Parnall Panther

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parnall_Panther

The Parnall Panther was a British carrier based spotter and reconnaissance
aircraft designed and developed by Parnall and Sons in the latter years of World
War I, continuing in service until 1926. A total of 150 Panthers were built by
Bristol Aeroplane Company since after the end of World War I Parnall had stopped
aircraft manufacture.

The Parnall Panther was designed by Harold Bolas, who had joined Parnall and
Sons after leaving the Admiralty's Air Department, where he had served as deputy
chief designer under Harris Booth. It was planned to meet the requirements of
Admiralty Specification N.2A for a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft capable of
operating from aircraft carriers. The first prototype, (serial N91) flew in
1917, with a further five prototypes being produced.

The Panther was a wooden, single-bay biplane, which, unusually for the time, was
fitted with a birch plywood monocoque fuselage which could be folded for
shipboard storage, the fuselage being hinged aft of the observer's cockpit. The
pilot and observer were seated in individual cockpits in the deep fuselage, this
giving a good view for landing, but restricting access to the pilot's cockpit.
Inflatable flotation airbags were fitted beneath the wings to keep the aircraft
afloat in the event of ditching into the sea, with a hydrovane fitted in front
of the undercarriage in order to stop the aircraft nosing over.

Role
Carrier-based reconnaissance

Manufacturer
Parnall and Sons

Designer
Harold Bolas

First flight
1917

Introduction
1919

Retired
1926

Primary users
Fleet Air Arm
IJN Air Service
United States Navy

Number built
155

After evaluation, an order for 300 Panthers was placed with Parnall in 1918.
However, this was reduced to 150 following the end of the year. Parnall, which
had been purchased by W. & T. Avery Ltd. rejected this reduction in the order,
so the order was transferred to the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the order being
completed between 1919 and 1920.

The Panther served with Spotter Reconnaissance Flights aboard the aircraft
carriers HMS Argus and HMS Hermes. While the Panthers handled well in the air,
the elderly Bentley engines proved unreliable, and the system of longitudinal
arrestor wires in use aboard British aircraft carriers at the time, was
unsatisfactory, resulting in many accidents. Panthers continued in service with
the Fleet Air Arm until 1926, being replaced by the Fairey IIID.

Twelve Panthers were sold to the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1921–22, with two
being sold to the US Navy in 1920.

Specifications

General characteristics
Crew: two
Length: 24 ft 11 in (7.60 m)
Wingspan: 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Wing area: 336 ft² (31.2 m²)
Empty weight: 1,328 lb (602 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,595 lb (1,177 kg)
Folded length: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Powerplant: 1 × Bentley BR2 rotary engine, 230 hp (172 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 94 knots (108.5 mph, 175 km/h) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m)
Range: 417 nm (480 mi, 773 km )
Service ceiling: 14,500 ft (4,420 m)
Endurance: 4½ hours
Climb to 2,000 ft (610 m): 2 min 20 sec

Armament

Guns: One .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun in observers cockpit




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