| C.40 | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Autogyro Type of aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | British Aircraft Manufacturing Company |
| Designer | J.A.J. Bennett |
| First flight | 1938 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 9 |
| Developed from | Cierva C.30 |
TheCierva C.40 was a Britishautogyro designed by G.B.L. Ellis, Otto Reder, and Dr.J.A.J Bennett and was assembled by theBritish Aircraft Manufacturing Company atLondon Air Park, Hanworth.[1][2]
The C.40 was the last autogiro produced by theCierva Autogiro Company, Ltd. Design commenced in July 1936 and continued after Cierva's death in an airliner crash in December of that year. Based on the C.30A Autogiro the C.40 was originally intended to use a higher power version of theArmstrong Siddeley Genet Major engine. Utilizing the lessons of autodynamic rotor development underway since 1933, the C.40 rotor included three flexible blades to suppress vibration and were attached to the rotor hub through inclined flap and drag hinges to give jump-takeoff capability. It had two side-by-side seats in a wooden fuselage and the production version was powered by aSalmson 9NG radial engine, problems with which delayed introduction of the C.40 into service until mid-1938.[1]
In 1938 theBritish Aircraft Manufacturing Company assembled nine C.40s atLondon Air Park, Hanworth, and seven were delivered to theRoyal Air Force.[2] The remaining two were registered to the Cierva Autogiro Company, one was lost in France in June 1940, and the other was impressed into RAF service.[2]
Data from[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Related lists
