Lafay Rio de Janeiro

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

Rio de Janeiro
Role Experimental 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
  1. Pereira, Roberto (1986). História da Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil 1910-1976. Vol. 1. São Paulo: Editora Aquarius. p. 16. ISBN 9788585262693.
  2. "O Avião Nacional". Jornal do Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro. 19 May 1920. Retrieved 14 Mar 2022.
  3. "O Aeroplano Construido Pelo Capitão Lafay" [As Primeiras Experiências de Voo, Amanhã]. A Noite (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 May 1920. Retrieved 14 Mar 2022.
  4. "No Campo dos Affonsos" [Experiência de Um Aeroplano Nacional]. Jornal do Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro. 19 May 1920. Retrieved 16 Mar 2022.
  5. "Um Avião Quasi Todo de Material Nosso". Correio da Manhã (Brazil) (in Brazilian Portuguese). 27 Apr 1920. Retrieved 14 Mar 2022.
  6. "Os Progressos da Aviação Nacional" [O Capitão Lafay da Missão Franceza, e o seu novo avião, construido no Brasil]. Gazeta de Notícias (in Brazilian Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro. 12 May 1920. Retrieved 16 Mar 2022.

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