M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
SPENCER-STIRLING monoplane (C.G. Spencer & Sons, 56a Highbury Grove, London, N)
The machine jointly designed by Herbert Spencer and W Stirling was exhibited on the stand of the Berliet Co. at the Olympia Aero Show in March 1910. It was not a success and there were no further reports after the Show; the engine was used in a later aircraft.
The machine was a tractor monoplane with uncovered triangular section wooden fuselage girder with the single longeron at the top. The triangular section was extended into an A-shaped frame at the front, the upper portion housing a fuel tank and two radiators. The lower extensions formed part of the undercarriage, which included twin skids and four wheels on twin axles. A sprung tail wheel was fitted.
The tail unit consisted of a balanced rudder, with the tailplane mounted well in front on the lower longerons. The elevators were pivoted on the outer ends of the tailplane. A warping wing, with parallel chord and rounded tips, was positioned on the top longerons.
The engine, earned in the center of the A-frame, drove twin propellers by chain, on a structure extended outwards from the A-frame. A gearbox on one side only provided contra-rotation of the propellers.
Power: 40-70hp RH four-cylinder inline water-cooled driving two 6ft 6in diameter two-bladed propellers at half engine speed of 600 rpm.
Data
Span 34ft
Chord 6ft
Area 210 sq. ft
Area tailplane 19.25 sq. ft
Area elevators 9.65 sq. ft
Area rudder 5.80 sq. ft
Weight 650 lb.
P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Spencer-Stirling Monoplane
The Spencer-Stirling Monoplane was built by C. G. Spencer and Sons and was shown at the 1910 Aero Show at Olympia. A tractor monoplane designed by Herbert Spencer and W. Stirling, it was powered by the four-cylinder 40 h.p. British Aeroplane Syndicate R.H. engine, which drove by chains two propellers of 6 ft. 6 ins. diameter mounted on the leading-edges of the wings. A reverse gear was incorporated in one propeller bracket for opposite rotation. The fuselage was of the "A"-frame type. The machine was tested at Brooklands. Span, 34 ft. Length, 27 ft. Wing area, 200 sq. ft. Weight empty, 650 lb. Weight loaded, 850 lb. Maximum speed, 40 m.p.h. Price, ?650.
Журнал Flight
Flight, March 12, 1910
THE SECOND OLYMPIA AERO SHOW.
AEROPLANES.
Spencer-Stirling.
MONOPLANE having a span of 34 sq. ft. and a lifting surface of 200 sq. ft. It is fitted with an R.H. 4-cyl. engine.
Flight, April 2, 1910
FLYER SILHOUETTES FROM OLYMPIA.
THE SPENCER-STIRLING MONOPLANE.
Leading Particulars of the Spencer-Stirling Monoplane.
General Dimensions.-Areas-Main planes, 200 sq. ft.; fixed tail, about 19 sq. ft.; elevator, about 19 sq. ft.; rudder, 6 sq. ft.
Lengths.-Span, 34 ft.; chord, 6 ft.; camber, 3 in., situated about 2 ft. from leading edge; leverage of rudder, 21 ft. 6 in.; skid track, 5 ft.; overall length, 27 ft.
Angles.-Incidence, 10° ; dihedral, 1 in 17.
Materials.-Timber: English ash throughout; fabric, Dunlop.
Engine.-40-h.p. "R . H ."
Propellers.-Two Spencer-Stirling; diameter, 6 ft. 6 in.; pitch, 10 ft.
Weight.-Machine, 382 lbs.; engine, 268 lbs.; driver, oil, petrol and water, 200 lbs.; total flying weight, 850 lbs.; loading (all weight supported on main planes), 4.3 lbs. per sq. ft.
Speed of Flight.-40 m.p.h.
System of Control.-Warping, elevator and rudder.
Price.-L650.
THE characteristic feature of this machine is the use of two tractor screws, which are mounted on outriggers in front of the main wings, and are driven by chains direct from the engine. Although neither of the chains is crossed, the propellers do not both revolve in the same direction, as a reverse gear is included in the bracket that supports one of the propellers. The chassis is an example of the "A" frame, and the sloping members are carried to an apex. Two radiators lie between the upper portions of the frame, but although this is a neat and compact position for them, it seems to us that they are likely to interfere somewhat with the pilot's view.
