Wright Model H
| Model H | |
|---|---|
 A Model H at Simms Station Dayton OH in 1914 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Pioneering aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | The Wright Company |
| Primary user | Pancho Villa |
| Number built | 5 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1914 |
| Developed from | Wright Model H |
The Wright Model H and Wright Model HS were enclosed fuselage aircraft built by the Wright Company[1]
Design and development
[edit]A direct development of the Model F, the Model H introduced side by side seating for the two pilots, with long-span wings similar to the Model F. A short-span version was also produced as the Model HS, marketed as a "Military Flyer" with the improvement of an enclosed fuselage and dual controls.[2] Its wings were shorter than the Model H for increased speed.[3]
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The Model H was a two place, side-by-side configuration seating, open cockpit, biplane with twin rudders, powered with a single engine, propelled by two chain driven pusher propellers. The engine was fully enclosed in the nose of the aircraft with a driveshaft running rearward to the propeller drive chains.[4]
Operational history
[edit]Howard Reinhart purchased a Wright Model HS for Pancho Villa, who hired him in support of his insurgent force.[5] It was one of three aircraft in his small air force.[6]
In 2003, a Wright propeller matching the Model HS specifications was auctioned for over US$25,000. The construction of the propeller was hand carved wood with a linen covering, metal tips and a custom finish.[7]
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Variants
[edit]- Model H
- (1914) 32 ft (9.8 m) span 3-bay wings similar to the Model F, also introduced side-by-side seating.
- Model HS
- (1915) Short span 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) 2-bay wings
Specifications (Wright Model HS)
[edit]
Data from Flying[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft (9.8 m)
- Height: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Wing area: 350 sq ft (33 m2)
- Powerplant: 1 × Wright 6-60 6-cylinder water cooled inline piston, 60 hp (45 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed pusher propellers aft of the wings, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
- Stall speed: 30 mph (48 km/h, 26 kn)
- Rate of climb: 400 ft/min (2.0 m/s)
References
[edit]- ↑ "Later Wright Activities". Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- 1 2 Flying: 2. February 1915.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "Wright Airplane Configuration". Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ↑ "Wright Aircraft". Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ↑ Sterling Seagrave. Soldiers of fortune. p. 28.
- ↑ David A. Anderton. The history of the U.S. Air Force. p. 19.
- ↑ Flying: 26. December 2003.
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External links
[edit]