Parnall Scout

Parnall Scout
The Parnall Scout nearing completion in 1916.
Role Fighter
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Parnall
Designer A. Camden-Pratt
First flight 1916
Number built 1

The Parnall Scout, unofficially nicknamed the Zeppelin Chaser, was a British fighter prototype of the 1910s. It was the first fighter design from Parnall.

Development

Parnall began work on a single-seat anti-airship fighter aircraft in 1916 based on the designs of A. Camden-Pratt, initially intended to meet an aircraft specification from the Admiralty. A large, wooden two-bay staggered biplane, it was finished and initially tested in late 1916.

Operational history

The Scout reportedly flew twice in late 1916 under Admiralty testing; however, it was found to be heavy, slow, and unsafe. As such it was returned to Parnall in the same year and no further development progressed.

Specifications (Scout - estimated)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Upper wingspan: 44 ft (13 m)
  • Lower wingspan: 40 ft (12 m)
  • Wing area: 516 sq ft (47.9 m2)
  • Fuel capacity: 36 imp gal (164 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Sunbeam Maori II V-12 water-cooled piston engine, 250 hp (190 kW)
  • Propellers: two-bladed wooden propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 113.5 mph (182.7 km/h, 98.6 kn) at sealevel
101.5 mph (163 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

Armament

Notes

  1. ^ Wixey, Kenneth E. (1990). Parnall Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 1-55750-930-1.

References

  • Wixey, Kenneth E. (1990). Parnall Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 1-55750-930-1.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parnall Scout.
  • Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. p. 463.