Rollason Beta

The Rollason Beta was a British midget racing monoplane developed from a competition to build a Formula One air racer in the 1960s in England.[1] The Beta was first flown on 21 April 1967. The aircraft were successful air-racers in England during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Beta
An amateur-built Beta
Role Single seat racing monoplane
Manufacturer Rollason Aircraft and Engines
First flight 21 April 1967
Number built 4 (factory-built)
5 (homebuilt)

Development

The Beta was designed by the Luton Group (who were young technicians employed by the British Aircraft Corporation at Luton)[2] in a competition to design a racing aircraft, the Rollason Midget Racer Design Competition 1964.[1]

The Beta is a fully aerobatic wooden low-wing cantilever monoplane with a cantilever tailplane with a single fin and rudder, powered by a Continental engine of between 65 and 100 hp. It has a fixed-tailwheel landing gear and an enclosed cockpit for the pilot. The original prototype Luton Beta was not completed.[1] The design was built commercially by Rollason Aircraft and Engines who made 4 aircraft at Redhill between 1967 and 1971.[1][3] Plans were also available for homebuilding; although 55 sets of drawings had been sold by early 1974, five aircraft have been registered but just three aircraft are known to have been completed, all in the UK.[2]

Operational history

The first Rollason-built Beta (registered G-ATLY and named Forerunner) won the Manx Air Derby in 1969 and the second Rollason-built aircraft (registered G-AWHV and named Blue Chip) won the Goodyear Trophy air race at Halfpenny Green in 1969.

G-ATLY was written off in a aerial collison with a Tiger Moth at Nottingham on 29 September 1973, killing the pilot,[4] G-AWHV was destroyed by fire in 1995[2] and G-AWHW crashed on 17 December 1987 at RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, killing the pilot.[5]

Variants
B.1
Powered by a 65hp Continental A65 engine, one built by Rollason later converted to B.2[2]
B.2
Powered by a 90hp Continental C90 engine, one by Rollason and one conversion from B.1[2]
B.2A
As B.2, but with steel sprung undercarriage,[2] two built by Rollason
B.4
Powered by a 100hp Rolls-Royce Continental O-200-A engine, none built.

Specifications (Beta B.2)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72 [6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
  • Wingspan: 20 ft 5 in (6.22 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m)
  • Wing area: 66 sq ft (6.1 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 6.15:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 23012
  • Empty weight: 560 lb (254 kg)
  • Gross weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10.5 imp gal (12.6 US gal; 48 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C90 , 90 hp (67 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 202 mph (325 km/h, 176 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
  • Stall speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn) (without flaps)
  • Range: 320 mi (510 km, 280 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,800 ft/min (9.1 m/s)

References
  1. Jackson 1988, p.288
  2. https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/SmithRon/13387.htm
  3. Jones 2002, p.7
  4. http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/18985
  5. http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/174176
  6. Taylor 1971, p.206.

Bibliography
  • Jackson, A. J. (1988). British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-818-6.
  • Flight International 19 October 1967
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 431.
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1971). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00094-2.
  • Jones, Michael (2002). Tiger Club - The Redhill Saga Volume 3 1977-1989. Gillingham, Dorset: Cirrus Associates. ISBN 1-902807-12-X.
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