In the same category as the Grunau Baby, the SA 103 Emouchet (or Kestrel) single-seat elementary training glider and the very similar SA 104 was designed and built just after the war by Arsenal de I’Aeronautique and went into large-scale production at Chatillon-sous-Bagneux for the French National Gliding Centres and clubs; some were also built by Societe Roche-Aviation.
Of conventional wood and fabric construction, the Emouchet has a parasol wing with metal bracing struts and no air brakes or spoilers. The cockpit is an open one and landing gear consists of a landing skid under the forward fuselage and a tail bumper fairing. The fuselage itself is of hexagonal cross-section and the tailplane is set forward of the diminutive fin and large rudder.
SA103 Span: 41ft 2.5 in Length: 20ft 11 in Wing area: 178.6 sq.ft Empty weight: 260 lb Max weight: 385 lb Normal gliding speed: 36 mph
This French high performance single-seater was designed and produced just after the war by Arsenal de I’Aeronautique.
The Air 100 was designed for the French National Gliding Centres and clubs, and was a cantilever high wing monoplane of mainly spruce and plywood construction. The 18m span wing featured slotted ailerons and spoiler-type flaps, and the landing gear consisted of a central monowheel with a landing skid fore and aft of it, plus a tail skid.
An Air 100 flown by Eric Nessler set up a new French record for distance in a straight line of 311 miles (501 km) at Wichita Falls, USA, on 14 July 1947.
The final production version was the Air 102.
Air 100 Span: 59ft 0 in Length: 26ft 4 in Wing area: 194 sq.ft Aspect ratio: 18.0 Empty weight: 535 lb Max weight: 745 lb Normal gliding speed: 39.7 mph
Established in 1936 in old Breguet factory at Villacoublay. Products were generally designated by initials of Vernisse (director) and Galtier (designer). VG 30 was lightweight fighter; VG 33 a more powerful development (200 ordered and many being assembled by June 1940). Arsenal-Delanne 10 was unorthodox tandem monoplane two-seater, flown 1941. Experimental work on fast and unorthodox aircraft resumed after war, when VB 10 fighter with tandem piston engines and contrarotating propellers was flown. VG 70 had German Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet; VG 90 was naval jet fighter; 5.501 a pilotless aircraft; 0.101 a research monoplane for testing aerofoil sections, spoilers, etc. After 1954 became SFECMAS (Societe Frangaise de Construction de Materiaux Speciaux). Arsenal joined SNCAN in 1955.
The 1934 Sport F prototype NC12581 was powered by a 82hp Arrow (dextrorotatory Ford V-8 conversion).
Arrow Sport F Cockpit and motor
Seventeen production models were built in 1936 under ATC 601, and 87 under ATC 613 and 2-531 with a redesigned wing root and optional cockpit canopy in 1938, including one Sport M.
The original price was $1,500. Other motors used were Detroit Air Cat, Anzani, Genet, Kinner, and Velie.
Arrow Sport M N18764
One Sport M prototype was built in 1938, NX/N18764, priced at $2,330, raised to $3,750. The series was discontinued.
Sport F Wingspan: 36’7″ Length: 21’4″ Useful load: 503 lb Max speed: 100 mph Cruise: 90 mph Stall: 45 mph Range: 300 mi Seats: 2
Sport M Engine: 125hp Menasco C-4 Useful load: 603 lb Max speed: 120 mph Cruise: 105 mph Stall: 48 mph Range: 300 mi Seats: 2
In late 1920s three models of two-seat sport or training biplane (the Arrow Sport and Arrow Sport Pursuit) were being made with steel-tube airframe and wooden wings. The wings were fully cantilever, but have interplane struts to comply with FAA regulations.
Designed by Swen Swanson in 1926, the two-seater had a side-by-side cockpit and no interplane struts. The wing was attached directly to the top of the fuselage, but cosmetic struts were later added to allay the concern of pilots.
The 1928 model offered 60hp Detroit Air Cat and Anzani engines.
About 100 of the Arrow A-2-160 Sport were built, powered by a 60 hp Le Blond engine. The original price was $3485.
Arrow Sport N220K
The only 1929 Sport Pursuit (ATC 2-110) built, N853H, was priced at $3,485 and renamed Sport K in 1935.
