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The Sage Type 4 was a prototype British floatplane of the First World War. It was a designed as a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft for the Royal Naval Air Service, but was chosen for service as a floatplane trainer, although the end of the war resulted in production being cancelled.

Sage Type 4
Role	Floatplane Type of aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Frederick Sage & Company
First flight	3 July 1917
Number built	2
Developed from	Sage Type 3

Design and development

In early 1917, the Peterborough based woodworking company of Frederick Sage & Company designed a two-seat patrol floatplane for the Royal Naval Air Service based on Sage's Type 3 landplane trainer. Like the Type 3, the new design, the Sage Type 4, was a single-engined biplane. Pilot and observer sat in separate tandem cockpits, with the pilot occupying the front cockpit, while the wireless operator/observer sat in the rear cockpit, with both crew members having good visibility. The aircraft was powered by a single 150 hp (112 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8 water-cooled V-8 engine in the nose driving a tractor propeller. Undercarriage consisted of two main floats under the wing the a further tail float.[1][2][3]

The prototype Sage Type 4a (serial number N.116[4]) first flew on 3 July 1917.[5] The type demonstrated excellent handing during testing, being capable both of flying aerobatic manoeuvres while still being stable enough to be easily flown "hands-off".[6] Despite this, the type was rejected for service as a patrol aircraft, but it was recommended that it instead be adapted into a float-plane trainer. The aircraft was fitted with dual controls and the engine mounting was modified to allow any one of a variety of 200 hp (149 kW) engines to be fitted. N.116 was converted to the new standard, being fitted with a Sunbeam Arab and flew as the Sage Type 4b on 17 May 1918.[5]

Sage also designed a revised version, the Sage Type 4c with folding wings of increased wingspan (39 ft 7+1⁄4 in (12.07 m) compared with 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) for the earlier aircraft and powered by a 200 hp Hispano Suiza engine, with a prototype flying on 12 October 1918.[7]

Both the Type 4b and 4c were adopted as standard training floatplanes for the RNAS, but the end of the First World War resulted in production plans being abandoned.[7][nb 1]

Variants

Type 4a

Two-seat patrol seaplane, powered by 150 hp (110 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8A engine. One prototype built. Converted to Type 4b.[1]

Type 4b

Two seat floatplane trainer, powered by 200 hp (150 kW) Sunbeam Arab engine. Converted from Type 4a.[5]

Type 4c

Revised floatplane trainer with folding wings. Powered by 200 hp (150 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8B engine. One example built.[7]

Specifications (Sage 4c)

Data from British Aeroplanes 1914–18[9]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
• Wingspan: 39 ft 7.25 in (12.0714 m)
• Height: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
• Wing area: 386 sq ft (35.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,215 lb (1,005 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,875 lb (1,304 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 35+1⁄2 imp gal (42.6 US gal; 161 L)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8B water cooled V8 engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
• Propellers: single blade two bladed propeller, 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter

Performance

• Maximum speed: 97.2 mph (156.4 km/h, 84.5 kn) at 3,000 ft (910 m)
• Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn) (landing speed)[6]
• Endurance: 2 h 30 min
• Service ceiling: 13,700 ft (4,200 m)
• Time to altitude:
  
  • 8 min to 5,000 ft (1,520 m)
  • 21 min 20 s to 10,000 ft (3,050 m)

See also

Related development

• Sage Type 3

Related lists

• List of flying boats and floatplanes

Notes

References

Bibliography

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