Parnall Heck
Parnall Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · light aircraft
The Parnall Heck was a 1930s British four-seat cabin monoplane built by Parnall Aircraft at Yate, Gloucestershire. It was originally a Hendy design.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Conventional low-wing cabin monoplane
- Leading-edge slats and slotted flaps
- Fixed spatted undercarriage on the production Heck 2C
It is a single-engined low-wing monoplane of spruce and plywood. Early aircraft had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, which was later locked down and covered with trouser fairings.
Specifications
- The Parnall Heck has a length of 7.96 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 298 km/h (185 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by Basil Henderson for Whitney Straight, who specified a high cruising speed and a very low landing speed. The prototype, built by Westland and registered G-ACTC, first flew in July 1934 with a 200 hp de Havilland Gipsy Six engine.
Variants
The type was originally the Hendy 3308 Heck. The production version was the Heck 2C, a three-seater with fixed spatted undercarriage. The Parnall 382 trainer used some Heck components.
Where you'll see it
The Heck set a record flight from Cape Town to England of 6 days 8 hours 27 minutes in November 1936. Four production aircraft were used by Parnall for liaison with RAF squadrons.
Related aircraft
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