TRIPLANE SMASHED

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18, 22 July 1919, Page 7

TRIPLANE SMASHED

THE TABRANT FAILURE.

The most extraordinary aeroplane ever built, probably, was the huge Tarrarit triplane which made its first and last run at Famborough. on 26th May. It had six propellers; two pushers and two tractors between the middle and lower planes, and two pushers between the upper and middle planes. The tractors w;ere 12ft 6in in diameter, with two blades., and the pushers 10ft 6in in diameter, with four blades. At the trial the machine was "taxied" for some time under the power of the lower. sets of engines, apparently with complete success. But as , soon as the upper engines were started with the intention .of rising in flight, the exira pull turned'the aeroplane on its head. Captain T. Rawlings, the pilot, was killed, and Captain F. G. Dunn, who was in charge, was seriously injured.

The triplane was built by tKe Tarrant Aircraft Construction Company, and was the biggest thing in British aircraft as yet done. Mr. W. G. Tarrant, its designer, admits himself an amateur. '

The machine was of great size and weight. From end to end of the middle plane was 131 ft; in total height the machine stood 37ft; and the fuselage was about 76ft long. The fuselage was one of the most curious features, for it was a great wooden tube, very like a torpedo in shape, and about ten feet in diameter. The power was provided by six 'engines, totalling 3000 horse power; and the total weight of the machine and its equipment was about 20 tons. The area totalled about 5000 ft.