Antoinette VII

VII
300px
Antoinette VII example showing seating arrangement for two
Role	Experimental aircraft
Manufacturer	Antoinette
Designer	Léon Levavasseur
First flight	1909

The Antoinette VII was an early French aircraft, flown in 1909.

History

The VII was a further development of the Antoinette IV, with increased engine power and using a wing warping system developed by Levavasseur for the Antoinette V in place of the Antoinette IV's ailerons.

With this aircraft, Levavasseur hoped that Antoinette test pilot Hubert Latham would be able to make the crossing of the English Channel that he had previously attempted in the Antoinette IV and claim the Daily Mail prize then on offer. As it happened, the Antoinette VII's first flight took place on 25 July 1909, the same day that Louis Blériot succeeded in crossing the channel in his Blériot XI. Undaunted, Latham made the attempt anyway on 27 July. Unfortunately, the result was the same, with Latham making a forced landing this time within sight of the English coast only 1.6 km (0.99 mi) away. He and the aircraft were rescued by HMS Russell.

Latham's Antoinette VII

The following month, Latham flew the same aircraft at the Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne, winning the prize for altitude (155 m, 509 ft) and coming second in the contest for the fastest circuit, with a speed of 68.9 km/h, 42.8 mph

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot (later versions after 1910 could accommodate one passenger)
• Length: 11.50 m (37 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 12.80 m (42 ft 0 in)
• Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 50 m² (538 ft²)
• Gross weight: 590 kg (1,300 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Antoinette 8V, 37 kW (50 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 70 km/h (44 mph)

See also

• Antoinette III
• Antoinette IV
• Antoinette V
• Antoinette VI

External links

• Antoinette VII en Argentina

References

• World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing: London. File 889 Sheet 63.