Hillson Bi Mono – Again!

That’s a cute little aircraft!

Any idea how the performance was? It’s quite a lot of engine for a tiny airframe.

Apart from being short and fat. I wonder what the flying characteristics were like? and were they better with or without the slip wing? It would be interesting to know.

Thunderbird,

Thank you very much. Thats really interesting. I was aware of the document relating to wind tunnel tests, and was planning to go to London next Saturday to view it, however, the other documents are new to me. I’ll view them too while I’m at the archives. Thanks.

Also interesting what you said about landing being like a high Speed kangaroo 😮 I hope to be able to confirm that one day!

There is a small bit in “The Secret Years – Flight Testing at Boscombe Down” by Tim Mason.

It states the following

The recorded purpose of the u-numbered Hillson Bi-mono was “Trials as a biplane and monoplane. It arrived in mid-Ocober 1941 powered by a de Havilland Gypsy Six, and was allotted away in mid-November. Any reports on this interesting aeroplane have not been found – but one anecdote suggests that it was, at least, interesting to fly. The pilot reported that the maximum level speed as a biplane was less than the stalling speed as a monoplane; in other words, jettisoning the top wing caused an immediate stall. The company pilot had earlier reported a gentle sink of a few hundred feet on jettisoning. The monoplane landing was described as like “a high Speed kangaroo”.

There are two photos, on P211, one in the air and one on the ground as a monoplane and one in the air as a biplane. The ground shot is on this thread but the aerial shot is not.

There are also the following reports in the national archive at Kew

AVIA 6/13723 Hillson bi-mono model: tests in RAE blower tunnel (1941)
AVIA 10/356 Slip-wing projects: design and development (1940)
AVIA 15/972 AIRCRAFT: Design and Development: General (Code 6/1): Slip wing; investigations at R.A.E. (1941)
AVIA 15/1579 BOMBS AND BOMBING: Trials and development (Code 12/2): Glider bomb, slip wing project; consideration and tests (1941-44)

I’m hoping that if I continue to add to this thread, someone ‘new’ might just stumble across it, and add some more info!

I’ve just taken delivery of the article that appeared in April 1990 edition of aeroplane monthly. Interesting to read that the aircraft was steel tube construction with a ply wood covering.

By chance last week a photo of said machine on ebay, from a seller in the USA…I got outbid!
..item no 270415115688, still possible to nick a low-res scan if you search the completed listings!

Like I said, I’m sorry you were outbid! If you’d like a high rez scan let me know and I’ll sort one for you!

It’s nice to see her from a different perspective / angle.

Does anyone reading this have any knowledge with the LAA? Suppose I were to build a full size Hillson, what would I need to do inorder to be able to fly it?

😀 LOL!

Thanks for the quick reply, anyway.

Cheers,

Justin

The Aeroflight website lists AE107 Air Enthusiast, September/October 2003 as having a 3-view as well. Please can you look for this too?

Cheers,

Justin

Indeed it does, but it’s wrong. The 3-view is of a slip-wing Hurricane and it isn’t very good either, a drunken 3 year old could do better !!

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Here’s the first of a few scanned from Aeroplane and AE.107

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The Aeroflight website lists AE107 Air Enthusiast, September/October 2003 as having a 3-view as well. Please can you look for this too?

Cheers,

Justin

Thought it prudent to add a link to a previous Hillson thread here….

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=86942

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…………….but whatever became of it? I think that I read that it was still at Boscombe Down in 1944, which would have been long after the abandonment of any idea of using a slip wing to give the Hurricane greater take off lift and range. Maybe it’s still lurking with the Scheldemusch or the fuselage of the Mk.1 Aerogypt or any of the other obscure aeroplanes, long since disappeared off the radar, that still hold a fascination for me!

They’re great photo’s… Thank you for scanning them in. There’s several there that I’ve not seen before.

Time to start working on some plans!

If anyone has any more, then I’d be really greatfull to hear from you.

Some more…….
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By chance last week a photo of said machine on ebay, from a seller in the USA…I got outbid!

I’m sorry about that!!!! 😀

XM692 – Thanks for posting those pics. They’re very interesting.

avion ancien – Thats a valid point. Based on what you just said, I would think you’re right. She must be made from wood.

DazDaMan – I want one too!!!!!

Was used to test the idea of an extra wing to be jettisoned after take off (the Slip wing) Trialled at Blackpool , take offs Squires Gate and wing dropped over the sea with the lifeboat in attendance.

I want one of those! 😀

By chance last week a photo of said machine on ebay, from a seller in the USA…I got outbid!
..item no 270415115688, still possible to nick a low-res scan if you search the completed listings!

I’m curious as to what the aircraft would have been constructed from

Having regard to the fact that F.Hills & Sons Ltd. was a woodworking firm before entering the aircraft manufacturing business, on acquiring a licence to build the Czech Praga E.114, I suspect that the Bi-mono would have been of all wood construction – like the Hillson Praga, Pennine and, I presume, Helvellyn!

Post your… Hillson Bi-Mono pic’s here

Here’s the first of a few scanned from Aeroplane and AE.107

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As discussed via email, i’ll scan & post up some photo’s as soon as i can Mark.
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You’re a good man. Thank you. And I’ll keep you informed if anything new comes to light…

Anyone else out there with anything on this little bird?

As discussed via email, i’ll scan & post up some photo’s as soon as i can Mark.

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