| GAL.42 Cygnet II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cygnet II G-AGAX at Manchester (Ringway) Airport in March 1955 shortly before it was destroyed in a crash | |
| Role | two-seat trainer/sporting |
| Manufacturer | General Aircraft Ltd |
| Designer | C.R. Chronander & J.I. Waddington |
| First flight | 1937 |
| Retired | 1988 |
| Status | retired |
| Number built | 11 |
The General Aircraft GAL.42 Cygnet II was a 1930s British single-engined training or touring aircraft built by General Aircraft Limited at London Air Park, Hanworth.
The Cygnet was designed at Slough by C.W. Aircraft Limited in 1936. It was the first all-metal stressed-skin lightplane to be built and flown in the United Kingdom. [1] [2] The prototype, powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Cirrus Minor engine, and registration G-AEMA was first flown in May 1937 at London Air Park, Hanworth. [1] [2] It had a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and low cantilever wing with rounded wingtips and a split training edge flap that ran under the fuselage. Two persons sat side by side in an enclosed cabin with a reverse-sloped windscreen. The metal airframe had a very slim semi-monocoque tailcone which carried the tailplane and a single, triangular fin and rudder. [1] [2] The prototype soon underwent a number of modifications, with the Cirrus Minor engine being replaced by a 130 hp (97 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, the cockpit canopy being revised to have a more conventional forward-sloped windscreen and the centre section of flap underneath the aircraft's fuselage removed. [1] [3] Thus modified, it was entered into the 1937 King's Cup Race on 10–11 September that year, finishing 13th. [1] [4]
Airworthiness certification for the new type was slow, partially due to the Cygnet's extensive use of pop riveting, so that C.W. Aircraft made no sales of the Cygnet, while the company had also invested heavily in another design, the C.W. Swan, a six-seater to be powered by two de Havilland Gipsy Six engines. Overextended, C.W. aircraft became insolvent and was shut down in March 1938, with all rights for the Cygnet, together with the prototype, being sold to General Aircraft Ltd (GAL). [1] [5]
Now known as the GAL 42, [6] the Cygnet was again entered into the King's Cup race on 2 July 1938, [7] but ran of oil late in the race when challenging for the lead and had to retire. [1] [8] In November 1938, GAL modified the prototype Cygnet with a new tail assembly, with twin fins and rudders, to improve the efficiency of the aircraft's elevators. [8] [9] GAL further modified the prototype early in 1939 with a nosewheel undercarriage, which had already been tested on a Monospar ST-25, with the intention of making the aircraft as safe and easy to fly as possible. Tests proved successful, and production was launched of the GAL 42 Cygnet II. This had cantilever undercarriage legs with oleo struts rather than the braced undercarriage legs of the prototype, a deeper cabin with a sliding cockpit canopy which could be opened in flight, and a more powerful (150 hp (110 kW)) Cirrus Major engine, [9] [10] although the Gipsy Six remained an option and two Cygnet IIs were completed with this engine. [11]
The first production aircraft, registration G-AFVR, was flying by July 1939. [12] While production of a large batch of aircraft was planned, only 10 are reported to have been built due to the start of the Second World War, [9] although no records are available for two of them, and it is possible that they may not have been completed. [10] Five aircraft were impressed into service with the Royal Air Force as tricycle-undercarriage trainers for aircrews slated to man the American-made Douglas Boston and later as communications aircraft, while another, which was not impressed, was used by GAL as a communications aircraft. Two aircraft were sold to South American customers (one in Brazil and one in Argentina) in 1941. [13]
A trainer version of the Cygnet II was designed with an open cockpit as the GAL.45 Owlet. [14]
There are two known survivors of the 11 examples produced. The last flying survivor, company number 111 and registered as G-AGBN (ES915), was retired in 1988 and is now on display at the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, Scotland. It was a part of the Strathallan Collection owned by Sir William 'Willy' James Denby Roberts until the dissolution of the collection. The National Museum of Flight failed to acquire it but the bidding was taken over by Victor Gauntlett who donated to the museum. [15] [ failed verification ]
A civilian version was operated in south Argentina, in Tierra del Fuego province where it was damaged in a landing incident. After being repaired and being flown for several years, it was landed at a short airstrip in Colón and was unable to depart therefrom. It remained there and subsequently was converted into a monument at the Air Club entrance. In 2008 it was reported to be in poor condition.
