Norman Thompson N.T.4: Difference between revisions
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<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> |
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin |
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|name = N.T.4 |
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|image = <!--in the ''image:filename'' format, no image tags--> |
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|caption = <!--image caption; if it isn't descriptive it should be left blank--> |
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}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |
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|type = Patrol Flying Boat |
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|manufacturer = [[Norman Thompson Flight Company]] |
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|designer = <!--only appropriate for individuals, not for project leaders or a company or corporation--> |
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|first flight = 1916<!--if it hasn't happened, leave it out!--> |
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|introduced = 1916<!--date the aircraft entered or will enter military or revenue service--> |
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|introduction= <!--date the aircraft will enter military or revenue service, if the aircraft is still in development --> |
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|retired = 1918<!--date the aircraft left military or revenue service. If vague or multiples, it probably should be skipped--> |
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|status = <!--in most cases, this field is redundant; use it sparingly--> |
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|primary user = [[RNAS]]<!--please list only one, and don't use those tiny flags as they limit horizontal space--> |
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|more users = <!--limited to three "more users" total. please separate with <br/>--> |
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|produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built--> |
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|number built = 26 |
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|unit cost = £3,250 <ref name="Goodall p52"> Goodall 1995, p.52.</ref> |
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|developed from = <!-- the aircraft which formed the basis for the topic type --> |
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|variants with their own articles = <!-- variants OF the topic type --> |
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}} |
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|} |
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The '''Norman Thompson N.T.4''' was a twin engined [[United Kingdom|British]] [[flying boat]] of the [[World War I|First World War]]. Although less well known than similar Curtiss and Felixstowe flying boats, 50 were built for Britain's [[Royal Naval Air Service]]. |
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==Development and design== |
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The White and Thompson company was formed by Norman Thompson and Douglas White in 1912 at [[Bognor Regis]], [[Sussex]] to design and build aircraft.<ref name="Goodall p7-8"> Goodall 1995, pp. 7–8.</ref> It built several models of aircraft in small numbers, before being renamed the [[Norman Thompson Flight Company]] in September 1915. |
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The first aircraft to be produced by the renamed company was a twin engined patrol flying boat, the '''Norman Thompson N.T.4'''. This was a three bay [[biplane]] powered by two [[Pusher configuration|pusher]] [[Hispano-Suiza 8|Hispano-Suiza]] engines mounted between the wings and was fitted with an enclosed, heavily glazed cockpit for its four man crew. |
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An initial order for ten aircraft for the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] was placed in December 1915, with the first prototype flying in October 1916.<ref name="Goodall p44-5"> Goodall 1995, pp.44-45.</ref> Further orders were placed in 1917 bringing the total ordered to 50. Production continued through 1917, but in 1918, following a change in policy on anti-submarine aircraft, the final contract for 20 aircraft was cancelled.<ref name="Goodall p49"> Goodall 1995, p.49.</ref> Total production was 26 aircraft, continuing until June 1918.<ref name="Goodall p49,53"> Goodall 1995, pp.49,53.</ref> |
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Norman Thompson produced a revised design to meet the requirements of Admiralty Specification N.2C, to replace the N.T.4. This type, designated the '''Norman Thompson N.2C''' used the wings of the N.T.4 but with a new hull resembling that of the Porte/Felixstowe boats. Power was by two 200 hp (149 kW) [[Sunbeam Arab]] engines. The first prototype attempted to fly on 1 August 1918, but required changes to the hull before it was capable of take-off. Water handling remained poor, and the aircraft was tail heavy in flight. It was abandoned following the end of the war.<ref name="London p39-40"> London 2003, pp.39—40.</ref> |
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==Operational history== |
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The N.T.4 entered service with the RNAS in 1916,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/aircraft_table.pdf|title=English Heritage Aircraft utilised by the RFC, RNAS, RAF and US Navy within the UK 1912-18|accessdate=2007-09-17 |format=PDF |work= }}</ref> being operated on anti-submarine patrols over the [[North Sea]] and [[English Channel]] but were mainly used for training, as larger aircraft were more suitable for patrol purposes.<ref name="Goodall p47"> Goodall 1995, p.47.</ref> Many of the aircraft produced in 1918 were delivered straight to storage and were never used.<ref name="Goodall p49"> Goodall 1995, p.49.</ref> Owing to its similarity in size to the [[Curtiss H.4]] , it shared the Curtiss flying boat's nickname of "America", being renamed "Small America" when the larger [[Curtiss H12]] (known as "Large America") and [[Felixstowe F.2]] flying boats came into service. <ref name="Thetford Naval">Thetford 1978, p.266-267 </ref> |
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==Variants== |
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;N.T.4 |
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:Initial batch of six aircraft. Powered by two 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engines. |
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;N.T.4A |
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:Main production type. Powered by 200 hp geared Hispano-Suiza engines. 44 built. |
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;N2C |
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:Improved version with hull similar to [[Felixstowe F.2|Felixstowe flying boats]], powered by two [[Sunbeam Arab]] engines. Two prototypes only built in 1918.<ref name="Donald World"> Donald 1997, p. 695</ref> |
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==Operators== |
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;{{UK}} |
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*[[Royal Naval Air Service]] |
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==Specifications (N.T.4A) == |
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{{aircraft specifications |
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<!-- please answer the following questions --> |
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|plane or copter?=plane<!-- options: plane/copter --> |
