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Low aspect ratio with an Italian accent

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cluttonfred

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Fans of low aspect ratio designs and obscure and unusual aircraft may already know of the 1930s Piana Canova all-wing designs, similar to the Arup, Hoffman, Eshelman and other low aspect ratio planes. The page from the April 25, 1935 issue of FLIGHT magazine includes the following info:

An Italian Effort
As far as is known, the other " flatfish " has not yet been built full size, but five different scale models have been tested in the wind tunnels at Rome and Turin. The wind tunnel tests are stated to have given very good results, the drag of the models being low, and the lift maintained up to angles of incidence of about 30 deg. Stability both fore and alt and lateral is reported to have been good, as was also the controllability. The designer of this Italian rhomboidal aeroplane, Piana Canova, has now designed a full-size machine for which the following data have been calculated: Wing span, 16 ft. 5 in.; length overall, 16 ft. 5 in.; wing area, 141 sq. ft.; tare weight, 352 lb.; disposable load, 308 lb.; loaded weight, 660 lb.; maximum speed, 105-110 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 93 m.p.h.; landing speed, 40 m.p.h.; range, about 650 miles. The engine which it is proposed to fit is the American Aeronca air-cooled flat-twin of 35-40 h.p.
Here, too, are a couple of links to modelers' pages, including one of a flying RC version.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1242669
http://www.internetmodeler.com/2008/june/aviation/canova.php

I am unsure whether or not any of real ones flew, at least not the powered versions, perhaps someone else knows more?

In any case, the designs have a simple elegance about them, especially the powered PC.140 with Junkers-style all-flying elevators and ailerons, which seems quite workable. What do folks think of the idea of a modern version?

Cheers,

Matthew

Note: The lovely little graphics are from a collection of images of tailless aircraft of all kinds on the neat German site www.nuricom.de.
 

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