Heston JA3

Heston Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1938 · light aircraft

The Heston JA3, officially the Heston T.1/37, was a British single-engine two-seat monoplane trainer designed by George Cornwall to Air Ministry Specification T.1/37. It was not accepted for service.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.65 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Low-wing monoplane trainer with two open tandem cockpits
Fixed spatted main undercarriage legs raked forward, with a spatted tailwheel
Single inverted inline de Havilland Gipsy Queen of 190 hp

A low-wing trainer with student and instructor in open tandem cockpits, spatted fixed main wheels on forward-raked legs, and a spatted tailwheel.

Specifications

The Heston JA3 has a length of 9.65 m (32 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
Its maximum speed is 256 km/h (159 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The JA3 was built to meet the T.1/37 ab initio trainer requirement, in competition with the Miles M.15 and the Parnall Heck III. None of the designs was ordered. Construction was mainly plywood-skinned spruce frames, with fabric covering. Two were ordered but only one was completed, flying at Heston in 1938.

Variants

Two were ordered as L7706 and L7707; the second was not completed. L7706 was modified in 1939 with a two-speed propeller.

Where you'll see it

The first aircraft was tested at Martlesham Heath in November 1938, then at the Central Flying School and the RAE Farnborough. It was retired in November 1940 and became a ground instructional airframe at RAF Locking.

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