P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Piffard Biplane
The single-seat Piffard Biplane was a pusher design by an artist, H. H. Piffard. and was constructed at Ealing during 1909. The engine was the eight-cylinder E.N.V. "D" of 40 h.p., arranged to slide on its mounting for the adjustment of the C.G. The machine was destroyed by a gale in December of the same year, but was rebuilt at Shoreham. Sussex, using the same engine, and was brought out again for tests on 3rd May, 1910.
Following another crash, it was reconstructed once again and reappeared on 23rd June, but did not fly. Some good short flights were achieved on 10th July. 1910, but the machine's development was abandoned by the end of the year after several other crashes had occurred. Floats also were tried out on it. and the Piffard Biplane could be readily dismantled for packing into a pantechnicon. Span. 34 ft. Length, 31 ft. Wing area, 510 sq. ft. Weight loaded, 850 lb.
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M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
PIFFARD Biplane No.l (Harold Hume Piffard, Bedford Park, Chiswick, London W4)
The first Piffard biplane was largely manufactured in the studio at his home, with the aid of two carpenters, and was taken to a shed rented from Thorneycrofts at Back Common Rd., Turnham Green, Ealing for final assembly and engine testing. In September 1909 a field was rented at North Ealing adjacent to Hanger Lane Farm, in the area which soon became Acton Aerodrome. After various problems, the machine was coaxed off the ground to a height of twelve feet for about 100 yards on 2 December 1909. That night a gale destroyed the marquee and the aircraft.
The machine was a pusher biplane with long curved cane skids, reinforced with steel, similar to a Sommer in appearance. The wings were double surfaced, with fabric back to the main spar on the lower surface. The engine was originally spring loaded, on a sliding bed, in a fore and aft direction and could move forward as power was applied. This was to bring the center of gravity forward and reduce the angle of incidence and risk of a stall; the system could also be locked by the pilot, but was abandoned at the suggestion of W.O. Manning.
A front mounted elevator and rudder were fitted, together with a fixed stabilizer above and further forward. A rear non-lifting stabilizer was also fitted. Ailerons on the front outboard interplane struts were controlled by a rocking seat backrest. Vertical fabric panels were fitted to the intermediate interplane struts.
The undercarriage consisted of a sprung nose wheel and two rear wheels, the latter arranged to lift above the level of the skids for landing. A pair of radiators faced the airflow on either side of the pilot.
Power: 35hp ENV type D eight-cylinder water-cooled vee
Data
Span 34ft 6in
Chord 6ft 6in
Area 510 sq. ft
PIFFARD biplane No.2
Construction of a second biplane was begun immediately, utilizing parts and the engine of the first. It was ready for testing at Shoreham by 3 May 1910, but, after a number of short straights at low level, the machine was badly smashed and Piffard injured on 21 May 1910.
The machine was rebuilt by 23 June 1910, but bad weather prevented tests until 10 July 1910, after which further short flights were made, with damage occurring and repairs necessary. Flights of up to half a mile were made. On 4 October 1910, after a successful flight, including a turn, a gust caused the machine to crash. The tail booms broke behind the wings and extensive damage was done although the engine was unharmed. Piffard had already decided to make a machine of a new design.
The layout of the second machine was generally as No. 1 although some important changes had been made. The lower fabric covering of the wing, back to the spar, was previously attached to the ribs on both sides, but on this machine it was released on the lower surface to allow it to take the shape created by the pressure of the air. The ailerons, initially on the interplane struts, were removed and single acting ailerons were hinged to the trailing edges of all four wings. The rudder was transferred to the tail, and the front fixed stabilizer removed. The main wheels were brought forward and a steerable tail wheel, in addition to cane skids, was fitted. The tail wheel was frequently broken and was soon discarded.
Power: 35hp ENV type D eight-cylinder water-cooled driving a 7ft diameter Weiss propeller
Data
Span 34ft
Chord 6ft
Area 408 sq. ft
Area elevator 56 sq. ft
Area rudder 10 sq. ft
Area stabilizer 63 sq. ft
Length 31ft
Weight allup 850 lb.
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Журнал Flight
Flight, September 10, 1910
Mr. H. Piffard at Shoreham.
As a result of solid perseverance and experiments Mr. Piffard is now starting practical work in earnest, and last week was making some satisfactory essays over a half-mile stretch with his biplane.
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