Gloster VI
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| Gloster VI | |
|---|---|
 Gloster VI N249 outside Calshot hangers |
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| Type | Racing seaplane |
| Manufacturer | Gloster |
| Introduction | 1929 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force, High Speed Flight |
| Number built | 2 |
| Program cost | £25,000 |
| Developed from | Gloster V |
The Gloster VI was a racing seaplane developed as a contestant for the 1929 Schneider Trophy by the Gloster aircraft company.
The aircraft was known as the Golden Arrow, partly in reference to its colour, the distinctive three-lobed cowling of the 'broad-arrow' Napier Lion engine, but also to another contemporary Lion-powered record-breaker, Henry Segrave's Golden Arrow land speed record car.
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[edit] Design and development
The Gloster VI was Gloster's final evolution of a biplane racing seaplane, designed specifically for the Schneider Trophy. It progressed from the successful Gloster III (placed 2nd in 1925), through the Gloster IV and to the Gloster V. By this time, the biplane configuration was obsolete and too high-drag, so was switched to a monoplane as the Gloster VI.
An obvious feature in photographs is the way that the wing roots tapered so as to reduce in thickness, designed to increase lateral control at low speeds. [1]
[edit] Operational history
Two aircraft were registered with RAF numbers N249 & N250.
They showed promise and high speed, but also had significant problems with fuel supply when banking that led to engine cut-outs. For such a risky business as low-altitude air-racing, this was an unacceptable risk and the aircraft were withdrawn from competition in the 1929 Schneider Trophy, leaving the way clear for the Supermarine S.6 to win. [2] An alternative theory for the withdrawal is rumoured to have been an accident to the lorry delivering the engines from Napier, and insufficient time to repair the damage until the day after. [3] §p31
On 10 September 1929, the day after the Supermarine S.6 had won the Trophy, N249 returned to flight. Flight Lieutenant George Stainforth flew her over a measured mile course for a top speed of 351.3 mph and a ratified world absolute speed record, averaged over four of 336.3 mph. [1] This record was held only briefly, as a later run by Squadron Leader Augustus Orlebar in the S.6 managed to raise it over 350 mph.
During the final Schneider Trophy in 1931, the Gloster VI was still in service with the High Speed Flight for training purposes. [4]
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from [5] [6][citation needed]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 27 ft (8.2 m)
- Wingspan: 26 ft (7.9 m)
- Height: 10.78 ft (3.29 m)
- Wing area: 106 ft² (9.8 m²)
- Empty weight: 2,284 lb (1,036 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,680 lb (1,670 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Supercharged Napier Lion VIID inline engine, 1,320 hp (984 kW)
- Propellers: two bladed fixed-pitch Gloster
Performance
- Maximum speed: 351.3 mph[1][5] (565 km/h)
World speed record of 336.3 miles per hour (541 km/h) over a measured mile course
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
Supermarine S.6
Macchi M.52
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Alan Vessey (1997). Napier Powered. Stroud: Tempus (Images of England series). ISBN 0-7524-0766-X.
- ^ The 1929 Race. RAF.
- ^ Bryan 'Bob' Boyle (2000). The Napier Way. Bookmarque Publishing. ISBN 1-870519-57-4.
- ^ 1931 - Squadron Leader Orlebar's Report. RAF.
- ^ a b Selected Schneider Trophy Aircraft. RAF.
- ^ Gloster VI, 1929. Aviastar.
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