Engineering:Lafay Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | |
|---|---|
| Role | Experimental aircraft |
| National origin | Brazil |
| Manufacturer | Lage & Irmãos |
| Designer | Louis Etienne Lafay |
| First flight | 18 May 1920 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Rio de Janeiro was a Brazil single-engine, biplane utility aircraft.[1][2][3][4]
Design and development
It was based on the Caudron G.3. Built almost entirely of wood and canvas, it had three seats.[1] It has a Gnome et Rhône engine, of the push–pull configuration, with a fixed pitch propeller made of wood.[1] The reinforced landing gear included four wheels and two fixed skids, with a rear skid. It was nicknamed Cochon (in English: Hog).[5]
Operational history
First flew daily, since the first flight, and was maintained without any changes, which proved its safety. Moreover, since its departure from the Lage & Irmãos workshops, it had already transported 200 passengers and made a Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo air bridge trip. Another important factor is that with two passengers on board, it reached an altitude of 2000 meters in 22 minutes.[6]
Specifications
Data from Pereira (1986)[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3
- Length: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)
- Upper wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 25 m2 (270 sq ft)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Λ80 Lambda 7-cylinder rotary engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
- Propellers: 2 fixed-pitch propeller-bladed
Performance
- Service ceiling: 2,200 m (7,200 ft)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Pereira, Roberto (1986). História da Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil 1910-1976. 1. São Paulo: Editora Aquarius. p. 16. ISBN 9788585262693.
- ↑ "O Avião Nacional" (in pt-br). Jornal do Brasil (Rio de Janeiro). 19 May 1920. http://memoria.bn.br/docreader/DocReader.aspx?bib=030015_04&pagfis=2374.
- ↑ "O Aeroplano Construido Pelo Capitão Lafay" (in pt-br). A Noite. 17 May 1920. http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/DocReader.aspx?bib=348970_02&pesq=lafay&pasta=ano%20192&hf=memoria.bn.br&pagfis=677.
- ↑ "No Campo dos Affonsos" (in pt-br). Jornal do Brasil (Rio de Janeiro). 19 May 1920. http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/docreader.aspx?bib=030015_04&pasta=ano%20192&pesq=lafay&pagfis=2376.
- ↑ "Um Avião Quasi Todo de Material Nosso" (in pt-br). Correio da Manhã (Brazil). 27 Apr 1920. http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/docreader.aspx?bib=089842_03&pasta=ano%20192&pesq=lafay&pagfis=1460.
- ↑ "Os Progressos da Aviação Nacional" (in pt-br). Gazeta de Notícias (Rio de Janeiro). 12 May 1920. http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/docreader.aspx?bib=103730_05&pasta=ano%20192&pesq=lafay&pagfis=6177.
Further reading
- Susana Alexandria, 1910 - O Primeiro Voo do Brasil, Ed. Aleph, São Paulo, 2010. ISBN:978-85-7657-095-0.
External links
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