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Grahame-White E.IV Ganymede

Страна: Великобритания

Год: 1918

Three-engine (two tractor and one pusher), five-crew, four-bay biplane heavy night bomber

Grahame-White - Type 21 - 1917 - Великобритания<– –>Grahame-White - Aero-Limousine - 1919 - Великобритания


F.Manson British Bomber Since 1914 (Putnam)


Grahame-White E.IV Ganymede

   It is necessary here to return to 1918 to make brief mention of three other aircraft intended for consideration by the Air Ministry as very heavy long-range bombers, cast in a similar mould to that of the Bristol Braemar, but which, for various reasons of difficulty or misfortune, failed even to attract academic interest. Their manufacturers persevered mainly in the hope of recovering some of their losses suffered by contract cancellations at the end of the War or in an attempt to retain as much of their workforce as possible until better times arrived for the aircraft industry.
   Indeed, if they possessed a common design weakness, it was on account of their designers allowing the basic configuration of their aircraft to be compromised by attention to relatively unimportant elements in the Air Ministry requirements. The companies were also probably misguided in attempting to achieve too much, by means of unjustified ingenuity, at a time when the design staffs should have sought to improve and combine the best of existing design configurations.
   Chronologically, the first of these big bombers to be completed was the Grahame-White Ganymede, an aircraft originally intended to be powered by three 400hp Liberty 12 engines. It was a four-bay biplane with horn-balanced ailerons, two of the three engines driving tractor propellers and located at the front of twin fuselages attached to the lower wings, and the third engine driving a pusher propeller at the rear of a central nacelle, which also accommodated the pilots and front gunner; the latter was also the bomb aimer. Each engine was provided with a large rectangular radiator mounted above it.
   Two midships gunners were also carried, in a mistaken belief that importance would be attached to a significant gun defence to the rear, whereas the Air Ministry seldom placed much emphasis on such a defence in night bombers. One gunner was located in each of the fuselages aft of the wing, and was provided with a Scarff ring. The biplane tail unit featured three fins and rudders, the outer surfaces being situated at the rear of each fuselage, the large triangular fins extending forward of the sternposts to which the rudders were hinged; the tailplanes were mounted one below the rear of the fuselages and the other several inches clear of the top of the fins; horn-balanced elevators were hinged to each, and each fuselage was fitted with a sprung tailskid.
   Uncertainty surrounding delivery of the Liberty engines in the late summer of 1918 resulted in recourse being made to three 270hp Sunbeam Maori engines, with the result that the Ganymede was inevitably underpowered, and it is doubtful whether the aircraft ever carried a bomb load. The Maoris were enclosed in square-section cowlings, neatly faired to the contours of large spinners fitted over the four-blade propellers; the overall effect was, however, marred by huge exhaust stacks extending upwards from the branch-manifolds to direct the exhaust gases over the upper wing - so as to pass well clear of the midships gunners. The undercarriage comprised four mainwheels arranged in separate pairs, one under each fuselage, and each with its own crossaxle. The wheel-mounting V-struts, incorporating oleos, were very short, and it is clear from photographs that the pilot would need to be very careful not to raise the tail too high during take-off, to avoid grounding the propellers.
   Three prototypes of this fairly large bomber, C3481-C3483, were ordered, and C3481 was completed before the end of 1918, although it may not have been flown until early in 1919. In any event flight trials went ahead as it was particularly important that Grahame-White received the contracted payment when so many production contracts were being summarily cancelled - including the second and third Ganymedes.
   Unfortunately C3481 suffered some damage in a forced landing when it dug its nose into soft ground. Either then, or shortly after, the Air Ministry notified Grahame-White that it would not be purchasing the Ganymede and, in an effort to recoup some of the financial loss, the company determined to examine the feasibility of modifying C3481 as a commercial aircraft, removing the centre engine altogether and rebuilding the nacelle as a long, glazed cabin capable of accommodating twelve passengers. The remaining Maoris were replaced by two 450hp Napier Lion engines, and the aircraft received its Certificate of Airworthiness on 12 September 1919, being re-registered G-EAMW - only to be destroyed by fire twelve months later.

