Main gear firefly -tyre size

Know that this wheel is an odd one but it does match a type I am searching for for a pre WWII biplane project (civil type). I am looking for a pair of 9.5 x 12 aircraft wheels that were low pressure optional equipment for the type. This was a common wheel back in 1930-35 for agricultural and soft field applications.

Thanks for clarifying that!

The only Swordfish-loss in the Helgeland-area is this one:
http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/leka2.html

The wreck was dismantled by locals, and its quite likely that some parts – like this wheel – could have ended up on neighbouring islands.

Regards
archieraf

Swordfish tyre

Ah, but it does look more than a teensie-weensie bit like a Swordfish tyre, don’t it – and it is a 12-inch rim:p

Anon.

Not Firefly.
9.5 X 12″ is a Swordfish tyre size.:)

Spit wheel?

OK. I’ll just shut up:o:D

Anon.

Didn’t the early Spitfire have a 12 inch wheel rim and a tyre like this, Mark12?

It just occurred to me when I saw your name next to the latest post on this thread.

Anon.

Err..no.

Early Spitfire had a 10″ wheel followed by a split rim 10.25″ then a 12″ and on the last Seafire a 13″.

Mark

Tyre i/d

Didn’t the early Spitfire have a 12 inch wheel rim and a tyre like this, Mark12?

It just occurred to me when I saw your name next to the latest post on this thread.

Anon.

Main wheel for the Firefly FR 5 is the AH 9471.

That is the 30 x 9.00 – 15.

In ‘Dunlopspeak’ that is a 15″ wheel.

The 15″ diameter is measured at the point where the tyre sits on the rim.

Mark

The rim size – 12″ – at least doesnt exclude a firefly.

I would say it would, I’ve seen four Firefly type wheels in a store near where I work, they are big and I would think that they are a good 2ft across.

Thanks to all for the help.

I agree that the wheels look massive compared to the pilots head on that pic, but it looks more “normal” on other pics.
To me it looks as if the wheels are the same size, or slightly bigger than the roundel. I guess that the 11.25″ refers to the width of the tyre in inches, while the 950 (not 900, that was a typo)refers to the height, or diameter of the tyre in millimeters.
The rim size – 12″ – at least doesnt exclude a firefly.

Have to dig deeper into old pics and see if there is more info to be found.

Archieraf

The mainwheel on the Firefly (FI and NFII) was a Dunlop AH10245, size 11.25″ x 12.00″. This is the same as the Barracuda and (early) Firebrand.

The tyre is listed as 11.25″ x 12.00″, Part No. I.E.E.8, P.A.36 or G.A.30.

It’s definitely not a Lancaster tail wheel tyre.

Not sure if it helps, but this photo I took at Biggin Hill in 1954 shows a Firefly. Compare the pilot’s head with the size of the wheels – the wheels look massive.

Wouldn’t 12″ be a tad too small for a Firefly?
If he doesn’t see the thread first, HMSVulture will be worth PM’ing for Firelfy clarification.

Keith, I remember on a trrip to visit the RNHF years ago that one of their guys telling us that they stocked up on Nimrod tyres as they were a perfect fit on Firefly wheels.

Tyre i/d

Lancaster tailwheel tyres have a surprisingly small hub, around 9 ins, as I recall. It’s also an anti-shimmy tyre on the Lanc tail and smaller than the one pictured.

It’s a main from something. It looks like Swordfish to me. Could it be, that far north?

Not much help but my two penn’orth.

Anon.

Firefly tyre size

During my younger days I worked on a Firefly belonging to the Moorabbin Air Museum here in Australia. I can’t remember the tyre size for Firefly main wheels but I know the size is no longer manufactured. We used Hawker Siddley Nimrod nose wheel tyres which have the same id and vary slightly in width and od. Hope this helps.

Regards,

Keith Gaff