Langley Twin: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 21: Line 21:
|}
|}


The '''Langley 2-4''', variously described as the '''Langley Monoplane''' or '''Langley Twin''' was a twin-engine utility aircraft built in the United States in 1940. Named in honour of [[Samuel Pierpoint Langley]], the aircraft was designed to make use of non-strategic materials in its construction and thereby avoid any shortages brought about by war. Its design was conventional enough - a low-wing cantilever monoplane with twin tails and tailwheel undercarriage. The manufacturing process, however, was unorthodox, and the aircraft's structures were built up from mahogany veneers bent over moulds and impregnated with vinyl and phenol resins to make them hold their shape. The use of metal for structural elements - even in fasteners - was thereby almost completely avoided.
The '''Langley 2-4''', variously described as the '''Langley Monoplane''' or '''Langley Twin''' was a twin-engine utility aircraft built in the United States in 1940. Named in honour of [[Samuel Pierpont Langley]], the aircraft was designed to make use of non-[[strategic material]]s in its construction and thereby avoid any shortages brought about by war. Its design was conventional - a low-wing cantilever monoplane with twin tails and tailwheel undercarriage. The manufacturing process, however, was unorthodox, and the aircraft's structures were built up from mahogany veneers bent over moulds and impregnated with vinyl and phenol resins to make them hold their shape. The use of metal for structural elements - even in fasteners - was thereby almost completely avoided.


Two prototypes were constructed, one with 65 hp (49 kW) engines, and another with 90 hp (67 kW) engines. The second machine was purchased by the [[United States Navy]] and evaluated as the '''XNL-1''', but the navy did not order the type. Once the United States entered the war, it transpired that the resins needed for construction were in far shorter supply than the metal that would have been needed to produce an aircraft by conventional means, and the project was abandoned. The XNL-1 was sold as war surplus, and following an accident in 1965, its wings, engine nacelles, and main undercarriage were mated to a [[Stinson 108]] fuselage to create a one-of-a-kind [[homebuilt aircraft]] named the '''Pierce Arrow'''.
Two prototypes were constructed, one with 65 hp (49 kW) engines, and another with 90 hp (67 kW) engines. The second machine was purchased by the [[United States Navy]] and evaluated as the '''XNL-1''', but the navy did not order the type. Once the United States entered the war, it transpired that the resins needed for construction were in far shorter supply than the metal that would have been needed to produce an aircraft by conventional means, and the project was abandoned. The XNL-1 was sold as war surplus, and, following an accident in 1965, its wings, engine nacelles, and main undercarriage were mated to a [[Stinson 108]] fuselage to create a one-of-a-kind [[homebuilt aircraft]] named the '''Pierce Arrow'''.


<!-- ==Development== -->
<!-- ==Development== -->
Line 29: Line 29:
<!-- ==Variants== -->
<!-- ==Variants== -->
<!-- ==Units using this aircraft/Operators (choose)== -->
<!-- ==Units using this aircraft/Operators (choose)== -->
==Specifications (variant) ==
{{aerospecs
|ref=<!-- reference -->
|met or eng?=<!-- eng for US/UK aircraft, met for all others. You MUST include one or the other here, or no specifications will show -->


==Specifications (2-4-65) ==
|crew=
{{Aircraft specs
|capacity=
|prime units? = imp
|length m=
|crew=one pilot
|length ft=
|capacity=three passengers
|length in=
|span m=
|length m=6.30
|span ft=
|length ft=20
|span in=
|length in=8
|span m=10.72
|swept m=<!-- swing-wings -->
|span ft=35
|swept ft=<!-- swing-wings -->
|span in=2
|swept in=<!-- swing-wings -->
|rot number=<!-- helicopters -->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Franklin 4AC]]
|rot dia m=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot dia ft=<!-- helicopters -->
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->49
|rot dia in=<!-- helicopters -->
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->65
|max speed kmh=216
|dia m=<!-- airships etc -->
|max speed mph=135
|dia ft=<!-- airships etc -->
|range km=640
|dia in=<!-- airships etc -->
|range miles=400
|width m=<!-- if applicable -->
|ceiling m=4,100
|width ft=<!-- if applicable -->
|ceiling ft=13,300
|width in=<!-- if applicable -->
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept area sqft=<!-- swing-wings -->
|rot area sqm=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot area sqft=<!-- helicopters -->
|volume m3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|volume ft3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|wing profile=<!-- sailplanes -->
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->

