Sage Type 4

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Sage Type 4
Role Floatplane
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Frederick Sage & Company
First flight3 July 1917
Number built2
Developed from Sage Type 3

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.

Contents

Design and development

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

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)

Data from British Aeroplanes 1914–18 [9]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

Notes

  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]

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References

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

Bibliography

  • 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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