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|jet or prop?=prop<!-- options: jet/prop/both/neither --> |
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|ref=British Naval Aircraft since 1912 <ref name="Thetford Naval"/> |
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<!-- Now, fill out the specs. Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If an item doesn't apply, like capacity, leave it blank. For instructions on using |more general=, |more performance=, |power original=, and |thrust original= see [[Template talk:Aircraft specifications]]. To add a new line, end the old one with a right parenthesis ")", and start a new fully formatted line beginning with * --> |
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|crew=Four |
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|capacity= |
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|length main= 41 ft 6 in |
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|length alt= 12.65 m |
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|span main= 78 ft 7 in |
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|span alt= 23.96 m |
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|height main= 14 ft 10 in |
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|height alt= 4.52 m |
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|area main= 936 ft² |
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|area alt= 87.0 m² |
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|airfoil= |
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|empty weight main= 4,572 lb |
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|empty weight alt= 2,078 kg |
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|loaded weight main= 6,469 lb |
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|loaded weight alt= 2,940 kg |
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|useful load main= |
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|useful load alt= |
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|max takeoff weight main= |
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|max takeoff weight alt= |
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|more general= |
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|engine (prop)= [[Hispano-Suiza 8|Hispano-Suiza]] |
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|type of prop=V-8 water cooled |
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|number of props=2 |
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|power main= 200 hp |
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|power alt= 149 kW |
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|power original= |
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|max speed main= 83 knots |
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|max speed alt= 95 mph, 153 km/h |
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|max speed more= at 2,000 ft (610 m) |
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|cruise speed main= |
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|cruise speed alt= |
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|never exceed speed main= |
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|never exceed speed alt= |
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|stall speed main= |
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|stall speed alt= |
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|range main= |
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|range alt= |
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|ceiling main= 11,700 ft |
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|ceiling alt= 3,570 m |
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|climb rate main= |
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|climb rate alt= |
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|loading main= 6.91 lb/ft² |
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|loading alt= 33.8 kg/m² |
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|thrust/weight=<!-- a unitless ratio --> |
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|power/mass main= 0.062 hp/lb |
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|power/mass alt= 0.10 kW/kg |
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|more performance=*'''Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m):''' 31 min 5 sec |
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*'''Endurance:''' 6 hours at 60 knots <ref name="Goodall p52"> Goodall 1995, p.52.</ref> |
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|armament= |
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|guns=Provision for [[Lewis gun]]s firing through side window |
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|bombs=Bomb racks under lower wing |
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|avionics= |
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}} |
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==See also== |
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{{aircontent |
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|related=<!-- related developments --> |
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|similar aircraft=*[[Curtiss H.4]]<br /> |
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*[[Curtiss H.12]] |
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*[[Felixstowe F.2]] |
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|sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate --> |
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|lists=<!-- related lists --> |
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|see also=<!-- other relevant information --> |
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}} |
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==Notes== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==References== |
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*{{cite book|author=Donald, David (Editor)|title = The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft|year = 1997 |
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|publisher = Aerospace Publishing|isbn = 1-85605-375-X}} |
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*{{Cite book |last=Goodall|first=Michael H.|title=The Norman Thompson File|publisher=Air Britain |location= Tunbridge Wells, UK|year=1995 |id= ISBN 0 85130 233 5|pages= }} |
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*{{cite book |title= British Flying Boats|last=London |first=Peter |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2003 |publisher= Sutton Publishing|location= Stroud, UK|isbn= 0-7509-2695-3|page= |pages= |url= }} |
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* {{Cite book |author=Thetford, Owen|title=British Naval Aircraft since 1912 |edition =Fourth Edition |publisher=Putnam |location= London|year=1978 |id= ISBN 0 85177 861 5|pages= }} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=686 British Aircraft Directory] |
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{{Norman Thompson aircraft}} |
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{{wwi-air}} |
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{{aviation lists}} |
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[[Category:British patrol aircraft 1910-1919]] |
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[[Category:Seaplanes and flying boats]] |
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[[Category:Pusher aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Norman Thompson aircraft|N.T.4]] |
Revision as of 02:57, 9 June 2010
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