Central Centaur IIA
Central Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1919 · airliner
The Central Centaur IIA was a British civil six-passenger joyriding biplane produced by the Central Aircraft Company of London. It was also known as the Central C.F.2a.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large twin-engined biplane with a 19.35 m wingspan
- Two 160 hp Beardmore six-cylinder inline engines
- Open cockpit for two crew and six passengers on the first aircraft
Look for a large 1919 twin-engined biplane built for joyriding. The wings span 19.35 m.
Specifications
- The Central Centaur IIA has a length of 11.96 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.35 m (63 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
After the success of the earlier Centaur IV, A. A. Fletcher designed a larger twin-engined aircraft. The first aircraft, G-EAHR, first flew in July 1919.
Variants
The first aircraft had an open cockpit for two crew and six passengers. The second, G-EAPC, had an enclosed cabin for seven passengers and first flew in May 1920.
Where you'll see it
Two were built. The second was tested in the 1920 Commercial Aeroplane Competition and crashed at Hayes on 25 September 1920 with the loss of six lives.
Related aircraft
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