The VG 39 development in the VG 30 series of fighters commenced its flight test programme on 3 May 1940. The prototype differed from the VG 33 mainly by having a 1200hp Hispano-Suiza Type 89ter 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with an elongated propeller shaft, a revised wing structure, and a wing-mounted armament of six 7.5mm MAC 1934 M39 machine guns. During flight testing the prototype VG 39 attained a maximum speed of 625km/h at an altitude of 5750m. The planned production model, the VG 39bis, was to have embodied a fuselage similar to that of the VG 36 and to have supplemented the wing armament with a 20mm engine-mounted cannon, the definitive model having a 1600hp Hispano-Suiza 12Z engine.
VG 39 Wingspan: 10.80 m / 35 ft 5 in Length: 8.75 m / 28 ft 8 in Wing area: 14.00 sq.m / 150.69 sq ft Max. speed: 625 km/h / 388 mph
Developments of the VG 33 under test in 1940 included the VG 34, flown on 20 January 1940 with a 910hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y45 engine, and the VG 35 with a 1000hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y51 which flew on 25 February 1940. The VG.35 attained a maximum speed of 575km/h at 6200m during tests, and the airframes and armament of both the VG 34 and VG 35 were identical to those of the VG 33. The VG 36 flown on 14 May 1940, had the 1000hp HS12Y51 of the VG 35, but included some redesign of the rear fuselage with a shallower, wider faired radiator bath. Armament of the VG 36 comprised one 20mm HS 404 cannon and four 7.5mm MAC 1934 M39 machine guns.
VG 36 Wingspan: 10.80 m / 35 ft 5 in Length: 8.10 m / 26 ft 7 in Height: 3.31 m / 10 ft 10 in Wing area: 14.00 sq.m / 150.69 sq ft Max. speed: 590 km/h / 367 mph Ceiling: 7000 m / 22950 ft Range: 1100 km / 684 miles
A derivative of the VG 30, the VG 31, differed by having the radiator bath moved aft to improve the C of G, and having a smaller wing of 12.00 sq.m. It was proposed to power this development with an 860hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y31 12- cylinder liquid-cooled engine, but the prototype was never assembled. The VG 32 reverted to the original wing and was powered by a 1,040hp Allison V-1710- C15 engine, but the prototype was captured by German forces at Villacoublay two weeks before its scheduled maiden flight in 1940. The first development of the basic design to fly was the VG 33, on 24 May 1939. A production contract for 220 examples was placed in September 1939, this contract eventually being increased to 1,000 machines, but only 19 had been completed by the Chantiers Aero-Maritimes de la Seine by the fall of France. The VG 33 was armamed with one 20mm Hispano-Suiza 404 cannon and four 7.5mm MAC 1934 M39 machine guns, and was powered by an 860hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y31 engine.
VG.33 Engine: 860hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y31 Take-off weight: 2720 kg / 5997 lb Empty weight: 1800 kg / 3968 lb Wingspan: 10.80 m / 35 ft 5 in Length: 8.55 m / 28 ft 1 in Height: 3.35 m / 10 ft 12 in Wing area: 14 sq.m / 150.69 sq ft Max. speed: 558 km/h / 347 mph Cruise speed: 487 km/h / 303 mph Ceiling: 11000 m / 36100 ft Range: 1200 km / 746 miles
The VG 30 had a wooden stressed-skin construction and was intended to be powered by a Potez 12 Dc “flat-twelve” air-cooled engine of 610hp at 1000m and mounting a 20mm Hispano motor cannon. Designed by Ingenieur-General Vernisse and Jean Galtier the VG 30 single-seat fighter was built by the Arsenal de l’Aeronautique and was evolved to compete with the Caudron C.713 to meet a lightweight interceptor requirement. A full-scale mock-up of the VG 30 was exhibited at the Exposition Internationale in Paris in the summer of 1936 but development was delayed by the non-availability of the Potez 12 Dc engine. The prototype was eventually flown at Villacoublay on 1 October 1938 with a 690hp Hispano- Suiza 12 Xcrs 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. The VG 30 proved faster than the Morane-Saulnier 406 and, in July 1939, allegedly attained 805km/h in a dive between 4000m and 2000m. Proposed armament comprised one 20mm Hispano- Suiza 404 cannon and four 7.5mm MAC machine guns. Development was abandoned in favour of the VG 33.
VG 30 Wingspan: 10.80 m / 35 ft 5 in Length: 8.40 m / 27 ft 7 in Height: 3.31 m / 10 ft 10 in Wing area: 14.00 sq.m / 150.69 sq ft
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
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
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
Shortly after the war, Arnoux took up his work again. In 1919/1920, he constructed from components of war-time airplanes a tailless biplane ; it was motorized by a 130 hp rotary engine and had vertical rudder surfaces behind the pilot at both sides of the short nacelle. During 1922, a number of successful flights were made with this biplane. After modification to a single-rudder, it was demonstrated with success to the French aviation authorities, and the results of the tests were so promising that the “Société des Avions Simplex” firm was formed for the further development. The biplane was, however, destroyed in a crash in which the pilot, Fétu, sustained severe injuries.
