Col. Cody’s second biplane, in which he won the British Michelin prize by flying 186 miles at Farnborough on December 31st, 1910, greatly resembled its predecessor of 1909, but was smaller, and distinguished by its single propeller at the rear instead of two as before.
The control system and rudders are precisely the same, the balancing forces being distributed over different parts of the machine, thus guarding against any undue local stress.
Top Speed: 41 m.p.h.
Engine: 60 horse-power E. N. V.
Wingspan: 46 feet
Weight: 1,350 pounds
Specifications from “Monoplanes and Biplanes,†by Grover Loening, 1911
The Frame
The frame and skid construction is very much simpler and stronger than formerly. Silver spruce is used in the frame, bamboo for the outriggers, and hickory for the chassis.
The Main Wings
The two planes of the main cell, 8 1/2 feet apart, have a spread of 46 feet, a chord of 6 1/2 feet, and an area of 540 square feet. The depth of curvature is 4 inches, and the shape of the section has a curious narrowing between the spars. The surface is double and made of Pegamoid cloth.
The Elevators
The elevating surfaces at the front have a total area of 116 square feet, a depth of 4 1/2 feet, and are 12 feet in front of the main cell. The control is the same as on the 1909 type.
The Direction Rudder
The front direction rudder is eliminated. The one at the rear is retained, and has an area of 36 square feet.
Roll Control
Transverse control is, as on the former type, by means of ailerons and the two halves of the front rudder. The ailerons are each 50 square feet in area.
Keel.-A new departure is the addition of a horizontal non-lifting keel at the rear.
Propulsion
A 60 horse-power E. N. V. or Green motor, placed on the lower plane, drives by chain a single large wooden- bladed propeller, 10 1/2 feet in diameter and 10.6 feet pitch, at 600 r.p.m. This is the largest propeller used on any aeroplane up to the present. A new and smaller type with a 35 horse-power engine is being built.
Speed, Weight, Loading and Aspect Ratio
The speed of this machine is about 41 miles an hour. The total weight is 1,350 to 1,500 pounds; 25 pounds are lifted per horse-power, and 2.8 per square foot of surface. The aspect ratio is 7.1 to 1.