TNCA MTW-1

Last updated
MTW-1
El rector de la UNAM Manuel Gomez Morin y el piloto aviador Francisco Sarabia (16 de junio de 1934) 02.jpg
Rolelong-range monoplane
National originFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Manufacturer TNCA
DesignerMikhail T. Watter
First flightJune 28, 1934
Number built1

The TNCA MTW-1 was a high-wing monoplane built by the TNCA (National Aeronautical Construction Workshops).

Contents

Background

In 1933 the Spanish pilots Mariano Barberán and Joaquín Collar Serra made the Flight of the Cuatro Vientos, a nonstop flight between Seville (Spain) and Camagüey (Cuba) in a Breguet XIX GR Super-Bidón plane. After that trip they decided to continue towards Mexico City making a stop in Havana, however the plane disappeared near Villahermosa, Tabasco and after numerous searches among which the Mexican pilot Francisco Sarabia Tinoco participated with his airline "Transportes Aéreos de Chiapas", however the remains were not found. [1]

Francisco Sarabia wanted to return the gesture to the Spanish pilots making a nonstop flight between Mexico and Spain in a nationally manufactured aircraft, for which he had the support of the Mexican government and TNCA. [2]

Design and development

To design the prototype, was used a design made by Dr. Mikhail T. Watter, a Russian engineer graduated from the Imperial Technical College of Moscow and the Polytechnic Institute of Kiev, who was invited to work in TNCA by General Azcárate. Factually, MTW-1 means the initials of the Russian engineer. [3] [4]

The design was a high-wing monoplane with two separate cabins and capacity for 5,000 liters of fuel and 284 liters of oil, because it was thought to be a "flying fuel tank" that could cover a distance of more than 8,000 kilometers, enough to make a flight from Mérida, Mexico and Seville, Spain. [5]

The aircraft began to be built in October 1933 at the Talleres Nacionales de Construcciones Aeronáuticas (TNCA, National Aeronautical Construction Workshops) in Mexico City and it was completed in June 1934 with the registration XA-EXS, beginning on that month the tests on land where the landing gear was damaged. The aircraft was repaired and was able to make its first flight on June 28, 1934, however, on July 5 of the same year the landing gear was damaged again after landing at the Balbuena Airfield. [6] [7]

The plans for the Mexico-Spain flight were delayed because Francisco Sarabia claimed that he plane tended to get stuck, leaned heavily to the left and it was difficult to keep it stable, while the Russian engineer complained about the lack of experience and expertise of the Mexican pilot. [8]

End of the project

By October 1935, the Mexican government led by Lázaro Cárdenas takes possession of the wreckage of the aircraft, because government had contributed $60,000°° pesos ($16,700°° dollars of the time, about $320,000 °° current dollars) for construction of the aircraft. The airplane was kept secret for a long time, until it was dismantled in the TNCAs and its engine was used to be the powerplant of a Corsario Azcárate. [9]

Specifications (variant specified)

Data from Mexican military aviation history, [10] airwar.ru [11]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican Air Force</span> Air warfare branch of the Mexican Army

The Mexican Air Force is the air service branch of the Mexican Armed Forces. It is a component of the Mexican Army and as such overseen by the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA). The objective of the FAM is to defend the integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Mexico. Its auxiliary tasks include internal security, assisting with public works, and natural disaster management. As of 2023, its commander is Bertín Hernández Mercado.

Línea Aérea Conviasa is a Venezuelan airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas. It is the flag carrier and largest airline of Venezuela, operating services to domestic destinations and destinations in the Caribbean and South America. Conviasa is known to make routes from a political perspective rather than a financial standpoint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valencia Airport</span> Airport in Manises

Valencia Airport, also known as Manises Airport, is the tenth-busiest Spanish airport in terms of passengers and second in the Valencian Community after Alicante. It is situated 8 km (5.0 mi) west of the city of Valencia, in Manises. The airport has flight connections to about 20 European countries and 8.53 million passengers passed through the airport in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ciudad Real International Airport</span> Airport in Castilla–La Mancha, Spain

Ciudad Real International Airport or CRIA, previously known as Central Airport CR, Don Quijote Airport and South Madrid Airport, is an international airport and long-storage facility situated south of Ciudad Real in Spain. Constructed at a cost of €1.1 billion, it was opened in 2009, when it became the first private international airport in Spain. It was featured on the British television series Top Gear and gained popularity later on, thanks to the show.

