Gloster Survey

In 1926, the Aircraft Operating Company, an official contractor to the British Ordnance Survey for aerial survey work overseas, required a replacement for the converted Airco DH.9s that formed the majority of its fleet.

The requirements included maximum reliability, all-metal construction so that it could operate in the tropics or the arctic, a preference that it could be broken down into parts for transport.

It should be able to maintain height at 9,000 ft on a single engine while fully laden.

It approached the de Havilland Aircraft Company which prepared a design for a twin-engined biplane of metal construction, resembling a smaller version of the de Havilland Hercules to meet the specification, designated de Havilland DH.67.Jackson 1987, p. 275. However, de Havilland was busy with production of the Hercules and DH.60 Moth and in November 1928 it transferred the project to Gloster Aircraft Company.

The customers requirement was for an aircraft that could be converted to a seaplane and capable of surveying large areas while operating from a single base.

Under Folland, Gloster comprehensively redesigned the aircraft with changes in all dimensions and for its own construction methods, the resulting aircraft being designated as Gloster AS.31 Survey.Jackson 1987, p. 276.James 1971, pp. 190–191.

The Gloster Survey was a twin-engined biplane with a conventional landing gear and an open cockpit for two pilots, while a camera operator and survey camera could be accommodated in the enclosed cabin.Jackson 1974, p. 314James 1971, p. 192.

The entirety of the front portion of the floor of the aircraft was glazed for so that three cameras could be installed.

It was powered by two 525 hp (392 kW) Bristol Jupiter XI engines, mounted on top of each lower wing. Provision was made in the design to take alternative engines including the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar, Pratt & Whitney Hornet, Lorraine-Dietrich 14Asc and Wright Cyclone.James p192

In June 1929, the prototype Survey (G-AADO) made its first flight. It was handed over to the Aircraft Operating Company on 25 January 1930 on an occasion patronised by the Secretary (Lord Thomson) and Under-secretary for Air. It had the ability to fly effectively on the power of one engine alone.

On 20 March 1930, piloted by Alan S. Butler, it departed from Heston Aerodrome for a survey of Northern Rhodesia, covering the 7,000 miles at an average speed of 128 mph.[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%200720.html From Mars to Javelin] Flight 27 March 1957 On 11 April 1930 it reached Cape Town.James 1971, p. 193.[http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1930/UNTITLED0%20-%200161.PDF "The Gloster Survey Aeroplane"] Flight, 31 January 1930 p161[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1930/untitled0%20-%200362.html "The Northern Rhodesia Survey"] Flight, 28 March 1930 During 1931, it successfully surveyed {{convert|63000|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}}.

It was used for further surveys over the next few years, not requiring replacement of any major components in 500 flying hours. In March 1935, it was sold to the South African Air Force and operated for aerial photography until it was broken up at Waterkloof in December 1942.[http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol022ab.html The Saga of Old "250"]

A second Gloster Survey (K2602) was built for the British Air Ministry, and in November 1931, it was delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. It was employed for radio experiments, and remained in use until 1936.

Gloster received interest from Egypt for a bomber reconnaissance version to Egypt and quoted £11,000 per aircraft, but no order was placed.

File:Gloster Survey.jpg

;South Africa

• South African Air Force

;United Kingdom

• Aircraft Operating Company
• Royal Aircraft Establishment

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Gloster Aircraft since 1917James 1971, p.194.

|prime units? = imp

|crew=three (two pilots, one camera operator)

|capacity=800 lb survey equipment

|length m=14.79

|length ft=48

|length in=6

|span m=18.60

|span ft=61

|height m=5.72

|height ft=18

|height in=9

|wing area sqm=95.3

|wing area sqft=1,025

|empty weight kg=2,552

|empty weight lb=5,614

|gross weight kg=3895

|gross weight lb=8,570

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=Bristol Jupiter XI geared air-cooled radials

|eng1 kw=392

|eng1 hp=525

|max speed kmh=211

|max speed mph=131

|cruise speed kmh=177

|cruise speed mph=110

|range km=797

|range miles=495

|endurance=4.5–5.75 hoursFlight 27 March 1957

|ceiling m=6,680

|ceiling ft=21,900

}}

{{aircontent

|see also=

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|sequence=

|lists=

• List of aircraft of the South African Air Force

}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-370-10010-7 }}
• {{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|title= De Havilland Aircraft since 1909|year= 1987|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-85177-802-X }}
• {{cite book |last= James|first= Derek N.|title= Gloster Aircraft since 1917|year= 1971|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-370-00084-6 }}

{{refend}}

{{commons category|Gloster Survey}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090318030639/http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AADO.pdf Civil Aviation Authority Registration Document G-AADO]

{{Gloster aircraft}}

Category:1920s British civil utility aircraft

Survey

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1929

Category:Biplanes

Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear