Sage Type 3
Frederick Sage & Co · United Kingdom · first flew 1917 · light aircraft
The Sage Type 3, also known as the Sage N3 School, was a prototype British biplane training aircraft of the First World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.01 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-bay tractor biplane
- Extra pair of wheels ahead of the main wheels
- Single engine in the nose
It was a two-bay tractor biplane powered by a Rolls-Royce Hawk engine. An additional pair of wheels ahead of the main wheels was fitted to prevent the aircraft overturning on landing.
Specifications
- The Sage Type 3 has a length of 10.01 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.52 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 122 km/h (76 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In 1916 the Admiralty gave Frederick Sage & Co of Peterborough a contract for a primary trainer for the Royal Naval Air Service, which had to be robust with a low landing speed and good visibility. The first prototype flew on 5 January 1917.
Variants
The first aircraft proved slow even for a trainer and was modified with smaller tail surfaces and less weight as the Type 3b, the original becoming the Type 3a. The type formed the basis of the Sage Type 4 floatplane.
Where you'll see it
The type was unsuccessful. Only two were built before the contract was cancelled, leaving the rest of the 30 ordered unbuilt.
Related aircraft
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