R.F.D. 2
R.F.D. · United Kingdom · first flew 1931 · glider
The R.F.D. 2 was a single-seat, wooden sailplane built in the UK in 1930. It was named for design lead Reginald Foster Dagnall.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Wing mounted directly on top of a flat-sided monocoque fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat all-wood sailplane
- Wing mounted directly on top of a flat-sided monocoque fuselage
- Interchangeable rectangular centre sections of two lengths
The wing sits directly on top of a flat-sided monocoque fuselage, with the open cockpit just ahead of its leading edge. The small triangular tailplane is on top of the fuselage and the rudder extends to the bottom of it, moving between the elevators.
Specifications
- The R.F.D. 2 has a length of 8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The unusual dual-span cantilever wing had outer sections of constant chord, slight sweep and blunt tips. It first flew in February 1931 but seems not to have received certification or registration.
Variants
Interchangeable centre sections allowed it to be configured as a sailplane of 14.63 m span or as a shorter-span secondary glider of 11.58 m. Only one was completed.
Where you'll see it
Only one had been built when, in January 1932, the R.F.D. company announced it was selling its glider interests to the British Aircraft Company.
Related aircraft
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