The Talleres Nacionales de Construcciones Aeronáuticas (TNCA) was an aircraft manufacturer established outside Mexico City in 1915. TNCA closed in 1930, was briefly revived in 1941 under the name Talleres Generales de Aeronáutica (TGA) and again in 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport</span> International airport in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico

Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport, officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Ángel Albino Corzo, is an international airport situated in the municipality of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas. It serves air traffic for Tuxtla Gutiérrez and a significant part of the State of Chiapas, including San Cristóbal de las Casas and Comitán.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sol Líneas Aéreas Flight 5428</span> May 2011 plane crash in Argentina

Sol Líneas Aéreas Flight 5428 was a passenger flight which crashed near Los Menucos, Argentina, on 18 May 2011, killing all 22 people on board. The aircraft involved, a Saab 340, was operating Sol Líneas Aéreas' scheduled domestic service from Neuquén to Comodoro Rivadavia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felipe Ángeles International Airport</span> International airport serving Greater Mexico City

Felipe Ángeles International Airport, also known as Mexico City Felipe Ángeles International Airport or simply Mexico City-AIFA, is an international airport located in Zumpango, State of Mexico, 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Mexico City. Originally named Santa Lucía Air Force Base, it opened for civilian use in 2022, serving as the second airport for Greater Mexico City. The passenger terminal facilitates domestic and international flights, functioning as a Focus City for Viva Aerobus and Aeromexico Connect. It is set to be the main hub for Mexicana, a state-owned airline. Apart from civilian operations, the airport accommodates the Mexican Air Force, general aviation, and charter flight services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arajet</span> Flag carrier of the Dominican Republic

Arajet S.A. is an ultra low-cost airline and the flag carrier of the Dominican Republic. Operations began on 15 September 2022 with a flight to Barranquilla, Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellner-Béchereau</span> French aircraft manufacturer

Avions Kellner-Béchereau, known as Kellner-Béchereau, was a French aircraft manufacturer of the early 20th century.

TNCA Series A was a utility biplane made in Mexico by Talleres Nacionales de Construcciones Aeronáuticas (TNCA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TNCA Serie E</span> Mexican monoplane family

The TNCA Serie E was a family of various monoplanes built in Mexico by the Talleres Nacionales de Construcciones Aeronáuticas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TNCA Serie H</span> Type of aircraft

The TNCA Serie H "Parasol" was a Mexican bomber and reconnaissance aircraft manufactured by the Talleres Nacionales de Construcciones Aeronáuticas (TNCA). It was a high-wing monoplane, which allowed better speed performance. It was one of the first aircraft models made by TNCA and was designed as a "Technology Tester", in order to improve the designs of subsequent models. Its design was very similar to the Morane-Saulnier L, especially the design of the landing gear, mast and the controls of the rudders, however the fuselage structure was made of metal tubes. It was powered by a 60 HP TNCA Aztatl six cylinders air cooled engine, with an Anáhuac propeller.

The Sea Teziutlán was a primary training aircraft designed by the engineer Antonio Sea and built by Talleres Generales de Aeronáutica Militar.

The TNCA B Series was a single-engine reconnaissance biplane built in Mexico by Talleres Nacionales de Construcciones Aeronáuticas.

Bettina Inés Kadner Schilling is a Spanish aviator. In 1969, at age 22, she became the first woman to pilot a passenger plane in Europe. She also became the first female pilot in command in Spain in 1998, and the second in Europe. She flew for Iberia from 1985 until her retirement in 2006.

The Halcón H1 is a light-sport aircraft (LSA) developed and manufactured in Mexico by Horizontec, the Universidad Aeronáutica de Querétaro (UNAQ) and the Centro Nacional de Tecnología Aeronáuticas (CENTA).

World2Fly is a passenger airline that operates out of Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comayagua International Airport</span> Airport serving Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Comayagua International Airport, also known as Palmerola International Airport, is an international airport located 6 km (4 mi) south of the centre of Comayagua, Honduras. The airport was inaugurated in October 2021 as the country's new international airport for civil and commercial use. It was built at the facilities of the Soto Cano Air Base.

References

  1. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  2. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  3. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. "MTW-1" (in Russian). Уголок неба (Sky corner). 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  5. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. "MTW-1" (in Russian). Уголок неба (Sky corner). 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  8. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  9. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  10. "EL FRACASADO PROYECTO VUELO MEXICO A ESPANA Y EL AVION TNCA MTW-1 EN 1934" [THE FAILED PROJECT FLIGHT MEXICO TO SPAIN AND THE TNCA MTW-1 AIRPLANE IN 1934] (in Spanish). Mexican military aviation history. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  11. "MTW-1" (in Russian). Уголок неба (Sky corner). 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2019.