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Sage Type 4

The Sage Type 4 was a prototype British floatplane of the First World War. It was a designed as a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft for the Royal Naval Air Service, but was chosen for service as a floatplane trainer, although the end of the war resulted in production being cancelled.

Sage Type 4
Role Floatplane
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Frederick Sage & Company
First flight 3 July 1917
Number built 2
Developed from Sage Type 3

Design and development

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In early 1917, the Peterborough based woodworking company of Frederick Sage & Company designed a two-seat patrol floatplane for the Royal Naval Air Service based on Sage's Type 3 landplane trainer. Like the Type 3, the new design, the Sage Type 4, was a single-engined biplane. Pilot and observer sat in separate tandem cockpits, with the pilot occupying the front cockpit, while the wireless operator/observer sat in the rear cockpit, with both crew members having good visibility. The aircraft was powered by a single 150 hp (112 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8 water-cooled V-8 engine in the nose driving a tractor propeller. Undercarriage consisted of two main floats under the wing the a further tail float.[1][2][3]

The prototype Sage Type 4a (serial number N.116[4]) first flew on 3 July 1917.[5] The type demonstrated excellent handing during testing, being capable both of flying aerobatic manoeuvres while still being stable enough to be easily flown "hands-off".[6] Despite this, the type was rejected for service as a patrol aircraft, but it was recommended that it instead be adapted into a float-plane trainer. The aircraft was fitted with dual controls and the engine mounting was modified to allow any one of a variety of 200 hp (149 kW) engines to be fitted. N.116 was converted to the new standard, being fitted with a Sunbeam Arab and flew as the Sage Type 4b on 17 May 1918.[5]

Sage also designed a revised version, the Sage Type 4c with folding wings of increased wingspan (39 ft 7+1⁄4 in (12.07 m) compared with 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) for the earlier aircraft and powered by a 200 hp Hispano Suiza engine, with a prototype flying on 12 October 1918.[7]

Both the Type 4b and 4c were adopted as standard training floatplanes for the RNAS, but the end of the First World War resulted in production plans being abandoned.[7][nb 1]

Variants

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Type 4a
Two-seat patrol seaplane, powered by 150 hp (110 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8A engine. One prototype built. Converted to Type 4b.[1]
Type 4b
Two seat floatplane trainer, powered by 200 hp (150 kW) Sunbeam Arab engine. Converted from Type 4a.[5]
Type 4c
Revised floatplane trainer with folding wings. Powered by 200 hp (150 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8B engine. One example built.[7]

Specifications (Sage 4c)

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Data from British Aeroplanes 1914–18[9]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
  • Wingspan: 39 ft 7.25 in (12.0714 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
  • Wing area: 386 sq ft (35.9 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,215 lb (1,005 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,875 lb (1,304 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 35+1⁄2 imp gal (42.6 US gal; 161 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8B water cooled V8 engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
  • Propellers: single blade two bladed propeller, 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 97.2 mph (156.4 km/h, 84.5 kn) at 3,000 ft (910 m)
  • Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn) (landing speed)[6]
  • Endurance: 2 h 30 min
  • Service ceiling: 13,700 ft (4,200 m)
  • Time to altitude:
    • 8 min to 5,000 ft (1,520 m)
    • 21 min 20 s to 10,000 ft (3,050 m)

See also

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Related development

Related lists

Notes

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  1. ^ Some sources indicate that an order for 29 Sage Type 4s was cancelled in October 1918 to pay for Norman Thompson N.T.2B flying boat trainers.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bruce 1957, p. 464.
  2. ^ Uppendaun 2004, p. 69.
  3. ^ Flight 24 July 1919, pp. 974–975.
  4. ^ Bruce 1957, p. 468.
  5. ^ a b c Bruce 1957, p. 465.
  6. ^ a b Flight 24 July 1919, p. 975.
  7. ^ a b c Bruce 1957, p. 466.
  8. ^ Goodall 1995, p. 19.
  9. ^ Bruce 1957, pp. 466–469.

Bibliography

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  • Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
  • Goodall, Michael H. The Norman Thompson File. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1995. ISBN 0-85130-233-5.
  • ""Milestones" The Sage Machines". Flight, 24 July 1919. pp. 971–975.
  • Uppendaun, Bob. "Sage-Like Thoughts:The Products of Frederick Sage & Co". Air Enthusiast, No.110, March/April 2004. pp. 68–69.
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