That would be Ernest Zens.
Therefore the Zens monoplane. Can't find a designation as such on the Aviafrance website.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ad243c39e0.jpg

Ernest and Paul built a successful monoplane in 1910.
The harvester is clearly a biplane and is from 1908.
But I will not split hairs on that as I made the mistake of posting a non-flying machine.

Noyade has control.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....39d52bbd49.png

It clearly is! I have no idea why I typed the word 'monoplane.' :ugh:
Thanks for the leniency SLB - but I'll stand in the corner and offer Open House.

As it was only a typo from your side,
I have no problem that you would post the next challenge.

OK.Thank you.
I've not much in the cupboard, so I'll try this one again...


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b88b92a557.jpg

Lordy! Whay is this? A Windy Dragbus?
They could at least have area-ruled the fuselage!


It smells Italian to me...?

At previous posting I came as far as thinking it is probably a triplane?

I also wondered about a triplane and since there appear to be radiators on the sides of the fuselage, I wondered about a racing triplane.

I know, it sounds stupid, but it turns out there was one - the Curtiss Cactus Kitten:


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8e3c72f180.jpg

A bizarre history - started off as a monoplane, then a biplane and finally a tripe!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_Cox_Racer

Yes, a failed attempt by me to crop out the third wing. :)
Nicely done India, over to you.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....13f4ca1c33.jpg

Great find, Noyade.

You would think they would have made some attempt to streamline the radiators! Looking at that ultra-coarse pitch prop, I assume it wasn't a STOL machine. :E

Open House.

Shall we extend the current challenge by requiring to post at least two other aircraft types with side mounted radiators? Including photos please.

If somebody takes the open house that is also fine with me.

Well, here is one obvious one for you. :ok:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b09f163c73.jpg

And here is one with the radiators a bit more streamlined. :ok:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....eb24269e56.jpg

Two nice examples but to my opinion, Using cowlings is cheating!
I have to admit that when I started searching there were more hits than expected:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....857147d76.jpeg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....df9fef6c5.jpeg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....adc03d839.jpeg

I know these pipes are the oil cooler, but the S-6B is what made me think to look for a racing triplane.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b47344ee04.jpg

While looking for a suitable picture, I stumbled on this amazing website:
https://johnkshelton.********.com/20...mitchells.html

Since PPRuNe hates this particular domain for some unknown reason, here's a workaround:
https://tinyurl.com/56496vf2

I love Mitchell's description of the S-6 as a "flying radiator".

That made interesting reading, India Four Two, and made me realize I am not much of an aircraft designer !

I read that Mitchel solved the takeoff problem of the torque submerging the LEFT float by making the RIGHT float larger.
Surely a mistake I thought: you should make the left float larger to give it more buoyancy.

However, Mitchel also moved fuel out of the left float and into the right float so the anti-torqu moment would remain after lift-off.
I now think my solution would have resulted in lift-off into a half roll and spectacular splash ! :ugh:

I've always thought that the pilots of these float planes were very brave men. Does anyone have any idea of the length of the takeoff run for the S-6B?

The picture Terry posted of the engine being installed in the S-6B makes you realise how large the engine was for such a small airframe. Imagine a Cessna 150 with a smaller wingspan and a 2350 HP engine! :eek:

I see no more other examples forthcoming, so I think it is time to go back to the Open House
my examples were:

Some art work this time...


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c9145c7ebc.jpg

Very pretty!

Noyade,

Are we looking at a biplane?

Hi India.
Yes mate, a biplane. Span was 91' 8".

Here's more...
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0d67454bfb.jpg

Who was it said "I would rather be lucky than good"?

I had assumed that the inline engines indicated a European aircraft, but after many fruitless searches, I decided to have a look at US aircraft, even though every 1930s biplane airliner, that I was aware of, used radials.

I was looking at the Curtiss T-32 Condor II, which was too small and had round engines, when I stumbled on this:


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1d6415dbca.png

The Curtis Model 53 Condor, powered by the Curtiss V12 Conqueror. The aircraft and the engine are both new to me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_Model_53_Condor

Well, I thought the engine installation looked extraordinarily neat for the presumed period, and of course it was because the engine was ancestral to so many classic types (or at least, the D-12 was).

Nicely found India! :ok:
Over to you sir.

What a remarkably clean design for a biplane, particularly in comparison to its contemporary, the HP 42. It was 16 mph faster and had the same range, while carrying 18 passengers versus 24 in the HP 42.

Try this one. I'll reveal more if required.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b84232f66.jpeg

Hmmm...

• low set horizontal stabilizer, so not likely to be jet powered.
• not anything De Havilland, as that designer would for have have been sacked for not using the traditional curved shape on the fin and rudder.
• the markings look British, so I am looking for something British that was never built in any great number and is virtually unknown.

I'll go for the Heston JC.6
Wikipedia says that only 2 were built. The un-tapered booms are a bit of a recognition give-away.

Well, it's 23h45m since I posted and I need to go out, so I'll declare that Terry is correct. The Heston JC.6 which competed for the A.2/45 AOP contract which was won by the Auster AOP.6.

About the same wing loading as the AOP.6, but it had a Gipsy Queen engine, so I imagine weight and fuel consumption were an issue.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....299c81d099.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heston_JC.6

TD has control. Good analysis by the way.

Thanks India Four Two.
I suspect that I am not the only one that had never heard of the Heston JC.6 before your challenge.
There is something new to learn every day.

Here is another aircraft that only 2 were ever built.
It had outstanding performance, but production was canceled because WW2 ended and jet engines had arrived,

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....bfafb46b70.jpg

6 Blades.
Republic XP-72 No.2 (43-6599)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XP-72

Yes. It is the XP-72, which was a sort of super P-47 with 50% more power.
Interestingly, it had an engine driven cooling fan behind the spinner and side cowl flaps/exhaust like the FW-190.
The other (#1) aircraft did not have contra-rotating props.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....83e9b36e2f.jpg
Well spotted Noyade, you have control.

Thanks Terry!
Must make it Open House unfortunately.

This is somewhat obscure I think...

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....00d7e13c19.jpg

Mr C.G. Grey called it a Mexican Monoplane in 1919.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....26f4a6341c.jpg
Whereas the Russians call it the TNCA Series H...

TNCA Serie H

It is indeed - a Mexican built bomber - I think someone has built a replica -

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b41e61383e.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....606222d6db.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f61af0dc61.jpg

Cheers!



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e4e96c4611.png

Collar & tie - a gentleman then.....................

Yes, rather dapper looking fellow with an intense posture - and the aircraft firmly on the ground.
Fighter from the USA - with a convoluted designation, based on a well known design.
Very famous manufacturer.

Possibly Boeing?

Sorry mate, not Boeing.