Page 404 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

SEA AND AIR

Biplanes and triplanes

BIPLANES DOMINATED AIRCRAFT DESIGN until the 1930s, largely because
some early monoplanes (see pp. 400-401) were too fragile to withstand
the stresses of flight. The struts between biplanes’ wings made the Rudder hinge RAF Central
wings strong compared with those of early monoplanes, although Flying School
the greater surface area of biplanes’ wings increased drag and reduced badge
speed. Many aircraft designers also developed triplanes, which Rudder Fin
had a particular advantage over biplanes: more wings meant
Navigation
a shorter wingspan to achieve the same lifting power, and a
light
shorter wingspan gave greater manoeuvrability. Triplanes
were most successful as fighters during World War I, the German
Fokker triplane being a notable example. However, the greater
maneuverability of triplanes was no advantage for normal
flying and so most manufacturers continued to Elevator
make biplanes. Many other aircraft designs were Rudder
LAMINATED attempted. Some were quadruplanes, with four cable Tail plane
PROPELLER
pairs of wings. Some had tandem wings (two pairs Tailwheel
of monoplane wings, one behind the other). One of the most Bracing
bizarre designs was by the Englishman Horatio Phillips: strut
it had 20 sets of narrow wings and
looked rather like a Valve rocker
Venetian blind.
Air cooling
baffle Wing strut
SIDE VIEW OF AVRO
TRIPLANE IV, 1910 Magneto Fuel tank
Crankcase Throttle
breather pipe
Harness
Pilot’s
Directly seat
driven
propeller

Main front strut
to engine mount

Skid upper
bracing strut

Limit of
fuselage
skin
Rubber cord
suspension
Turnbuckle
Ash skid Axle
Skid rear strut
Rubber tire
Lateral bracing strut Wheel rim
Wire wheel

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