Central Centaur IV
Central Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1919 · light aircraft
The Central Centaur IV, also known as the Central C.F.5, was a British civil biplane produced by the Central Aircraft Company of London.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.54 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Wire-braced, fabric-covered wooden biplane
- Two seats side by side in an open cockpit, extended for a third seat
- British Anzani ten-cylinder two-row radial engine
It is a small wooden biplane with side-by-side seating in an open cockpit.
Specifications
- The Central Centaur IV has a length of 7.54 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.38 m (24 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 121 km/h (75 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by A.A. Fletcher, it was the first original design built by Central Aircraft, at Kilburn in 1919. The prototype had a 70 hp Renault V-8 engine, and the production aircraft an Anzani radial.
Variants
The Centaur IV was the dual-control version, the IVA a single-pilot version and the IVB had float landing gear.
Where you'll see it
Eight were built, all as three-seaters, and used for joyriding and instruction at Northolt. Some were sold in Belgium, and the last survivor was destroyed in the German invasion of May 1940.
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