Elliotts of Newbury Eon

Newbury EoN
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Newbury Eon G-AKBC demonstrating at Barton Aerodrome Manchester in 1948
Role	Touring monoplane
Manufacturer	Elliotts of Newbury
Designer	Aviation and Engineering Products, Ltd
First flight	8 August 1947
Retired	1950
Number built	1

The Elliotts of Newbury EoN or Elliotts EoN A.P.4 was a 1940s British four-seat touring monoplane aircraft built by Elliotts of Newbury.

Development

Elliotts of Newbury were experienced wartime glider manufacturers but at the end of World War II decided to venture into the design and production of powered aircraft. The result was the EoN A.P.4 (more commonly called the Newbury Eon), a wooden four-seat monoplane with a fixed tricycle landing gear. The design had been carried out by Aviation and Engineering Products Ltd of Feltham, Middlesex. The prototype Eon 1 registered G-AKBC powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Blackburn Cirrus engine first flew at Welford, Berkshire, on 8 August 1947. After initial testing was completed, the prototype was modified to reflect the planned production version. The main changes were a new engine, a de Havilland Gipsy Major of 145 hp (108 kW), and a lengthened nose-wheel leg. The modified aircraft was redesignated the Eon 2.

The company decided not enter production and it continued as a glider manufacturer. The sole completed Eon aircraft was used as a glider-tug to demonstrate the company’s gliders. The aircraft met its end at Lympne airfield, Kent, on 14 April 1950, when, with a glider attached the pilot started the aircraft by swinging the propeller with the aircraft's wheels not secured by chocks. The engine started, and the craft moved forward; the pilotless aircraft and the glider were damaged as the aircraft passed through a boundary hedge. The glider pilot had also abandoned his cockpit when he realised what was happening.

Variants

Eon 1

Prototype with a 100 hp (75 kW) Blackburn Cirrus piston engine.

Eon 2

Prototype re-engined with a 145 hp (108kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major engine.

Specifications (Eon 2)

General characteristics

• Capacity: four
• Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
• Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
• Wing area: 173 ft² (16.07 m²)
• Gross weight: 2,340 lb (1,061 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major four-cylinder inverted inline air-cooled piston engine, 145 hp (108 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 136 mph (219 km/h)
• Range: 350 miles (563 km)
• Service ceiling: 13,400 ft (4,085 m)

References

Notes

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing