G.Swanborough, P.Bowers United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 (Putnam)
STURTEVANT S AND S-4
In 1915, Grover Loening left the employ of the Army at San Diego and joined the Sturtevant Aeroplane Co. of Boston, Mass., as chief engineer. He developed a series of trainers and observation types for both the Army and Navy. Seven Model S advanced trainers (inc. 110 and 111) were sold to the Army, and four S-4 “Battleplanes” (126, 127, 214 and 215) were disarmed and converted to conventional observation types for use on the Mexican border in 1916. Model S: 150 h.p. Sturtevant; span, 48 ft. 8 in.; length, 29 ft. 0 in.; gross weight, 3,100 lb.; high speed, 75 m.p.h.
G.Swanborough, P.Bowers United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 (Putnam)
STURTEVANT S
The Sturtevant S, built by the Sturtevant Aeroplane Company, Boston, Mass., was a two-seat seaplane with all-steel frame, powered by a 150 hp Sturtevant 5-A engine. One was bought in 1916 as AH-24. When this was redesignated A76, five others were ordered as A77-A81. These were followed by another order for six (AI28-A133). Because of the standardization of designs brought about by World War I, Sturtevant, along with other small manufacturers, ceased to develop its own designs and concentrated on building sub-assemblies for the major manufacturers. Span, 48 ft 7t in; other data unavailable.
Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919
The S4 two-seat seaplane was one model of the S series, which found limited favour with the US Navy. Altogether the USN received 12 S machines.
Span 48 ft. 7 1/2 In.
Chord 7'
Gap 6' 9''
Length 28'
Area 620 sq.ft.
Ailerons Both wings
Landing gear Floats or 2 wheels.
Engine 5 A Sturtevant (140 h.p.)
Weight 2025 lbs. (with 1 hour's fuel)
Useful load 525 lbs
Speed range 40 to 73 m.p.h.
Climb 4000 ft. in 12 mins.
Журнал Flight
Flight, January 20, 1916.
AN AMERICAN BATTLE-PLANE.
FURTHER details are now to hand regarding the Sturtevant biplane, of which a photograph appeared in our last issue. From the following details, which are given in our American contemporary Aerial Age, it will be seen that it is proposed to mount two guns, one on each side of the fuselage:-
"On December 12th remarkable flights made at Readville, Mass., by one of the U.S. Army expert aviators, revealed to the public for the first time that a notable development in aviation had quietly been made by the Sturtevant Aeroplane Company under the direction of Mr. Grover C. Loening, B.Sc, M.A., C.E., former Aeronautic Engineer of the U.S. Army, author of 'Military Aeroplanes' and other important technical works.
"As the accompanying illustrations show, the Sturtevant Battle-plane is a biplane of tractor type built with remarkable simplicity and with studied attention to efficiency.
"There are many novel features, including the steel construction, the placing of gun turrets on either side of the central body, the elimination of wires, the general streamline construction which has been carried as far as to having even the cables and turnbuckles in streamline. The span of the machine is 50feet, the length 25 feet; it has a total area of 700 square feet of wing surface.
"It is interesting to note that the machine was completely designed before construction, and extensive aerodynamic tests were made of the model of this machine by Naval Constructor Jerome C. Hunsaker, in charge of the Aeronautical Engineering course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which gave excellent information on the stability and controllability of the machine. Constructed as designed, the machine actually did more than was anticipated.
"In the Sturtevant Battle-plane the single motor tractor that has been puzzling aviation experts is made into a simple effective fighter, by the novel idea of placing a gun turret on either side of the body, as shown in the illustrations, a development which, though obviously simple, nevertheless required considerable effort to work out satisfactorily. These gun turrets, in each of which a gunner observer is located, are placed out on the wings, with an excellent clear view ahead and below and a range for gun fire on all sides, with the added advantage that two guns can be concentrated forward with deadly effect. In addition to that a broadside of both guns can be obtained by tilting the machine laterally, a feature which for a long time escaped attention of aviation experts.
"It is true that in the two motor machines there is a small degree of safety in having one motor still running when the other has been hit, so it is equally true that in the new Sturtevant Battle-plane a gunner is still hitting away when the other has been disabled.
