Thomas-Morse S-4
| S-4 | |
|---|---|
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| |
| The NMUSAF's S-4C Scout in Dayton, OH USA | |
| Role | advanced trainer |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Thomas-Morse Aircraft |
| Designer | Benjamin D. Thomas |
| First flight | June Template:Avyear[1] |
The Thomas-Morse S-4 Scout was an American biplane advanced trainer, operated by the United States Army and the United States Navy. Dubbed the "Tommy" by pilots who flew it, the aircraft became the favorite single-seat training airplane produced in the U.S. during World War I. It had a long and varied career beginning with the S-4B, which first appeared in the summer of 1917.[2]
Design and development
Built by Thomas-Morse Aircraft in Ithaca, New York in Template:Avyear, it was a compact single-seat open-cockpit biplane of equal span and a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome rotary engine.[3]
The S-4 was designed by Englishman Benjamin Douglas Thomas (no relation to the company owners),[4] formerly with the Sopwith Aviation Company,[5] who also assisted with the design of the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny.[6] The S-4 made its maiden flight in June 1917 in the hands of Paul D. Wilson.[4] Twelve planes went to the Navy.[4]
Operational history
The S-4B, with a 110 hp Gnome, a span of 27’ (8.22 m), and length of 20’3” (6.17 m)[4] proved more successful, with three prototypes followed by an order of 97 for the Army and 10 for the Navy,[4][7] while six more were completed with two main and one tail floats as the Navy S-5.[3][8] The S-4B was used by practically every pursuit flying school in the U.S. during 1918.[2]
It was supplemented in 1918 by the S-4C, at a cost of US$5400 each.[4] Six prototypes were built,[4] and the 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome B-9 was replaced by the "more reliable" 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhône 9C starting with the fifty-second production aircraft.[3][4] 461 S-4Cs went to the Army and four S-4Cs with floats went to the Navy.[4]
After World War I, many "Tommys" were sold as surplus to civilian flying schools, sportsman pilots, and ex-Army fliers. Many were still being used in the mid-1930s for World War I aviation movies, and several continue to exist in flying condition today.[2]
A single aircraft was fitted with new tail and the more powerful 110 hp (82 kW) Le Rhone 9J rotary engine, becoming the S-4E aerobatic trainer.[3] It was not adopted by the military, and after being fitted with a 135 hp (101 kW) Aeromarine V8 engine, it became Basil Rowe‘s racer Space-Eater.[4]
About sixty surplus aircraft survived in civil service, most of which were fitted with the Curtiss OX-5.[4]
Operators
Surviving aircraft
- 633 – S-4C in storage at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida. It was previously owned by the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum.[9][10]
- 4328 or 4367 – S-4B on static display at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Red Hook, New York. It is possibly the last S-4B produced.[11][12][13]
- 4366 – S-4B under restoration by the Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation in Ithaca, New York. It is made up of the fuselage of an S-4B, a top wing of a S-4C, and a reproduction bottom wing. The current plan, when restoration is complete, is to display it in the original factory building where it was produced. It was previously owned by William N. Thibault.[14][15][13]
- 38898 – S-4C airworthy at the Eagles Mere Air Museum in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania.[16][17][18]
- 38899 – S-4C on static display at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.[19]
- 38934 – S-4C on static display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. It is equipped with its original Marlin machine gun and is on loan from Paul Kotze.[20][21]
- 38944 – S-4C on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It was restored by students at the Aero Mechanics High School in Detroit, Michigan.[22][23]
- 39734 – S-4C on display at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.[24][25]
- S-4B on static display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.[26] It was obtained in a trade with the Aeroflex Museum in 1979 and was restored by Century Aviation.[27] This aircraft has original S-4B wings mounted on a reproduction B-fuselage, which was fabricated using parts from the prototype S-4.[15]
- S-4C on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. In 2000, it was reconfigured as an S-5 floatplane with the addition of twin floats. It is painted as Bureau Number A-5858.[28]
- S-4C under restoration at the Pioneer Flight Museum in Kingsbury, Texas.[29]
- S-4 under restoration Pioneer Flight Museum in Kingsbury, Texas.[30]
- S-4 on static display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. It is an uncovered Scout fuselage, possibly from one of the prototypes, fitted with a LeRhone engine and a working gun synchronizer.[citation needed]
Specifications (S-4C, late production)
Data from Aerofiles, United States Navy Aircraft since 1911,[4][7]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
Performance
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Notes
- ^ Holmes, 2005. p 52.
- ^ a b c United States Air Force Museum 1975, p. 10.
- ^ a b c d Donald 1997, p. 875.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Thomas." Aerofiles.com. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
- ^ Angelucci 1973, p. 41.
- ^ "Thomas-Morse S-4 Scout". The Aviation History Online Museum. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ "1918 Thomas Morse Scout". Fantasy of Flight. Fantasy of Flight. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N1917T]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Thomas Morse S-4B Scout". Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N74W]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ a b Funke, Don; Rundle, Jim (February 2013). "Differences Between the Thomas-Morse S-4B and S-4C: Lessons and Questions From an Ongoing Restoration (Part 2)" (PDF). Tommy Comes Home. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ Hooker, Chris (27 December 2014). "Restored Thomas- Morse Plane Takes Shape". ithaca.com. Ithaca Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ a b Rundle, Jim; Funke, Don (February 2013). "Differences Between the Thomas Morse S-4B and S-4C: Lessons and Questions From an Ongoing Restoration (Part 1)" (PDF). Tommy Comes Home. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "[Homepage]". Eagles Mere Air Museum. Eagles Mere Air Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-Morse S-4C Scout, c/n 38898, c/r N3307T". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N3307T]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "1918 Thomas-Morse Scout S4C - N38899". EAA. EAA. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Thomas Morse S4C Scout, Ithaca, NY, 1918". Cradle of Aviation Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-Morse S-4C Scout, s/n 38934, c/r N1115". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Thomas-Morse S4C Scout". National Museum of the US Air Force. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-Morse S-4C Scout, s/n SC38944 USASC". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Thomas-Morse Scout". Yanks Air Museum. Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Thomas-MorseS-4 Scout, c/n 39734". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "World War I". National Museum of the Marine Corps. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "1917 Thomas Morse S-4 Scout 'Tommie'". Century Aviation. Century Aviation. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "S-4C SCOUT". National Naval Aviation Museum. Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Thomas-Morse Scout [1]". Pioneer Flight Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Thomas-Morse Scout [2]". Pioneer Flight Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ Angelucci 1983, p. 85.
- Bibliography
- Angelucci, Enzo, Great Aeroplanes of the World. London: Hamlyn, 1973.
- Angelucci, Enzo. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914–1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
- Donald, David, ed. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, p. 875, "Thomas Brothers and Thomas-Morse aircraft". Etobicoke, Ontario: Prospero Books, 1997.
- Holmes, Tony. Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide. London: Harper Collins, 2005. ISBN 0-00-719292-4.
- Strnad, Frank. The Thomas Morse Scout. London: Profile Publications, 1966.
- Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London:Putnam, Second edition, 1976. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.
- United States Air Force Museum. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975.
External links
