avia.wikisort.org - Aeroplane

The Rio de Janeiro was a Brazilian single-engine, biplane utility aircraft.[1][2][3][4]

Rio de Janeiro
Role	Experimental aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	Brazil
Manufacturer	Lage & Irmãos
Designer	Louis Etienne Lafay
First flight	18 May 1920
Number built	1

Design and development

It was based on the Caudron G.3. Built almost entirely of wood and canvas, it had three seats.[1] It has a Gnome et Rhône engine, of the push–pull configuration, with a fixed pitch propeller made of wood.[1] The reinforced landing gear included four wheels and two fixed skids, with a rear skid. It was nicknamed Cochon (in English: Hog).[5]

Operational history

First flew daily, since the first flight, and was maintained without any changes, which proved its safety. Moreover, since its departure from the Lage & Irmãos workshops, it had already transported 200 passengers and made a Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo air bridge trip. Another important factor is that with two passengers on board, it reached an altitude of 2000 meters in 22 minutes.[6]

Specifications

Data from Pereira (1986)[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3
• Length: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)
• Upper wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 25 m² (270 sq ft)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Λ80 Lambda 7-cylinder rotary engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
• Propellers: 2 fixed-pitch propeller-bladed

Performance

• Service ceiling: 2,200 m (7,200 ft)

References

Further reading

• Susana Alexandria, 1910 - O Primeiro Voo do Brasil, Ed. Aleph, São Paulo, 2010. ISBN 978-85-7657-095-0.

External links

• Lafay Rio de Janeiro (Brazilian Air Force)

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