TRAGIC FATE OF BIGGEST BRITISH TRIPLANE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5246, 11 August 1919, Page 3

TRAGIC FATE OF BIGGEST BRITISH TRIPLANE.

By an accident which occurred at Farnborough aerodrome during the first trial flight of the Tarrant triplane, Captain P. T. Rawlings, D.F.C., late of the Royal Naval Air Service, lost his life, and Captain F. C. Dunn is lying dangerously injured in the Cambridge Hospital at Aldershot. The accident also resulted m wrecking the machine, which was the largest in existence, and had many remarkable features. It was designed by Mr. W. G. Tarrant, a building contractor, of Weybridge, assisted by Captain R-awlings, who had taken up an appointment as general manager of the aeroplane department. The design was submitted to the Government, and the possibilities of the machine as a long-distance bomber were recognised. This was while the war was in progress, and it was decided to build one in the Royal aircraft establishment at Farnborough under Mr. Tarrant’s direction. The yast proportions or the machine necessitated the use_ ot the largest balloon shed for its building. It had not been completed when the armistice stopped further Government work pn it. Somewhat altered in design to permit of its use for commercial and other purposes, it has since been completed, and its first trial flight was arranged for. A. large number of experts were present to witness the trial. ' The massive machine, which, when loaded, weighs 22 tons and stands 75ft high, with a wing span of 140 ft., was brought out on to the aerodrome at daybreak, and the necessary tuning of the engines was completed by 5.30. These engines, six in number, each of 500 horse-power, are arranged in novel fashion. On either side of the cigarshaped fuselage, between the lower and middle planes, were placed two engines, one driving a propellor and one a tractor screw. Captain Dunn, as pilot, and Captain Rawlings as assistant, occupied the pilots’ seats, in the forefront of the fuselage. On board were also Captain T. M. Vnson, one of the Air Ministry s technical experts; Lieutenant Adams, in charge-of the engines ;Mr . Grossert, the superintendent of .the department, and two mechanics, named See and Edney. , . , When all was ready the four lower engines wore set going, <ind tlie m<ichine was taxied over the common in a mile-wide circle. It seemed to travel quite satisfactorily, in spite of its enormous weight, .and turned with apparent ease. So satisfied were the pilots with the machine s behaviour that the run was continued, and an attempt was made c: rise’ by bringing the two upper engines into action. .. i At this time the tail was well o, the ground, although the machine itself was still running on its landing wheels, with an occasional lilt; but no sooner were the upper engines brought into play than the machine pitched bodily forward and almost buried its front and main parts m the around, smashing and grinding its way six or seven feet into the soil ‘The first-aid motor ambulance and fire-fighting apparatus, kept in readiness at the factory, were on the spot within a few seconds of the accident, and the crew were quickly rescued from the wreck. All were more or less injured, the two pd° ts very seriously. Captain Rawlings died an hour after reaching hospital. Fortuntely fire did not break out, and steps were at once taken to prevent it, while an armed guard was quickly summoned from the adjoining barracks to keep all unofficial people away from the wreckage until an examination could be made by experts. Mr. Tarra-nt was among the first to reach the wreckage, and, with Catpain Saunders, R.A.M.0., worked with frantic zeal to rescue the crew and attend to their injur-