Central Centaur IV

Last updated

Centaur IV
General information
Typethree-seat biplane trainer
Manufacturer Central Aircraft Company Limited
Designer
A A Fletcher
Primary user Central Aircraft Flying School
Number built8
History
First flight 1919

The Central Centaur IV, a.k.a. Central C.F.5, was a British civil two/three-seat biplane aircraft produced by Central Aircraft Company Limited of London.

Contents

History

The Centaur IV was a two-seat wire-braced, fabric-covered wooden biplane designed by A.A. Fletcher. It was the first original design to be built by Central Aircraft Company at Kilburn, London during 1919. The prototype had a 70 hp (52 kW) Renault air-cooled V-8 engine but the seven production aircraft were fitted with an Anzani radial engine.

The Centaur IV was originally proposed in two versions:

No market existed for private ownership at that time, so the eight aircraft were all built as three-seaters. All the aircraft were initially used by Central Aircraft for joyriding or instruction at Northolt Aerodrome. The fifth aircraft was fitted with a three-float undercarriage. It was used for a week giving joyrides at Southend-on-Sea. It was converted into a landplane later in 1920 and crashed in October 1920.

As the postwar slump continued, some of the aircraft were sold in Belgium and were still operating in 1938. The last survivor was destroyed in the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940.

Variants

Operators

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Specifications (Centaur IVA)

Data from Flight060319 [1]

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. Flight: 324. 6 March 1919.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)