|eng1 number=
|eng1 type=
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng2 number=
|eng2 type=
|eng2 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng2 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng2 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng2 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng2 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng2 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|stall speed kmh=<!-- aerobatic and STOL aircraft -->
|stall speed mph=<!-- aerobatic and STOL aircraft -->
|range km=
|range miles=
|endurance h=<!-- if range unknown -->
|endurance min=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic aircraft -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic aircraft -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->

|armament1=
|armament2=
|armament3=
|armament4=
|armament5=
|armament6=
}}
}}


Line 131: Line 63:


==References==
==References==
* {{cite book |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft |publisher=Aerospace Publishing|location=London |pages= }}
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=564 }}
* {{cite journal |title=Without Priority |journal=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=8 January 1942 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1942/1942%20-%200084.html |accessdate=2008-09-16}}
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages= }}
* {{cite journal |title=Post-War "Family" Aircraft |journal=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=30 October 1941 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1941/1941%20-%202545.html |accessdate=2008-09-16}}
* {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages= }}
* [http://www.aerofiles.com/_la.html aerofiles.com]


<!-- ==External links== -->
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517034227/http://www.hdc-nm.com/jimi/108.html Personal website of "Pierce Arrow" owner]


{{USN trainer aircraft}}
{{USN trainer aircraft}}
{{Aviation lists}}


[[Category:United States civil utility aircraft 1940-1949]]
[[Category:1940s United States civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1940]]

Latest revision as of 20:06, 26 July 2020

2-4 Twin
Role Utility aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Langley
Designer Arthur Draper and Martin Jensen
First flight 1940
Number built 2

The Langley 2-4, variously described as the Langley Monoplane or Langley Twin was a twin-engine utility aircraft built in the United States in 1940. Named in honour of Samuel Pierpont Langley, the aircraft was designed to make use of non-strategic materials in its construction and thereby avoid any shortages brought about by war. Its design was conventional - a low-wing cantilever monoplane with twin tails and tailwheel undercarriage. The manufacturing process, however, was unorthodox, and the aircraft's structures were built up from mahogany veneers bent over moulds and impregnated with vinyl and phenol resins to make them hold their shape. The use of metal for structural elements - even in fasteners - was thereby almost completely avoided.

Two prototypes were constructed, one with 65 hp (49 kW) engines, and another with 90 hp (67 kW) engines. The second machine was purchased by the United States Navy and evaluated as the XNL-1, but the navy did not order the type. Once the United States entered the war, it transpired that the resins needed for construction were in far shorter supply than the metal that would have been needed to produce an aircraft by conventional means, and the project was abandoned. The XNL-1 was sold as war surplus, and, following an accident in 1965, its wings, engine nacelles, and main undercarriage were mated to a Stinson 108 fuselage to create a one-of-a-kind homebuilt aircraft named the Pierce Arrow.


Specifications (2-4-65)[edit]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: three passengers
  • Length: 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 2 in (10.72 m)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Franklin 4AC , 65 hp (49 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 mph (216 km/h, 117 kn)
  • Range: 400 mi (640 km, 350 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 13,300 ft (4,100 m)

References[edit]

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 564.
  • "Without Priority". Flight. 8 January 1942. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  • "Post-War "Family" Aircraft". Flight. 30 October 1941. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  • aerofiles.com

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Langley_Twin&oldid=969673616"