Sport Engine: 35hp Anzani Wingspan: 25’6″ Length: 19’3″ Seats: 2
Arrow A-2-160 Sport Engine: 60 hp Le Blond Prop: Hartzelll 6 ft 10 in / 12.08 m dia. Wingspan: 25 ft 10 in / 7.87 m Length: 19 ft 4 in / 5.89 m Empty weight: 900 lb / 408 kg Max weight: 1260 lb / 572 kg Cruise: 75 mph Seats: 2
Sport K Engine: 100hp Kinner K-5 Wingspan: 25’10” Length: 19’6″ Useful load: 596 lb Max speed: 110 mph Cruise: 95 mph Stall: 35 mph Seats: 2
1926: Arrow Aircraft & Motors Corp Lincoln NB. USA In late 1920s made three models of two-seat sport or training biplane (the Arrow Sport and Arrow Sport Pursuit). Standard type of 1935 was Model F two-seat low-wing monoplane with Ford V-8 converted automobile engine, awarded contract by the Bureau of Air Commerce.
1936: Arrow Airplane & Motor Corp 4133 North 56 St Lincoln NB pres: Mark W Woods
1940: Bankruptcy, taken over by State Securities financial group.
Designed by A.C. Thornton at Leeds, the Arrow Active I G-ABIX, a single-seat all metal biplane, was first flown in 1931. Powered by a 115 hp Cirrus Hermes IIB engine it had a top speed of 140 mph.
The second aircraft G-ABVE had a 120 hp Gipsy III engine and flew for the first time early in 1932. It was distinguished by a raised top wing and taller undercarriage. G-ABIX caught fire and was destroyed on 20 September 1935, the pilot parachuting to safety.
No other examples were built.
Active II Engine: 120 hp Gipsy III Wingspan: 24 ft AUW: 1325 lb 144 mph
UK Largely designed by A. C. Thornton (responsible for Blackburn Bluebird of 1924), the Arrow Active 1 of 1931 was a single-seat all-metal aerobatic biplane with military-training potential. Active 2 of 1932 was re-engined and had new center-section; but though company made aircraft components it built no airplanes in quantity.
M.B.Arpin & Co of West Drayton, Britain, started the Arpin A-1, desiged by Morris Arpin, in 1937. A two-seat cabin monoplane powered by a pusher Salmson AD.9R, with MacLaren crosswind tricycle undercarriage.
The Arpin A-1 was of wooden construction and plywood covered. The empennage was carried on a pair of diamond cross section booms mounted on the rear wing spar at the edge of the centre section. The fins were tall, with a slight extension below the boom and carrying unbalanced rudders. The booms were at wing height but the side by side two seat enclosed cabin sat on the wing with the uncowled 68 hp (51 kW) British Salmson AD.9R radial immediately behind, with its centre line well above the booms and tailplane. The pusher arrangement and a short nose provided good visibility from the cabin.
The Arpin had a fixed tricycle undercarriage at a time when most aircraft used the tailwheel configuration. It was the first British aircraft to be designed for tricycle landing gear. In 1938 a very unusual McClaren type was fitted, which allowed all three wheels to be turned parallel to each other but not to the aircraft, so that cross wind landings could be made with the aircraft pointing into wind. The front wheel could be left to caster or could be steered by the pilot.
Only one A-1 was built at the company works at Longford, London, registered G-AFGB cn.1, the only one built first flew at Hanworth Aerodrome on 7 May 1938.
It was converted to Mk.2 in 1939 with a Blackburn Cirrus Minor 1 engine for Army evaluation, delivered in December 1939 to the School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum, but not adopted. The Cirrus Minor I raised the maximum speed to 115 mph (185 km/h).
The A-1 survived WW2 to be broken up in 1946.
Powerplant: 1 × British Salmson AD.9R, 68 hp (51 kW) Wingspan: 31 ft 6 in (9.61 m) Wing area: 165 sq ft (15.3 m2) Length: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m) Height: 7 ft 1 in (2.13 m) Empty weight: 740 lb (336 kg) Gross weight: 1,261 lb (573 kg) Maximum speed: 108 mph (173 km/h, 94 kn) Cruise speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn) Endurance: 5 hours Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s) Crew: one, pilot Capacity: one passenger
At West Drayton, Middlesex, UK, built during 1937-1938 a two-seat pusher cabin monoplane, the A-1, with MacLaren crosswind tricycle undercarriage. Re-engined 1939 for Army evaluation, but not adopted.
