Engineering:Hillson Pennine

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Hillson Pennine
Role Two-seat cabin monoplane
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer F Hills & Sons
Designer Norman Skykes
First flight 4 February 1937
Number built 1

The Hillson Pennine was a 1930s United Kingdom two-seat cabin monoplane designed by Norman Sykes and built by F Hills & Sons of Trafford Park.[1]

Design and development

The Pennine was a small high-wing braced monoplane powered by a 36 hp (27 kW) Praga B two-cylinder piston engine,[2] though originally designed for an 80 hp (60 kW) Aspin engine.[3] It was wooden-built and had fixed tailwheel landing gear.[2] The Pennine, designed to be simple, had an unconventional control system with a normal elevator and spoilers on the leading edge of the mainplane, but had a fixed rudder with just a trim tab and no ailerons.[4] Started in 1936 and completed in 1937 it was moved to Barton Aerodrome.[4] The Penine became airborne during a high-speed taxi test on 4 February 1937, the controls had not been adjusted and it took Sykes half-an-hour of circling to the left to get down safely.[4] The aircraft was not flown again, the company concentrating on a design for a trainer (the Hillson Helvellyn) and with space a premium for wartime work the Pennine was dismantled.[4] The registration G-AFBX was cancelled on 19 November 1945.[5]

Specifications

Data from [2] British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3;[3] British Light Aeroplanes; dimensions and weights are estimates

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 21 ft 8 in (6.60 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11.0 m)
  • Wing area: 164 sq ft (15.24 m2)
  • Empty weight: 584 lb (265 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,080 lb (490 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Praga B air-cooled horizontal twin , 36 hp (27 kW)

References

Notes

  1. Orbis 1985, p. 2159
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jackson 1974, p. 254
  3. 3.0 3.1 Ord-Hume 2000, p.390-1
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Flypast. 23. Merseyside Aviation Society. January 1978. pp. 18–19. 
  5. UK Civial Aviation Authority record for G-AFBX[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]

Bibliography

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10014-X. 
  • Ord-Hume, Arthur W.J.G. (2000). British Light Aeroplanes. Peterborough: GMS Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-870384-76-6.