Pioneers

A.V.I.A. 1909 Monoplane

TerryLeave a comment

This machine, the first monoplane of the “Ateliers Vosgiens d’Industrie Aéronautique”, was built in 1909, at Saint-Dié (Vosges). It was designed by Charles Roux and was displayed at the Exposition de la Locomotion Aérienne de Paris between 25 September and 17 October 1909. The engine was a 20 hp Dutheil & Chalmers.

Engine: Dutheil & Chalmers, 20 hp
Span: 23′
Length: 25’5″

Austro-Daimler 6

TerryLeave a comment

The Austro-Daimler 6 was a series of Austrian six-cylinder water-cooled inline aero engines first produced in 1910 by the Austro-Daimler company.

The first Austro-Daimler six-cylinder engine was designed by Dr-Ing Ferdinand Porsche to be an aircraft engine from the outset. Of high quality manufacture the Austro-Daimler was modestly rated at relatively low rpm, which gave the engine family a reputation for robustness and reliability.

Features of the Austro-Daimler included welded steel water jackets, (originally copper), seven main bearings and large diameter inclined inlet and exhaust valves opened by dual action push-pull rods and closed by spring pressure.

The Austro-Daimler inspired many imitators such as the Mercedes D.II, Benz Bz.IV, Beardmore, and Hiero 6. Modest availability of the Austro-Daimler engines forced some aircraft manufacturers to substitute Mercedes (the German Daimler company) engines in their aircraft, due to greater availability.

Variants:

Austro-Daimler 90 hp 6-cyl.
The original low capacity version developing 90 hp (67.11 kW), introduced in 1910.

Austro-Daimler 120 hp 6-cyl.
Up-rated with a capacity of 13.9 l (848.23 cu in), from 130 mm (5.12 in) bore and 175 mm (6.89 in) stroke, developing 120 hp (89.48 kW) at 1,200 rpm, introduced in 1911.

Austro-Daimler 160 hp 6-cyl.
developing 160 hp (119.31 kW), introduced in 1913.

Austro-Daimler 185 hp 6-cyl.
developing 185 hp (137.95 kW), introduced in 1916.

Austro-Daimler 200 hp 6-cyl.
Up-rated with a capacity of 15.03 l (917.19 cu in), from 135 mm (5.31 in) bore and 175 mm (6.89 in), developing 200 hp (149.14 kW) at 1,350 rpm, introduced in December 1916.

Austro-Daimler 210 hp 6-cyl.
210 hp (156.60 kW), introduced in late 1917.

Austro-Daimler 225 hp 6-cyl.
developing 225 hp (167.78 kW), introduced in 1918.

Applications:

Aviatik B.I
Aviatik B.II
Aviatik D.I
Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
Hansa-Brandenburg D.I
Lohner C.I

Specifications:

Austro-Daimler 120 hp
Type: 6-cylinder liquid-cooled inline engine
Bore: 130 mm (5.12 in)
Stroke: 175 mm (6.89 in)
Displacement: 13.9 L (850.5 cu in)
Length: 1,690 mm (66.5 in)
Width: 520 mm (20.47 in)
Height: 1,040 mm (41 in)
Dry weight: 320 kg (705 lb)
Fuel system: Carburetor
Power output: 120 hp at 1,200 RPM

Auffm-Ord 1908 Monoplane

TerryLeave a comment

Built in the Paris factory of the firm Frères Voisin and powered by a 7-cylinder 35 hp R.E.P. engine – the first of two monoplanes designed by the Swiss-born Clément Auffm-Ordt (often misspelled as Auffin-Ordt). This tractor monoplane had a unique solution to lateral stability, whereas the wing could be tilted as a whole, while a small center surface could be tilted separately. Preliminary tests began at the airfield at Buc on April 23, 1908 with little success, though promising enough to build a second machine, a pusher monoplane tested in Switzerland on the frozen lake near St. Moritz in early 1909 and abandoned after crashing from a height of six meters onto the ice. Although the machine seemed to be quite intact after its mishap nothing was heard from M. Aufmm-Ordt again, at least related to aviation.

Span: 26’3″

Audenis & Jacob

TerryLeave a comment

Charles Audenis (1889-1972) started his aviation career as a mechanic at Bron (Lyon, France). He qualified for his licence (no. 788) on a Farman in 1912. He built two machines together with his friend Jean Jacob in 1912-1913, in which he participated in several regional meetings in the Lyon area.