Parnall Elf

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Elf
Parnall Elf in flight.jpg
RoleTwo-seat light aircraft
Manufacturer Parnall & Co
Designer Harold Bolas
First flight1929
Number built3
Parnall Elf G-AAIN, Shuttleworth Parnall Elf.jpg
Parnall Elf G-AAIN, Shuttleworth

The Parnall Elf is a British two seat light touring aircraft of the 1920s. Built by George Parnall & Co. the Elf was the last aircraft designed by Harold Bolas before he left the company to go to the United States.

Contents

Design and development

The Parnall Elf was designed by Harold Bolas, chief designer of the reformed George Parnall & Co. The type made its public debut at Olympia in July 1929. [1] The Elf was a biplane of wood and fabric construction with staggered wings set well forward on the fuselage as a feature to assist crew escape in an emergency. The wings were unusually braced with 'vee' interplane struts which dispensed with any flying wires [1] and could be folded for ease of hangarage. The main fuel tank was fitted in the fuselage, while a pump raised the fuel to a small tank in the wing centre section where it was then fed to the engine by gravity. An Elf placed fifth in the 1930 King's Cup Air Race out of a field of 88 entrants. The purchase price of the aircraft at this time was between £875 and £890. [2]

Survivors

Specifications (Elf Mk.II)

Parnall Elf 3-view drawing from Aero Digest January,1930 Parnall Elf 3-view Aero Digest January,1930.png
Parnall Elf 3-view drawing from Aero Digest January,1930

Data from Parnall Aircraft since 1914 [3]

General characteristics

1,500 lb (680 kg) for aerobatics

Performance

112 mph (97 kn; 180 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

  1. 1 2 Ogilvy, 1989.
  2. Guttery, 1969. p. 43.
  3. Wixey, Kenneth E. (1990). Parnall Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 181–189. ISBN   978-1-55750-930-7.

Bibliography

  • Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. SBN 901319-01-5
  • Ogilvy, David. Shuttleworth – The Historic Aeroplanes. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1989 ISBN   1-85310-106-0