ACAZ C 2 AIRCRAFT
Version française
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ACAZ C 2 AIRCRAFT |
Version française |
Alfred Herrmann, pioneer of the Belgian aviation, built
in the
Twenties
the first Belgian two-seater, all-metal
biplane aircraft for hunting and reconnaissance in the 20s. It was called
ACAZ C2.
The plane was constructed under the aegis of Commander Fernand Jacquet, a hero
of the First World War, with the help of a handful of mechanics from Ostend and
some fishermen in a small workshop in the Zeebruge harbor. In use since 1923 for
the construction of aircraft, this workshop witnessed the creation in 1924 of
ACAZ (Ateliers de Contructions Aeronautique de Zeebruge) and then
of the ZACCO (Zeebruge Aeronautical Constructions Company) in 1926.
Intended for the Belgian Air Force, C2 was motorized by an Hispano-Suisa’s
engine 12 cylinders of 450 Hp in V
provided with
a light metal propeller Levasseur-Reed. It flew for the first time in 1926.
During its trial flights for the Belgian Air Force, the prototype was armed
with a Vickers
machine-gun drawing through the propeller for the pilot and with a two Lewis
twinned gone up on a turret 80 cm in diameter for the machine gunner,
place also being able equipped with cameras for the air
reconnaissance.
In 1927, the Belgian civil and military authorities decided to give up the
project, partially because of politico-economic reasons. If the plane had some interesting technical
characteristics as a simpler and faster construction and maintenance,
it proposed on the other hand certain performances too much lightly superior to Bréguet XIX A2 of which a
version of bombardment (versatility which did not offer C2), Bréguet XIX B2
had entered service three years earlier in Belgium and especially since these
two versions were made under license in Belgium from 1926.
On the 9th of March,1928, Second Lieutenant Edmond Thieffry, Warrant Officer
Joseph
Lang and Lieutenant Philippe Quersin -- all legendary figures of the First World
War -- failed in their attempt to fly C2 to the Congo; they had to make an
emergency landing before their first stopover.
Modifications :
Modifications made to C2
for the raid
Article :
"The new attempt to fly from
Brussels to Leopoldville"
Article :
"The baptism of the Princess
Astrid"
Article :
"Princess Astrid to leave in the
first days of March"
Article :
"Princess
Astrid did not depart for her flight from Belgium to the Congo"
Article : "Princesse Astrid
breaks the wings as of the first stage"
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C2 did not fly probably any more since this accident and was on erased register of the Belgian planes January 25, 1933.
Description and
characteristics of the aircraft
( Images and texts of the origin plans of 1925)
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Main advantages of this
aircraft The aircraft ACAZ, typifies C2 - engine Hispano-Suiza type 51-12H in V gives 462 cv at 1800 tr/mn (normal speed) - is a two-seater biplane of completely metal fight including the covering of wings. 1) Remarkable performances thus weapon of fight allowing to compete with the best foreign types. 2) Total visibility obtained by the gap of wings and bights to both plans ; the pilot and the machine gunner are in a small nacelle dominating the fuselage. By these means the pilot can see above and below the superior wing and the visibility on the sides of the fuselage is strikingly increased with regard to the other devices. Furthermore, being in the same nacelle, the pilot and the machine gunner can communicate easily. 3) Big handiness, the masses being strictly grouped. Gone up extra fast. 4) Several systems protecting the life of the occupants are foreseen: a) Gas tank with lid largable ACAZ system. b) Fire extinguisher. c) Parachute for pilot and machine gunner ; easy evacuation because of wings and of nacelle. d) Stiff nacelle forming frame of protection in case of accidents. 5) Solid but simple metal construction allowing a mass stake without excessive equipment. The metal construction allows the stay the bad weather without damages for the device. 6) Simple and fast regulation foreseen for the cell and the empennages. 7) Conception ahead of the current programs thus type of current aircraft for a big number of years. In summary : a beautiful war weapon ; fast, solid, handy and very elegant being able to compete and even outstrip all the existing devices or under construction ; prototype nowadays. |
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Characteristics |
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| Scale 12,5 m Dihedral of the superior wing 4° Dihedral of the lower wing 0° Way of the landing gear 2m Section of the fuselage to the boss couples: 0,9 x 1,38 m Total length 8,25 m Maximum height 3,4 m Surface superior wings (including ailerons) 21,36 m ² Surface lower wings (including ailerons) 19,2 m ² Carrying surface 40,56 m ² Total surface of 4 ailerons 4,88 m ² Total surface of the elevator 2,84 m ² Total surface of the static shot 2,94 m ² Total surface of the plan(shot) of drift 0,58 m ² Total surface of the rudder 0,985 m ² |
Outstrip graft plans
1,60 m Depth of wings (superiors and subordinates) 1,86 m Gap of wings 750 m/m Slope of wings with regard to the axis of fuselage + 3° Slope of the engine with regard to the axis of fuselage 0° Centring: parasol. Axis of drive of the engine below the centre of gravity. Little taken away centres, Stability in any slopes guarantee by the essays in the tunnel. Profile of wing ACAZ N 2 - very fine speed wing, the centre of pressure of which varies little (Conclusion of the essays in the laboratory). Charge at m ² : 46,9 kgr Charge at CV : 4,11 kgr |
Estimate of the Weights Wings, hut, checkmates and shrouds of wings with all the horseshoes, the ailerons 300 kg Fuselage 105 kg Empennages, govern 35 kg Atterrisseur complete 65 kg Weight of fuel for 3 1/2 the hour of flight ; gasoline(essence) 380 kg, oils 25 kg Vacuous engine + helix (without water) 435 kg Radiator + water total 105 kg Live weight (Pilot, machine gunner, equipment, armament, developments, T.S.F, parachutes) 350 kg Commands, tanks, divers and unforeseen 100 kg Total weight: 1900 kg Performances found by the essay in the tunnel of the model of the plane By the Belgian aerodynamic laboratory Maximum speed on the ground with full load 225 kph Minimum speed on the ground with full load 86 kph Radius of action 790 km. Ceiling 7400 m. Speed in the ceiling 155 kph |
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C2 model exists in scale 1/72 at Omega Models
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Contact :
roland.michau@wanadoo.fr
Last Update,
February 2010
