PlaneSpottingWorld welcomes all new members! Please gives your ideas at the Terminal.

Thomas Brothers S-4

From PlaneSpottingWorld, for aviation fans everywhere

The Thomas Brothers S-4 was an American biplane advanced trainer, operated by the Army and Navy.

Built by Thomas-Morse Aircraft in Bath, New York in 1917, it was a compact single-seat open-cockpit biplane of equal span and a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome rotary.[1]

Designed by Benjamin D. Thomas (the company’s head designer, no relation to the owners),[2] the S-4 made her maiden flight in June 1917 in the hands of Paul D. Wilson. [2] Twelve went to the Navy. [2]

The S-4B, with a 110 hp Gnome, span of 27’ (8.22 m), and length 20’3” (6.17 m)[2] proved more successful, with three prototypes followed by an order of 97 for the Army and ten for the Navy,[2][3] while six more were completed with two main and one tail floats as the Navy S-5. [1][4]

It was supplemented in 1918[2] by the S-4C, at a cost of US$5400 each.[2] Six prototypes were built,[2] and the 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome B-9 [2] was replaced by the "more reliable"[1] 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhône C-9.[2] with the fifty-second aircraft.[1] Four S-4Cs with floats went to the Navy, and 461 for the Army.[2]

A single aircraft was fitted with new tail and 110 hp (82 kW) Le Rhône, becoming the S-4E aerobatic trainer.[1] It was not adopted, and (fitted with a 135 hp {101 kW} Aeromarine V8]) became Basil Rowe‘s racer Space-Eater.[2]

About sixty surplus aircraft survive in civil service, most fitted with the Curtiss OX-5s.[2]

Specifications (S-4C, late production)

Template:Aerospecs

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Donald 1997, p.875
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Aerofiles retrieved 8 April 2008.
  3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named usnavyp471
  4. Swanborough and Bowers,1976, p.472.

Bibliography

  • Donald, David, ed. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, p.875, "Thomas Brothers and Thomas-Morse aircraft". Etobicoke, Ontario: Prospero Books, 1997.
  • Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London:Putnam, Second edition, 1976. ISBN 0 370 10054 9.

External links