Top speed 225 km/h Length 8.03 m | Wingspan 11 m Manufacturer Beagle Aircraft | |
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The Beagle A.109 Airedale was a British light civil aircraft developed in the 1960s.
Contents
Design and development
The Airedale was a four-seat, high-wing braced monoplane with a fixed, tricycle undercarriage. It was originally designated as the Auster D.8, which was based on the Auster C.6 Atlantic design, built and flown in 1958 (registration G-APHT). The first D.8 was in construction when Beagle Aircraft bought the Auster company in 1960. The performance of the Airedale, although faster than the D.6 on the same engine, was decidedly lacklustre, largely due to its comparatively high structural weight, and it was unable to compete in the market with its US competitors. Such competition was also hindered by the out-dated steel tube/fabric construction, compared to the all-metal Piper Cherokee and Cessna 172 designs. Beagle had retained the older construction method as development of monocoque techniques would have extended the design period; the Airedale itself took about four and a half months from starting on the design drawings to first flight.
Production of the A.109 Airedale ceased in 1965.
A single Airedale, the prototype (registration G-ARKE) was refitted with a Rolls-Royce-built Continental GO-300 so that it could be part of the SBAC Display at the 1961 Farnborough Airshow, as the standard Airedale was not eligible on account of its US-built engine. This model was designated A.111.
Specifications (A.109)
Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume I
General characteristics
Performance