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Esnault-Pelterie REP.2

The Esnault-Pelterie REP.2 was an early experimental aircraft designed and built by Robert Esnault-Pelterie in France in 1908. In its final form, the REP.2bis, it was the most successful of Esnault-Pelterie's early designs.

Design

Like Esnault-Pelterie's previous REP.1, it was a high-wing monoplane with a short fuselage and an open cockpit for the pilot. Power was provided by a piston engine in the nose of Esnault-Pelterie's own design. This engine turned a tractor-mounted propeller. The undercarriage was unusual, consisting of a main monowheel and a tailwheel. This bicycle arrangement was supplemented by large outrigger wheels mounted on the wingtips. The trapezoidal wings had a marked anhedral, and lateral control was achieved by wing-warping. It was originally fitted with small elevators on the forward fuselage, but these were soon removed.

The REP.2 differed from the REP.1 in having a large ventral balanced rudder.

Development

Tests with the REP.2 commenced in June 1908, and on 8 June a flight of was made, reaching an altitude of 30 m (100 ft), setting a height and distance record for monoplanes. As originally constructed, Esnault-Pelterie made several brief flights in it, but none longer than one or two minutes.

The aircraft was then modified by the addition of a trapezoidal dorsal fin, to create the REP.2bis. In this form, piloted by M. Châteaux, it won the third Ae.C.F. prize for a flight of over 200 metres on 21 November 1908, with an officially observed flight of . It was then exhibited at the Paris Aero Salon in December 1908 and at the Aero Show at Olympia in London in 1909. While on show, Esnault-Pelterie offered the aircraft for sale for £GBP 1,400 (about £GBP 142,000 in 2025), which aviation historian Kenneth Munson described as "optimistic".

In May 1909, it made its longest flight, of , covering the distance in about seven minutes.

It was entered for the ("Grand week of Aviation") in Reims in August 1909, but Esnault-Pelterie did not compete there owing to an injury to his hand. Nevertheless, of four Esnault-Pelterie monoplanes fielded, it was the only one to make a flight (and even then, only once.) It carried the tail number 3.

As the REP.2bis, it made twelve flights.

Variants

  • REP.2: initial version of 1908
  • REP.2bis: improved version of 1909

Specifications (REP.2bis)

Notes

References

Bibliography