With its 40m wingspan and an all-up-weight of 20280kg, design of the six 450hp Napier Lion-powered Tarrant Tabor began in the latter stages of World War I. It was intended to carry a 700kg bombload to Berlin from an English airfield. Estimated to have had a top level speed of 170km/h, F 1765, the sole example of the Tabor built, was readied for its maiden flight from the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough on 26 May, 1919. The pilot and co-pilot selected to make the flight were Captains F.G. Dunn and P.T. Rawlings. For whatever reason, it was decided that the first take-off run would be attempted with only the lower four engines at full throttle. However, as the colossal machine rolled across the airfield, the pilots brought both of the upper engines to full power, causing the aircraft to nose over into the ground and to inflict fatal injuries on both men.
FACTS AND FIGURES
© The Tabor was planned for four
Tiger engines, but wound up
sporting six Lions. Between each
lower wing was a pair of engines
mounted back to back.
© Unlike almost all other triplanes,
the centre wings were longest on
the Tabor and these mounted
the only ailerons.
© The tubular fuselage was wider than
that of Concorde, and was largely free
of wires and internal struts. It was
beautifully streamlined, in contrast
with the rest of it.
Tarrant Tabor on YOUTUBE
