The Arrow Active is a British

aerobatic aircraft An aerobatic aircraft is an aerodyne (a heavier-than-air aircraft) used in aerobatics, both for flight exhibitions and aerobatic competitions. Most fall into one of two categories, aircraft used for training and by flight demonstration teams, wh ...

built in the 1930s.

Design and development

The Arrow Active is a single-seat biplane of conventional configuration, with single-bay, staggered wings of unequal span and chord, bordering on being a sesquiplane. The upper and lower wings are joined by a single

interplane strut In aeronautics, bracing comprises additional structural members which stiffen the functional airframe to give it rigidity and strength under load. Bracing may be applied both internally and externally, and may take the form of strut, which act in ...

. The undercarriage is fixed, with a pair of mainwheels and a tail-skid. It was originally powered by a 115 hp (86 kW) Cirrus-Hermes IIB engine. The second aircraft built featured a more powerful 120 hp (90 kW)

de Havilland Gipsy The de Havilland Gipsy is a British air-cooled four-cylinder in-line aircraft engine designed by Frank Halford in 1927 to replace the ADC Cirrus in the de Havilland DH.60 Moth light biplane. Initially developed as an upright 5 litre (3 ...

III and was designated Active 2. It also differed from the Active 1 in having a strutted, conventional centre section, a slightly different shaped fin and rudder, and smaller, wider wheels.

Operational history

Although it was originally hoped that the military might show an interest in the aircraft, this did not transpire, and the Active was flown as a sports plane. The Active 1 ''G-ABIX'' received its Certificate of Airworthiness on 21 May 1931Jackson 1959, page 407; Jackson 1973, page 286 and flew at 132.2 mph (212 km/h) in the 1932

King's Cup Race The King's Cup air race is a British handicapped cross-country event, which has taken place annually since 1922. It is run by the Royal Aero Club Records Racing and Rally Association. The King's Cup is one of the most prestigious prizes of the ...

. It was

Alex Henshaw Alexander Adolphus Dumphries Henshaw, (7 November 1912 – 24 February 2007) was a British air racer in the 1930s and a test pilot for Vickers Armstrong during the Second World War. Early life Henshaw was born in Peterborough, the eldest son of ...

's mount in the second half of 1935 until severely damaged in a crash following an in-flight fire that December. The Active 2 ''G-ABVE'' was certified on 29 June 1932Jackson 1959, page 408; Jackson 1973, page 287 and flew in the King's Cup in both 1932 and 1933. Slightly faster than the Arrow 1, it recorded a speed of 137 mph (220 km/h)

Variants

;Active 1 :One aircraft powered by a 115hp (86kW)

Cirrus Hermes IIB The ADC Cirrus is a series of British aero engines manufactured using surplus Renault parts by the Aircraft Disposal Company (ADC) in the 1920s. The engines were air-cooled, four-cylinder inline types. They were widely used for private and li ...

engine. ;Active 2 :One aircraft powered by a 120hp (90kW)

de Havilland Gipsy III The de Havilland Gipsy is a British air-cooled four-cylinder in-line aircraft engine designed by Frank Halford in 1927 to replace the ADC Cirrus in the de Havilland DH.60 Moth light biplane. Initially developed as an upright 5 litre (30 ...

engine, rebuilt in 1958 with a de Havilland Gipsy Major 1C.

Surviving aircraft

Rebuilt in 1958, and again in 1989, the Active 2 is still on the British civil register and is based at Coventry, England.

Specifications (Active 2)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * * * * * {{refend 1930s British sport aircraft

Active Active may refer to: Music * ''Active'' (album), a 1992 album by Casiopea * Active Records, a record label Ships * ''Active'' (ship), several commercial ships by that name * HMS ''Active'', the name of various ships of the British Royal ...

Biplanes Single-engined tractor aircraft Aerobatic aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1931