   Type: Three-engine (two tractor and one pusher), five-crew, four-bay biplane heavy night bomber.
   Manufacturer: The Grahame-White Aviation Co Ltd, Hendon, London NW9.
   Powerplant: Three 270hp Sunbeam Maori twelve-cylinder water-cooled engines (two tractor engines located at forward end of outboard fuselages, and one pusher engine at rear of central nacelle). Later two tractor 450hp Napier Lion engines (in commercial conversion).
   Dimensions: Span, 89ft 3in; length, 49ft 9in; height, 16ft 0in; wing area, 1,660 sq ft.
   Weights: Tare, 11,500 lb; all-up, 16,000 lb.
   Performance: Max speed, 105 mph at sea level, 93 mph at 10,000ft; endurance, 9 hr.
   Armament: Three 0.303in Lewis machine guns with Scarff rings, one in nose of central nacelle, and one amidships in each outboard fuselage; details of bomb load not recorded.
   Prototype: C3481, first flown late in 1918 or early 1919. Two others, C3482 and C3983, ordered, but cancelled. No production.


P.Lewis British Bomber since 1914 (Putnam)


During the last year of the 1914-18 War several prototypes in various categories were tested and rejected as service aircraft. In 1918 the Grahame-White firm at Hendon completed the E.IV Ganymede, a long-range, three-engine biplane day bomber of unconventional layout. Two 270 h.p. Sunbeam Maori engines were mounted as tractors in the front of twin fuselages, while a third similar engine was installed as a pusher in the rear of the central nacelle provided for the crew. Three main Lewis gun positions were located in C3481, the sole Ganymede completed - one was in the nose of the nacelle and there was one in each of the pair of fuselages. In addition, each fuselage had a gun-firing opening in the underside towards the rear. Although the Ganymede had been scheduled to use 400 h.p. Liberty engines, these were not forthcoming and its performance suffered accordingly.


J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)


Grahame-White E.IV, the Ganymede

  THE design of the Ganymede was completed in 1918. The machine was intended to be a long-range day bomber, and in general layout it resembled the three-engined Caproni biplanes and triplanes.
  The central nacelle had a pusher engine installed behind the wings, while each of the two fuselages had a tractor engine at its forward end.
  The Ganymede was designed for three 400 h.p. Liberty engines, but the manufacturers had to be content with three 270 h.p. Sunbeam Maoris. The large spinners and good aerodynamic entry of the tractor engines were marred by the large exhaust manifolds and stacks, and by the large flat radiators. There was a gunner in the extreme nose of the central nacelle, and each fuselage contained a gunner. Not only did each side gunner have a Scarff ring-mounting on top of his fuselage behind the wings, but an opening in the bottom of each fuselage enabled the gunners to repel attacks from behind and below.
  Balanced ailerons were fitted on both upper and lower wings, and the elevators of the biplane tail unit also had horn balances. There were three fins and three rudders.
  The use of engines of less than the designed power inevitably reduced the Ganymede’s performance. The signing of the Armistice prevented development of the design, but the aircraft survived for a time as G-EAMW on the Civil Register.


SPECIFICATION
  Manufacturers: The Grahame-White Aviation Go., Ltd., Hendon, London.
  Power: Three 270 h.p. Sunbeam Maori.
  Dimensions: Span: 89 ft 3 in. Length: 49 ft 9 in. Height: 16 ft. Chord: 10 ft 3 in. Gap: 9 ft 3 in. Stagger: nil. Span of tail: 29 ft. Airscrew diameter: 3-14 metres (approximately 10 ft 3 1/2 in.).
  Areas: Wings: 1,660 sq ft. Ailerons: each 50 sq ft, total 200 sq ft. Tailplanes: 254 sq ft. Elevators: 114 sq ft. Fins: 30 sq ft. Rudders: 50 sq ft.
  Weights: Empty: 11,500 lb. Loaded: 16,000 lb.
  Performance: Maximum speed at ground level: 105 m.p.h.; at 10,000 ft: 93 m.p.h. Estimated speed with Liberty engines: 120 m.p.h. at ground level. Endurance: 9 hours at 10,000 ft.
  Tankage: Petrol: 400 gallons.
  Armament: Three free Lewis machine-guns: one on Scarff ring-mounting at nose of nacelle; one on Scarff ring on cockpit in each fuselage; lower rear tunnel position in each fuselage.
  Serial Numbers: C.3481-C.3483, ordered under Contract No. A.S.38051.


