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1918 S-4 Thomas Morse Scout
Publisher: Flysimware
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Review Author:
Bill Stack
Suggested Price:
$19.99 |
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Screen shots by Flysimware |
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The Thomas-Morse S-4 Scout was the most popular of biplanes flown by the United State during World War I. Designed and built by the Thomas-Morse Corporation in 1917, this single-seater biplane was powered by a 100 horsepower Gnome Monosoupape 9-B rotary engine. The wings were made of wire-braced wood frame covered in fabric, and the fuselage was a wire-braced wooden box. The United States bought more than 200 modified versions of the original prototype, including seaplane models. It was commonly used as a trainer.
The rotary engine spun around a spindle, the propeller blades were attached to this rotating engine, and there was no carburetor or throttle. It required a multi-step startup procedure, and airspeed was controlled by literally cutting electrical power to the engine to stop and restart it. More information about rotary engines can be found at Fantasy of Flight.
Aircraft remaining after World War I were surplused to civilians, and many were flown throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Some are still flying today, and several are displayed in aviation museums. It is also a popular model among radio-control enthusiasts.
The "Tommy," as it was affectionately called, has no equal among stock FSX aircraft. It's slightly heavier than the Piper Cub (1,354 LBS versus 1,220 LBS) and about one-tenth faster (97 MPH versus 87 MPH).
| Aircraft Specifications | ||
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| Specification | Thomas-Morse Scout | |
| Occupants | 1 | |
| Maximum Take-off Weight2 | 1,373 LBS 623 KG |
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| Empty Weight2 | 966 LBS 438 KG |
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| Useful Load3 | 407 LBS 185 KG |
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| Fuel Capacity 2 | 27 USG 102 L |
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| Maximum Speed | 97 MPH 156 KPH |
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| Cruising Speed | 80 MPH 129 KPH |
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| Ceiling | 15,000 FT 4,575 M |
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| Endurance | 2.5 HRS |
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| Range3 | 243 NM 450 KM |
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| Length | 20 FT 6 M |
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| Wing Span | 26.6 FT 8 M |
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| Power 2 | 160 HP | |
| Sources: Flysimware unless otherwise noted, 2) Aviation History 3) Calculated | ||
Specifications and performance data vary widely. As examples: Wikipedia says the S-4B models were powered by a 110 horsepower Gnome engine, and Aviation History says the S-4B was powered by a 100-HP Gnome engine. Flysimware says both aircraft are powered by a 160-HP Gnome engine. Flysimware shows maximum speed of 90 MPH in its aircraft configuration file and 97 MPH in its reference sheet. Flysimware shows gross weight as 1,373 pounds in its configuration file and Fuel/Payload menu, and Aviation History shows gross weight as 1,354 pounds. I used Flysimware's data first and filled in from other sources.
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