Thomas-Morse S-4

Last updated
S-4
Thomas-Morse S4C Scout BelowL light Early Years NMUSAF 25Sep09 (14413222320).jpg
The NMUSAF's S-4C Scout in Dayton, OH USA pre-restoration
Roleadvanced trainer
National origin United States
Manufacturer Thomas-Morse Aircraft
Designer Benjamin D. Thomas
First flightJune 1917 [1]

The Thomas-Morse S-4 Scout is an American biplane advanced trainer, operated by the United States Army and the United States Navy. Dubbed the "Tommy" by pilots who flew it, the aircraft became the favorite single-seat training airplane produced in the U.S. during World War I. It had a long and varied career beginning with the S-4B, which first appeared in the summer of 1917. [2]

Contents

Design and development

Built by Thomas-Morse Aircraft in Ithaca, New York in 1917, it was a compact single-seat open-cockpit biplane of equal span and a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome rotary engine. [3]

The S-4 was designed by Englishman Benjamin Douglas Thomas (no relation to the company owners), [4] formerly with the Sopwith Aviation Company, [5] who also assisted with the design of the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny. [6] The S-4 made its maiden flight in June 1917 in the hands of Paul D. Wilson. [4] Twelve planes went to the Navy. [4]

Operational history

Thomas Morse S-4C with training school number on fuselage sides Thomas Morse S-4c Scout.jpg
Thomas Morse S-4C with training school number on fuselage sides
A U.S. Navy S-5 Thomas-Morse S-5.jpg
A U.S. Navy S-5

The S-4B, with a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome, a span of 27 ft (8.23 m) (8.22 m), and length of 20 ft 3 in (6.17 m) [4] proved more successful, with three prototypes followed by an order of 97 for the Army and 10 for the Navy, [4] [7] while six more were completed with two main and one tail floats as the Navy S-5. [3] [8] The S-4B was used by practically every pursuit flying school in the U.S. during 1918. [2]

It was supplemented in 1918 by the S-4C, at a cost of US$5400 each. [4] Six prototypes were built, [4] and the 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome 9B-2 was replaced by the more reliable 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhône 9C starting with the fifty-second production aircraft. [3] [4] 461 S-4Cs went to the Army and four S-4Cs with floats went to the Navy. [4]

After World War I, many "Tommys" were sold as surplus to civilian flying schools, sportsman pilots, and ex-Army fliers. Many were still being used in the mid-1930s for World War I aviation movies, and several continue to exist in flying condition today. [2]

A single aircraft was fitted with new tail and the more powerful 110 hp (82 kW) Le Rhone 9J rotary engine, becoming the S-4E aerobatic trainer. [3] It was not adopted by the military, and after being fitted with a 135 hp (101 kW) Aeromarine V8 engine, it became Basil Rowe‘s racer Space-Eater. [4]

About sixty surplus aircraft survived in civil service, most of which were fitted with the Curtiss OX-5. [4]

Operators

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Surviving aircraft

Specifications (S-4C, late production)

Thomas-Morse S-4C drawing Thomas-Morse S-4C 3-view line drawing.jpg
Thomas-Morse S-4C drawing

Data from Aerofiles, United States Navy Aircraft since 1911, [4] [7]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

Notes
  1. Holmes, 2005. p 52.
  2. 1 2 3 United States Air Force Museum 1975, p. 10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Donald 1997, p. 875.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Thomas." Aerofiles.com. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  5. Angelucci 1973, p. 41.
  6. "Thomas-Morse S-4 Scout". The Aviation History Online Museum. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 471.
  8. Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 472.
  9. "1918 Thomas Morse Scout". Fantasy of Flight. Fantasy of Flight. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  10. "FAA REGISTRY [N1917T]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  11. "Thomas Morse S-4B Scout". Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  12. "FAA REGISTRY [N74W]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  13. 1 2 Funke, Don; Rundle, Jim (February 2013). "Differences Between the Thomas-Morse S-4B and S-4C: Lessons and Questions From an Ongoing Restoration (Part 2)" (PDF). Tommy Comes Home. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  14. "Ithaca's Airplane".
  15. "Tommy's Perfect Centennial Flight".
  16. "The History Center in Tompkins County - Tommy Plane".
  17. Hooker, Chris (27 December 2014). "Restored Thomas- Morse Plane Takes Shape". ithaca.com. Ithaca Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  18. 1 2 Rundle, Jim; Funke, Don (February 2013). "Differences Between the Thomas Morse S-4B and S-4C: Lessons and Questions From an Ongoing Restoration (Part 1)" (PDF). Tommy Comes Home. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  19. "[Homepage]". Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum(WAAAM). Eagles Mere Air Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  20. "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-Morse S-4C Scout, c/n 38898, c/r N3307T". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  21. "FAA REGISTRY [N3307T]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  22. "1918 Thomas-Morse Scout S4C - N38899". EAA. EAA. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  23. "Thomas Morse S4C Scout, Ithaca, NY, 1918". Cradle of Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  24. "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-Morse S-4C Scout, s/n 38934, c/r N1115". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  25. "Thomas-Morse S4C Scout". National Museum of the US Air Force. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  26. "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-Morse S-4C Scout, s/n SC38944 USASC". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  27. "Thomas-Morse Scout". Yanks Air Museum. Yanks Air Museum. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  28. "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-MorseS-4 Scout, c/n 39734". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  29. "World War I". National Museum of the Marine Corps. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  30. "1917 Thomas Morse S-4 Scout 'Tommie'". Century Aviation. Century Aviation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  31. "S-4C SCOUT". National Naval Aviation Museum. Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  32. "Thomas-Morse Scout [1]". Pioneer Flight Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  33. "Thomas-Morse Scout [2]". Pioneer Flight Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  34. 1 2 Wegg 1990, p. 23.
  35. Angelucci 1983, p. 85.
Bibliography