H.King Armament of British Aircraft (Putnam)


Ganymede. Designed before the Armistice for long-range day bombing, and completed during 1918/19, this three-engined biplane was laid out to provide effective defensive firepower, which its intended mission would obviously demand. In the nose of the central nacelle was the bomb-aimer's station, with windows, and a gunner at a Scarff ring-mounting, and there were similar gun mountings dorsally placed on each of the two fuselages. In the bottom of each fuselage was a hatch, affording downward and rearward protection, but further details of defensive armament and bomb load are unknown.


Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919


This machine was designed prior to the signing of the Armistice, as a long-range day bomber
   It is of the twin fuselage, three engine type, two motors, one in the front of each fuselage driving tractor air screws, and a third, in the rear end of a central nacelle, driving a pusher air screw.
   Particulars of dimensions are given in the following table:
  
  
Specification.
Fitted with three 270 h.p. Sunbeam "Maori" motors.
  
Type of machine Twin fuselage, three-engined.
Name or type No. of machine "Ganymede."
Purpose for which intended Day Bomber.
Span 89 ft. 3 in.
Gap, maximum and minimum 9 ft. 3 In.
Overall length 49 ft. 9 in.
Maximum height 16 ft.
Chord 10 ft. 3 in.
Total surface of wings 1,660 sq. ft.
Span of tail 29 sq. ft.
Total area of tail 254 sq. ft.
Area of elevators 114 sq. ft.
Area of rudders 50 sq.ft.
Area of fin 30 sq. It.
Area of each aileron and total area 200 sq. ft.
Engine type and h.p. 3 Sunbeam "Maori" 270 h.p. each.
Airscrew, diam., pitch and revs 3.140 diam., 2.570 pitch, 1,050 r.p.m.
Weight of machine empty 11,500 lbs.
Load per sq. ft. fully loaded 9.65 lbs. sq. ft.
Weight per h.p. fully loaded 19.7 lbs. h.p.
Tank capacity in hours 9 hours at 10,000 feet.
Tank capacity in gallons 400 gallons.
Performance.
   Speed low down 105 m.p.h.
   Speed at 10.000 feet 93 m.p.h.
   Landing speed 52 m.p.h.
Disposable load apart from fuel 3,100 lbs.
Total weight of machine loaded 16,000 lbs.
  
   The makers state that the machine had been designed for 3-400. h.p. Liberty engines, which would have increased the speed to 120 miles per hour.

Журнал - Flight за 1919 г.
Manhandling the Ganymede C3481 at Hendon early in 1919. The photo emphasises the size of the exhaust stacks above the engines, and also shows well the unusual configuration of the tail unit.
THE GRAHAME-WHITE DAY BOMBER "GANYMEDE." - This machine is fitted with three Sunbeam "Maori" engines of 270 h.p. each. Near the ground the speed is 105 m.p.h., and at 10,000 ft. 93 m.p.h. The landing speed is about 52 m .p.h. The total weight of the machine loaded is 16,000 lbs., and she has an endurance of nine hours at 10,000 ft. The photograph shows the machine being wheeled out in readiness for a flight.
Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919 /Jane's/
Side view of the Grahame White "Hanymede" (3/270 h.p. Sunbeam Maori Engines); and of the Grahame White "Bantam" (80 h.p. Le Rhone).
Журнал - Flight за 1919 г.
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT. - The Grahame-White "Bantam" standing under the wing of the G.W. bomber "Ganymede."
J.Bruce - British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 /Putnam/
Grahame-White Ganymede.
Журнал - Flight за 1919 г.
Three-quarter rear view of the Grahame-White day bomber "Ganymede."