Towle TA-2

The Towle TA-2 was an amphibious aircraft based on the T owle WC built for a 1929 round-the world flight.

TA-2
Role Amphibious aircraft
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Towle Aircraft Company
Designer Thomas Towle
First flight 7 November 1929
Introduction 1929
Developed from Towle WC

Development

Thomas Towle was an engineer that had been involved with many early aircraft designs. Having just co-designed the Eastman E-2 Sea Rover and the Towle WC. Towle found funding to create a new entity, the Towle Aircraft Company to produce the TA-2.[1]

Design

The TA-2 featured an corrugated aluminum hull. The wings were all metal with internal stiffeners, rather than ribs, based loosely on the Ford Trimotor, which Towle worked on previously. The twin Wright R-540 engines sat on small pylons on top of the shoulder mounted wing.[2][3] Two floats were mounted directly below the engine pylons which incorporated the hydraulically actuated landing gear.[4] The prototype was originally designed for 165 hp Wright 540 engines.[5]

Operational history

The TA-2 was tested in Lake St. Clair on 7 November 1929 by test pilot George Pond and James Bradley. It broke up on takeoff and sank to the bottom of the lake.[6] The aircraft appears to have been rebuilt as a Towle TA-2 was reported to have visited Lympne Airport, Kent, United Kingdom in February 1930.[3] The wing from the prototype was salvaged and used on the next iteration, the Towle TA-3.

Variants

Specifications

Data from Flight, 14 February 1930, pp215-16.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 5 passengers
  • Length: 33 ft (10 m)
  • Wingspan: 47 ft 9 in (14.55 m)
  • Wing area: 292 sq ft (27.1 m2)
  • Gross weight: 4,420 lb (2,005 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 90 US gallons (340 l; 75 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-540 radial, 165 hp (123 kW) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 117 kn (135 mph, 217 km/h)
  • Range: 600 nmi (690 mi, 1,100 km)
  • Wing loading: 15.15 lb/sq ft (74.0 kg/m2)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Robert F. Pauley. Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers.
  2. E. R. Johnson. American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history. p. 324.
  3. "An Interesting American Amphibian". Flight. No. 14 February 1930. p. 215.
  4. "Patent 188833" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  5. "AN INTERESTING AMERICAN AMPHIBIAN The Towle All-Metal T-2". Flight. 14 Feb 1930. p. 216.
  6. Skyways: 56. January 1999. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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