Mosscraft MA.1

Moss M.A.1
Moss M.A.1 at Blackpool (Squires Gate) airport on 27 August 1949 wearing racing No. 26
General information
Type	light utility aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Moss Brothers Aircraft Ltd
Designer	W.H.Moss
Primary user	private owner
Number built	1
History
First flight	1937
Retired	crashed 17 June 1950
Variant	Moss M.A.2

The Mosscraft MA.1 was a British light two-seat low-winged sporting monoplane of the 1930s.

The Mosscraft M.A.2 (left) and Mosscraft M.A.1 (right) at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airport in 1950

The Mosscraft M.A.1 competing as No.4 in the Kings Cup air race at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airfield on 17 June 1950. It crashed fatally during the race.

Design and construction

The Mosscraft MA.1 was designed and built in 1937 at the Moss Brothers Aircraft Ltd factory in Chorley, Lancashire, England. It was of wooden construction with fixed tail-wheel undercarriage and had two separate open cockpits, arranged in tandem. ^[1]

Flying career

The M.A.1 was flown in several U.K. air races prewar, then was stored between 1939 and 1945.

The aircraft competed postwar with the rear cockpit faired over. W.H.Moss flew it in the Kings Cup Air Race at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) Airport on 17 June 1950. He was killed during the race that day, when the aircraft crashed at the Newport, Shropshire turn. ^[1]

Specification (MA.1 with cabin)

Data fromJane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
• Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
• Wing area: 154 sq ft (14.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 880 lb (399 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,400 lb (635 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 21 imp gal (25 US gal; 95 L) in wing centre-section
• Powerplant: 1 × Pobjoy Niagara III 7-cylinder air-cooled geared radial piston engine, 95 hp (71 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn) sport flying

127 mph (110 kn; 204 km/h) trainer

• Cruise speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn) 0
• Stall speed: 36 mph (58 km/h, 31 kn) flaps down
• Range: 500 mi (800 km, 430 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
  
• Absolute ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,572 m)
• Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
• Wing loading: 9.1 lb/sq ft (44 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.06 hp/lb (0.099 kW/kg)

References

1. Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume 3. Putnam & Company Limited. p. 273. ISBN   0-370-10014-X.
2. Grey, C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1938). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 61c.