L.Opdyke French Aeroplanes Before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
Ponche et Primard
Charles Ponche and Maurice Primard were metallurgists in Long, Somme, in northern France. In 1911 they designed a monoplane similar to the de Pischoff Autoplan, though built entirely of metal. Known as Tubavion, it was built around a long tubular boom, on which was mounted the rectangular wing and the pusher engine; the pusher propeller turned on bearings with the boom as axis, and the tailplane and elevators were attached to the end, to which the semicircular rudder was hinged. The pilot sat below with the passenger beside him, immediately aft of the cowled engine, which drove the propeller above through a rearward shaft, chains, and sprockets. Fitted between the 2 pairs of wheels, the engine behind its curved rectangular radiator was cowled. The wing and tailplane were of thin sheet aluminum with aluminum ribs fixed on top; instead of welding they used the method of "hot nesting inside forged aluminum casings." The machine was shown at the 1911 Salon.
(Span: 9.7 m; length: 9.5 m; wing area: 18 sqm; empty weight: 320 kg; gross weight: 420 kg; 70 hp water-cooled Labor turning the propeller at 800 rpm)
After unsuccessful tests, the Ponche et Primard underwent many modifications. It was reported to have made its maiden flight in March 1912, and to have been taken to Reims in May. Photos taken at the end of 1912 show the engineers' efforts to lighten their aeroplane: cowling and seat fairings were removed; 2 of the 4 wheels were taken off, and 2 tandem seats replaced the double one. One version had a handsome streamlined nacelle in aluminum with the 2 seats in tandem. Fabric covering was applied to the top of the wing; new tail surfaces covered in fabric only were substituted for the all-metal ones, and a new 70 hp Gnome was on top the top of the wing aft of the propeller: it is likely that a 50 hp Gnome was also tested. The new wing had to have the center of the trailing edge cut out to allow for the rotation of these new engines. The test pilots at Reims were Goffin and Mere.
Jane's All The World Aircraft 1913
TUBAVION. Ponche & Primaud, Long.
Model and date. Monoplane.
1913
Length........feet (m.) 29 (8.85)
Span..........feet (m.) 29? (9)
Area........sq.ft.(m?.) 194 (18)
Weight
machine....lbs.(kgs.) 772 (350)
useful.....lbs.(kgs.) ...
Motor..............h.p. 70 Gnome
Speed...max. m.p.h.(km.) 65 (105)
Number built during 1912 1
Notes.--Tubular steel construction. Landing: wheels and 2 very long skids. Propeller: amidships.
Журнал Flight
Flight, January 13, 1912.
PARIS AERO SHOW.
Ponche and Primard.
ALL-METAL construction is the chief feature of the interesting monoplane exhibited on Stand No. 10. A single steel tube, about 3 ins. in diameter, extends from the nose to the tail, and forms the backbone of the machine. Coupled to this tube, to form a structure of triangular section by means of shorter steel tubes, are long ash skids, which run from end to end.
These skids as can be seen from the accompanying sketch, extend for a considerable distance in front, thus eliminating any possibility of turning over on landing.
Both pilot and engine are located beneath the wings in a little body, which has all the appearance of a small runabout without wheels.
The wings are essentially novel, being constructed throughout of metal. Both front and rear booms are of steel tubing and on these are strong formers of 1 mm. steel aluminium. These are surfaced on the underneath with aluminium sheet 1/2-inch thick.
No surfacing has as yet been applied to the top surface for the reason that it is thought that the gain in the efficiency of the wings would not be sufficient to compensate for the extra weight involved. The rear wing booms are assembled in an aluminium casting which pivots about the main longitudinal tube of the fuselage. The propeller, too, revolves about this tube, being driven from the engine at reduced speed by means of chain transmission.
The tail comprises a rectangular lifting plane with two semicircular elevators hinged to its back edge and a semi-circular unbalanced directional rudder, the whole unit being constructed from aluminium sheeting.
Principal dimensions, &c. :-
Length 27 ft. 6 ins.
Span 32 ft.
Area 220 sq. ft.
Weight 660 lbs.
Speed 48 m.p.h.
Motor 35-h.p. Labor-Aviation.
Price L640.
Flight, November 2, 1912.
THE PARIS AERO SALON.
Tubavion.
ALTHOUGH more or less the same in outline, as the model shown by Messrs. Ponche and Primard last year, the Tubavion all-metallic monoplane has undergone several minor changes. The monoplane showing at present is a two-seater with a 70-h.p. Gnome installed. Their last year's machine was a single-seater which had its engine, a 45-h.p. Labor Aviation, if we remember correctly, mounted in the underslung body in front of the pilot, whence the drive to the propeller was by shaft and chain. The motor, this year, is back behind the wings and mounted concentrically with the top tube of the fuselage. The skids, almost the only wooden part of the machine, used to run from end to end. They now only extend for the front half.
Messrs. Ponche and Primard do not, for some reason, believe in soudure autogene. They prefer to use aluminium sockets to assemble their steel construction work. One of the points in last year's machine was that, while the under surface of the wings was covered with aluminium sheeting, the top surface was left uncovered, allowing such necessary parts as spars to offer untold head resistance. They have changed this by covering the top of the wings with fabric. During the past few months they have had one of their monoplanes flying with a 50-h.p. Gnome motor - almost an identical machine. They obtained a speed of 105 kms. an hour with it. The estimated speed of the two-seater model - it has not yet been tried - is 130 k.p.h. It weighs about 700 lbs.