"Due to the better load distribution, the safety factor of this new machine has been shown by tests to be 12 times the flying load. Another feature which is novel is that the gun turrets are readily removable, so that by decreasing the head resistance and the load, the same machine is interchangeable into a high speed, scouting type with great excess power for climbing and cruising radius of over 500 miles.
"Very little data on the performances of this machine are disclosed by the manufacturer, but it is said to have a gasoline capacity of almost 150 gallons, sufficient for 12 hours' flight and to carry a total live load of over 1,200 pounds. The efficiency of this new machine is said to be considerably higher than has been previously attained in this country, due to having all the wires and fittings 'streamlined' (made torpedo shape to reduce head resistance). This, however, is a development that has come to be standard practice abroad.
"It is interesting to note that the gun turrets could be used for carrying mail, and measuring 2 ft. wide by 7 ft. long, they could carry over 24 cub. ft. of mail. One of the most novel features in the construction of this new craft is the use of a new type of vanadium steel construction, lighter than wood, more durable, fireproof, and capable of being extended into aeroplanes ten times the size of this huge bird.
"Several hundred pounds of bombs can be carried on this new fighting flyer, and with its gunners to ward off other aeroplanes, these destructive missiles could be dropped with impunity on a helpless city. There is little doubt that large squadrons of craft of this kind could paralyse a nation's industry, and from what has already been done in Europe, and the indications of what is coming, it is reasonable to predict that the colossal war in Europe will end in the air - in tremendous battles of huge air navies engaged in the destruction of cities, railroads, and even armies.
"While the Sturtevant Battle-plane is but a step in the development of these mighty fleets, it is a remarkable indication of the trend of aeroplane progress, and, more important than all, it has been designed primarily for Uncle Sam."
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J.Herris - Weird Wings of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (70)
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The Sturtevant S2 2-seater of 1917 had a steel airframe like the B2 and used the same type of engine. It had a more conventional wing cellule of much greater wing area. The S2 had very poor flying qualities and was not used in quantity.
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Журнал - Flight за 1916 г.
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The 140 h.p. Sturtevant-motored tractor biplane, one of America's latest machines. It is somewhat larger than usual, and is of practically all-steel construction.
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Журнал - Flight за 1916 г.
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Front view of the Sturtevant Battle biplane showing the gun "turrets" mounted on either side of the body.
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Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919 /Jane's/
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Rear view of Sturtevant "battle" biplane, with a gun turret on each wing.
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Журнал - Flight за 1916 г.
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Side view of the new Sturtevant battle-plane, which has accommodation for two gunners on the wings.
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Журнал - Flight за 1916 г.
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The 140 h.p. Sturtevant Battle biplane in flight.
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J.Herris - Weird Wings of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (70)
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Naval Sturtevant S2 2-seater of 1917 fitted with floats. The aircraft shown here was the only one the Navy placed in operation. The Navy accepted three more but they were not placed in service. Photographed in February 1917, this Sturtevant AH-24 (later A76) is unpainted and bears the blue anchor insignia on rudder and under wing.
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G.Swanborough, P.Bowers - United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 /Putnam/
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The Sturtevant S seaplane, serial number A81.
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Форум - Breguet's Aircraft Challenge /WWW/
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1916. Another view of the Rhode Island Naval Militia seaplane. Sturtevant S 4 seaplane, with Sturtevant 5 A engine, 140 h.p. Just to the left of the propeller, in the backgound, is the RI Naval Militia's flag ship and the state's first seaplane tender, the converted 500 ton steam yacht USS AILEEN.
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Форум - Breguet's Aircraft Challenge /WWW/
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1916. Rhode Island Naval Militia seaplane over Narragansett Bay. The six degree dihedral on the lower wing is easily seen.
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Журнал - Flight за 1916 г.
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View of the body of the Sturtevant Battle biplane showing the steel construction.
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Журнал - Flight за 1916 г.
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View showing the tail plane and construction of the elevators of the Sturtevant Battle biplane.
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Журнал - Flight за 1916 г.
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The neat attachment of the bracing cables to the interplane strut on the Sturtevant Battle biplane.
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Журнал - Flight за 1918 г.
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American aeroplane types of 1917-18: Sturtrevant "S".
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Журнал - Flight за 1917 г.
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Mounting and housing of water-cooled engines.
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