kn km/h|0}} at {{cvt|5000|ft|0}} |cruise speed mph=103 |cruise speed note= |stall speed mph=40 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=400 |range note= |ferry range miles= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=16000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ftmin=800 |climb rate note= |time to altitude={{cvt|10000|ft|0}} in 21 minutes |lift to drag= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |more performance= }}

==See also== {{aircontent

|related=

|similar aircraft= * de Havilland DH.60 Moth

|lists=

|see also=

}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * Guttery, T.E. ''The Shuttleworth Collection''. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. SBN 901319-01-5 * Ogilvy, David. ''Shuttleworth – The Historic Aeroplanes''. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1989 {{ISBN|1-85310-106-0}} {{refend}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070210163406/http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=591 Parnall Elf] – British Aircraft Directory *[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1930/untitled0%20-%200399.html Elf] in Flight, 4 April 1930

Category:1920s British civil utility aircraft Category:1920s British sport aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Biplanes Elf Category:Aircraft first flown in 1929