Canada 
United Kingdom 
Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1940 [17]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a 1930s short-haul biplane airliner developed and produced by British aircraft company de Havilland. Capable of accommodating 6–8 passengers, it proved an economical and durable craft, despite its outdated plywood construction.
The Percival Gull was a British single-engined monoplane, first flown in 1932. It was successful as a fast company transport, racing aircraft and long-range record breaker. It was developed into the Vega Gull and the Proctor.
The de Havilland DH.60 Moth is a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.
The DH.83 Fox Moth is a small biplane passenger aircraft from the 1930s powered by a single de Havilland Gipsy Major I inline inverted engine, manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.
The General Aircraft GAL.45 Owlet was a 1940s British single-engined trainer aircraft built by General Aircraft Limited at London Air Park, Hanworth.
The Foster Wikner Wicko was a 1930s British two-seat cabin monoplane built by the Foster Wikner Aircraft Company Limited at Southampton Airport, Hampshire.
The Parnall Heck was a 1930s British four-seat cabin monoplane built by Parnall Aircraft Limited at Yate, Gloucestershire. Originally a Hendy design, few were built. It combined the strength and comfort of a cabin aircraft with the speed of a racer.
The Auster J/5 Autocar was a late 1940s British single-engined four-seat high-wing touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire.
The Miles M.28 Mercury was a British aircraft designed to meet the need for a training and communications plane during the Second World War. It was a single-engined monoplane of wooden construction with a twin tail and a tailwheel undercarriage with retractable main units.
The Arpin A-1 was a two-seat low-wing monoplane which was powered by a single radial engine in pusher configuration, mounted behind the cabin between twin booms that carried the tail. An unconventional fixed tricycle undercarriage was fitted. Only one was built.
The Comper C.L.A.7 Swift is a British single-seat sporting aircraft designed and produced by the Comper Aircraft Company. It was the company’s first aircraft.
The Caproni Ca.100 was the standard trainer aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica in the 1930s. Large numbers of this tandem, two-seat, biplane were built, powered by different engines.
The Miles Hawk Major was a 1930s British two-seat light monoplane, developed by Miles Aircraft from the Miles Hawk in order to take advantage of the new inverted de Havilland Gipsy Major engine. When fitted with the longer Gipsy Six in place of the forward crew member, it was known as the Miles Hawk Speed Six.
The Heston Type 1 Phoenix was a 1930s British single-engined five-seat light transport monoplane built by the Heston Aircraft Company Limited.
The Elliotts of Newbury EoN or Elliotts EoN A.P.4 was a 1940s British four-seat touring monoplane aircraft built by Elliotts of Newbury.
The Westland Widgeon was a British light aircraft of the 1920s. A single-engined parasol monoplane, the Widgeon was built in small numbers before Westland abandoned production in 1929.
The Comper Mouse was a 1930s British three-seat cabin monoplane designed by Nicholas Comper, and built by the Comper Aircraft Company at Heston Aerodrome in 1933.
The Heston T.1/37 was a 1930s British single-engined monoplane military trainer aircraft with two open cockpits, designed and developed by Heston Aircraft Company Ltd. It was not accepted for service.
The Fane F.1/40 was a 1940s British air observation post aircraft design by Captain Gerald Fane's Fane Aircraft Company.
The Mylius My 102 Tornado is a prototype single-seat German aerobatic aircraft. It was designed as a smaller derivative of the MBB Bo 209, but was not placed in production, with only two aircraft built.
