Era

da Silva I

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In 1909, Abeillard Gomes da Silva, was in Beira in the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. Working there, at customs, was Abeillard Gomes da Silva, who that year had the opportunity to visit Europe during a holiday. At his own expense, he set off for France with an interest in heavier-than-air flight.

Upon arriving in France, he promptly spent 23,000 francs to build an airplane of his own invention: the Gomes da Silva I. A biplane configuration with its engine – a 25 to 28 hp Anzani – placed behind the pilot, it had a three-lever control system: a central lever for the rear directional rudders, and the other two for the altitude rudders, placed on either side of the pilot and which could either function together or separately. Enrolled in the Juvisy Aviation Fortnight (Grande Quinzaine d’Aviation), organised by the Société d’Encouragement à l’Aviation, it seems that Gomes da Silva was eventually disqualified due to a “21-day delay in the delivery of the engine”. The craft had been tested at the Issy-les-Moulineaux airfield and was not able to take off.

Gomes da Silva I
Wingspan: 7 m
Length: 6.5 m
Weight: 250 kg

da Silva, Abeillard Gomes

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In 1909, Abeillard Gomes da Silva, was in Beira in the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. Working there, at customs, was Abeillard Gomes da Silva, who that year had the opportunity to visit Europe during a holiday. At his own expense, he set off for France with an interest in heavier-than-air flight.

Upon arriving in France, he promptly spent 23,000 francs to build an airplane of his own invention: the Gomes da Silva I.

Gomes da Silva died in Mozambique in 1930, and holds the distinction of being a Portuguese air pioneer, as evidenced not only by his invention, but also by the title of honorary member of the Aéro-Club de France and by his pilot’s licence, obtained in Germany during his European tour.

D’Ascanio Helicopter

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In 1928 in Italy, Corradino D’Ascanio built a helicopter with two 13m counter-rotating coaxial rotors, each with a trailing elevator which could be used to vary the rotor blade angle of attack. Two small propellers at the ends of extra arms were used for additional control. Powered by a 95hp Fiat engine, the craft set three Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) world records on October 8, 1930: an altitude of 18m, a distance of 1078m, and endurance of 8 minutes and 45 seconds.
D’Ascanio worked for the Piaggio company, and designed also the Vespa scooter.

Engine: 1 x Fiat A-505, 95-100hp
Rotor diameter: 13-15m
Take-off weight: 800kg
Achieved height: 18m
Achieved endurance: 8min 45s

Dart Manufacturing Dart / Lambert Aircraft Corporation Monoprep G / Monosport G / Mono Aircraft Corp Monoprep G / Monosport G

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Dart GK

Dart Manufacturing Co was formed 1937 at Columbus, Ohio, to manufacture Dart G two-seat light aircraft. This was a version of the aircraft known originally as the Monosport, designed and built by the Mono Aircraft Corporation. Taken over by Culver Aircraft Company of Columbus in 1939.

Mooney, while working for Monocoupe, designed the Monoprep G which was a low wing monoplane with an open cockpit, seating two side by side. Given a cabin enclosure it became the Monosport G and was to have gone into production in October 1935, but financial problems prevented this.

One was built in 1935, registered NX11791. Power was a 90 Lambert.

Al Mooney left Monocoupe and bought the design and production rights from Lambert Aircraft. He teamed up with K K Culver and they formed the Dart Aircraft Co at Port Columbus, Ohio, in 1939. Several uncompleted airframes were modified to produce an improved version to be known as the Dart. This was certificated in April 1938 as ATC 674.

About fifty Dart Aircraft Co Darts were produced before the war, using one of three engines, the 90hp Lambert R 266 in the model G, the 90hp Ken Royce in the model GK and the 90hp Warner Scarab Junior in the model GW.

Model G

Production of the Model G commenced in 1938 powered by a 90 hp Lambert R-266 radial, and the Model GC was produced in 1939 by a 100 hp Continental engine.

Dart GW N20918

In 1939 the company became the Culver Aircraft Co, and produced the new Culver Cadet. The Dart was not finished, however as rights were acquired by Applegate & Weyant in 1946 and the Dart DC with a 100hp Continental was built. Competition from newer models was too great and only about twelve were sold.

Model G
Engine: 90 hp Lambert R-266
Wing span: 29 ft 6 in
Length: 18 ft 6 in
Height: 7 ft 9 in
Empty weight: 922 lb
Loaded weight: 1550 lb
Max speed: 130 mph
Cruise: 115 mph
ROC: 900 fpm
Range: 500 mi

Model GC
Engine: 100 hp Continental

Model GK
Engine: 90hp Ken Royce

Model GW
Engine: 90hp Warner Scarab Junior

Dart Totternhoe

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A single-seat secondary glider designed and built by Dart Aircraft Ltd, Dunstable. Of conventional wooden construction, the braced wing had two struts on each side, and no air brakes or flaps were fitted.

The first glider had its test flights in May 1936.

Wing span: 11.8 m / 38 ft 8.5 in
Length: 6.55 m / 21 ft 6 in
Wing area: 17.84 sq.m / 192 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 7.75
Wing section: Gottingen 532
Empty weight: 117.94 kg / 260 lb
AUW: 208.66 kg / 460 lb
Wing loading: 11.71 kg/sq.m / 2.4 lb/sq.ft
Max L/D: 23 at 42 kph / 26 mph

Dart Cambridge

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A single-seat sailplane designed and built by Dart Aircraft Ltd, Dunstable, of conventional wooden construction.

It was similar to the German designed Grunau Baby but with a rounded monocoque fuselage. It featured strut-braced wings, with no flaps or airbrakes. The undercarriage was a main and tail skid.

The first flight of the prototype was at Dunstable, on 1 December 1935.

The Cambridge 2 was slightly lighter in weight, but with larger ailerons.

Wing span: 14.12 m / 46 ft 4 in
Length: 6.50 m / 21 ft 4 in
Wing area: 14.86 sq.m / 160 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 13.24
Wing section: Gottingen 535
Empty weight: 111.13 kg / 245 lb
AUW: 204.12 kg / 450 lb
Wing loading: 13.71 kg/sq.m / 2.81lb/sq.ft
Max L/D: 19
Stall: 42 kph / 26 mph
Min sink: 0.91 m/sec / 3 ft/sec

Dart Kitten

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The Dart Kitten Mk.I was a low wing, single seater, powered by a 27 hp Ava 4a-00 engine.

Dart Kitten Article

An improved Mk.II version, G-AEXT, was powered by a 36 hp Aeronca JAP J-99. Awarded an Authorisation to Fly in April 1937. The Kitten II passed through many owners and survived the war. G-AEXT crashed at Willindale in November 1964, killing the pilot. It was rebuilt and restored to the register in 1976.

Kitten II G-AEXT – 27 August 1939