The Parnall Scout, unofficially nicknamed the Zeppelin Chaser, was a British fighter prototype of the 1910s. It was the first fighter design from Parnall.
| Parnall Scout | |
|---|---|
| |
| The Parnall Scout nearing completion in 1916. | |
| Role | Fighter |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Parnall |
| Designer | A. Camden-Pratt |
| First flight | 1916 |
| Number built | 1 |
Development
editParnall began work on a single-seat anti-airship fighter aircraft in 1916 based on the designs of A. Camden-Pratt, initially intended to meet an aircraft specification from the Admiralty. A large, wooden two-bay staggered biplane, it was finished and initially tested in late 1916.
Operational history
editThe Scout reportedly flew twice in late 1916 under Admiralty testing; however, it was found to be heavy, slow, and unsafe. As such it was returned to Parnall in the same year and no further development progressed.
Specifications (Scout - estimated)
editData from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Upper wingspan: 44 ft (13 m)
- Lower wingspan: 40 ft (12 m)
- Wing area: 516 sq ft (47.9 m2)
- Fuel capacity: 36 imp gal (164 L)
- Powerplant: 1 × Sunbeam Maori II V-12 water-cooled piston engine, 250 hp (190 kW)
- Propellers: two-bladed wooden propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 113.5 mph (182.7 km/h, 98.6 kn) at sealevel
- 101.5 mph (163 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
Armament
- Guns: 1x fixed 0.303 in (8 mm) Lewis machine-gun offset to starboard at 45° elevation.
Notes
edit- ^ Wixey, Kenneth E. (1990). Parnall Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 1-55750-930-1.
References
edit- Wixey, Kenneth E. (1990). Parnall Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 1-55750-930-1.
Further reading
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parnall Scout.
- Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. p. 463.