Dufaux 5

The Dufaux 5 is a two-seat aircraft in the French-Swiss aviation pioneers Henri and Armand Dufaux.

Design and development

After Armand Dufaux had flown over with the Dufaux 4 on August 28, 1910 Lake Geneva over its entire length and clearly surpassed the world record of Louis Blériot, he woke and his brother Henri, the first produced in Switzerland aircraft not only in flight enthusiasts an enormous interest for powered flight. In the months after the record flight of 28 August 1910, the brothers Dufaux made ​​numerous additional flights and participated with other flight pioneers - including Pierre Emile Taddéoli ( 1879-1920 ), flying boat pioneer and until 1920, chief pilot of the later Ad Astra Aero - at air shows, which brought them to the United States. Previously they had received a goodly number of orders for those days that they intended to meet with the follow up to their experimental aircraft.

The record aircraft Dufaux 4 probably also appreciated its designers as too inefficient, it also offered only place for the pilot. The Dufaux 5 was designed by the brothers as Dufaux biplane. The Dufaux 5 based on the experience of the Dufaux 4 and the remaining nameless Model 2 with eight wings and a built by the brothers triplane (Model 3 ). The supporting structure of the Dufaux 4 has been extended to a seat for a passenger substantially and the Anzani aircraft engine replaced by the 91 kg heavy and powerful for that time Gnôme 70 seven- cylinder rotary engine at 1,200 / min 53 kW ( 70 hp ) performance data. Otherwise, the aircraft differed little from similar structures - two wings, triangular fuselage cross-section - from the pioneering years of aviation engine. The supporting structure of the Dufaux 4 seems to have remained unchanged at the same total length, wingspan and height, while boosting the performance in spite of the increased takeoff weight. The date between the two aileron airfoil has been increased to four and are arranged as current designs at the rear end of the wing.

Use

The biplane was in December 1910 at the company Mégevet in Corsier ( here the brothers Dufaux had their first flight tests completed ) designs, where a was apparent at that time scales series production - simultaneously produced at least three planes, as can be seen on a contemporary photo. The total number of produced aircraft needs to be clarified, but should be at least 15 copies ( including Dufaux 4).

The Swiss military had the use of the Dufaux 4 rejected in May 1910 as they appeared to the person responsible for military use unsuitable. The now much improved Dufaux 5 led Failloubaz Ernest ( 1892-1919 ) - 19 years old at the time the youngest pilot in Switzerland - from 4 to 6 September 1911, the army leadership, upholding of his friend Gustave Lecoultre as observers in the maneuvers 1st Army Corps flew reconnaissance missions. Despite a crash landing on the last day of the three day deployment highlight these flights the beginning of the Swiss military aviation.

The Dufaux was used among others in October 1911 at which was founded by Emile Taddéoli flight school in Viry near Geneva. Ernest Failloubaz may have been the first owner of a Dufaux 5: He had ordered a Dufaux 5 for the flight school in Avenches in November 1910, with whom he had a test flight in the presence of Armand Dufaux conducted in the first half of January 1911, followed by an unknown number passenger flights. Armand Dufaux took from April 16 to 18 at the air show in Viry part where he showed the aircraft is interested. Busy is a flight demonstration by Emile Taddéoli in Annecy, where he crashed in June in Lake Geneva, without damage to man and machine, and the flight demonstrations continued in July 1911. Presumably, from this point, the aircraft production by the brothers Dufaux has been set; Dufaux three aircraft have been produced but probably in the fall of 1911 in Avenches.

Among the names are known owners of a Dufaux Armand Dufaux 5 belonged, Emili Taddéoli, Ernest Failloubaz, François Durafour ( 1888-1967 ), Cobioni and Beck. Charles Girod, Georges Cailler, Gustave Lecoultre, Hollinger, Beck and Knutti received in the flight school Avenches of their chief pilot Durafour in the course of the year 1911 flying lessons. Was used the model in the school system of Failloubaz probably at least until 1916.

Specifications

Variants and whereabouts

As an alternative to the Gnome rotary engines also found Oerlikon four- cylinder aircraft engines use. Is currently known only the whereabouts of the exhibited in the Museum of Transport Dufaux 4, the oldest surviving Swiss aircraft.