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The Austin A.F.T.3 Osprey was a prototype British fighter triplane of the First World War. Developed by the motor car manufacturer Austin as a replacement to the Sopwith Camel, only one was built, the Sopwith Snipe being preferred.

A.F.T.3 Osprey
Role Fighter aircraft
National origin British
Manufacturer Austin Motor Company
First flight 1918
Status Prototype
Number built 1

Development and design


In 1917, Britain's War Office issued Specification A.1.A for a single-seat fighter to replace the Sopwith Camel. To meet this requirement, the Austin Motor Company, already a large scale manufacturer of aircraft to Royal Aircraft Factory designs, produced its own design for a single-engined triplane, the A.F.T.3 Osprey, receiving a licence to build three prototypes as a private venture.[1]

The Osprey was of conventional wood and fabric construction, with single-bay triplane wings. It was powered by a Bentley BR2 rotary engine, and featured the required armament of two Vickers machine guns and a single Lewis gun. The synchronised Vickers guns were mounted ahead of the pilot, while the Lewis gun was mounted on a movable mounting on the centre section of the middle wing, where it had a very limited field of fire, with the large diameter propeller blocking any forward fire.[2] Like a similar gun mounted on the Snipe it would probably have been deleted had the type gone into production.

The first Osprey flew in February 1918,[3] being tested at Martlesham Heath in March.[3][4] It was heavier than expected, and its performance was inferior to Sopwith's Snipe. When the Snipe was selected as the winner of the competition for the new fighter, Austin abandoned development of the Osprey, with the second and third prototypes not completed.[3][5] The first prototype was briefly used for trials at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough until at least June 1918.[6]


Specifications


Data from British Aeroplanes 1914-18 [4]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament


See also


Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era


Notes


  1. Mason 1992, p.128.
  2. Bruce 1965, p.27.
  3. Bruce 1965, p.28.
  4. Bruce 1957, p.33.
  5. Mason 1992, p.273.
  6. Bruce 1965, p.29.

References





На других языках


- [en] Austin Osprey

[fr] Austin Osprey Triplane

L 'Austin Osprey Triplane est un chasseur triplan monoplace britannique de la Première Guerre mondiale également connu comme Austin A.F.T.3



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