Parnall Possum
Parnall · United Kingdom · first flew 1923 · bomber
The Parnall Possum was an experimental triplane with a single central engine driving wing-mounted propellers through shafts and gears. Two were built in Britain in the mid-1920s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Propellers mounted on the middle wing, driven by shafts and gears from a single engine in the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay triplane with equal-span, parallel-chord wings and no stagger
- Propellers mounted on the middle wing, driven by shafts and gears from a single engine in the fuselage
- Upper wing held high above the fuselage on cabane struts
Look for a large triplane with two propellers on the middle wing and none in the nose. The pilot and front gunner sit ahead of the wings and a rear gunner sits at the upper wing trailing edge.
Specifications
- The Parnall Possum has a length of 11.89 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.02 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 169 km/h (105 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The layout came from Bristol ideas for large transports with an engine room in the fuselage. The Air Ministry ordered the Possum under specification 9/20, and it first flew on 19 June 1923 piloted by Norman Macmillan.
Variants
A second Possum flew in April 1925. Both were powered by a 450 hp Napier Lion, and the second went to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham.
Where you'll see it
The first Possum went to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in April 1924 and appeared at the RAF Hendon Air Pageant that June. It was an experimental type that never entered service.
Related aircraft
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