OCTOBER

24, 1935.

FLIGHT,

THE HESTON PHCENIX

A New Five-seater With an Unusually Roomy Cabin Layout and Pleasant Flying Qualities

HERE are two distinct ways of setting about designing a civil aeroplane: One may evolve a very attractive-looking outline design, of good lines, high aerodynamic efficiency and generally pleasing appearance, afterwards trying how the desired accommodation may be worked into that outline ; or one may start with a cabin of certain dimensions and accommodation, and steadfastly refuse to depart from that cabin ideal for anv reason whatever, structural, aerodynamic or financial. In producing the Phoenix, recently completed by the Heston Aircraft Co., Ltd., the latter method was followed by Messrs. Cornwall and Evans, and it is to their very great credit that without sacrificing one cubic inch, so to speak, of the cabin ideal which they had set themselves, they have succeeded in producing an aeroplane which is remarkably pleasing to the eye (as the illustrations show) and which is at the same time easy to fly, having no vices and giving a

performance which must bt- considered quite satisiactory in view of the relatively low power expenditure of rather less than 40 h.p. per occupant. Comfort having been the chief consideration in the design, we were naturally inclined to be critical during a trip in the new Phoenix, but in truth there is almost nothing on which to pin any criticism. The five seats, at present arranged two abreast in front, two more abreast behind them, and a single seat at the back, were very comfortable indeed, the only one not having quite as much leg room as one would like being the single seat at the back. Hut as there is the whole cabin width available, the position of this seat can easily be altered as to provide all the comfort any one could ask for. In any case, seating accommodation is likely to be subject to the wishes of individual purchasers and to corresponding changes. The view from the two front seats is remarkably good, and the roof windows make it possible for the pilot to look back and ensure that no other machine is coming in to land just as he is about to take off. The placing of the wing on top of the fuselage gives the passengers a very good view of the country over which the machine is flying, and Mr.

This sketch of the front portion of the Phoenix shows the construction of wing, wing stump and fuselage. The petrol tanks are carried in the wing on special strengthened ribs. The front part of the fuselage has a girder structure while the rear is monocoque. Details of a wing-stub spar are shown in the smaller sketch.

J.P