Project COPPELIA, ADDER-POWERED RACER

Primarily intended for the 1953 England-New Zealand Race, and conforming to the F.A.I. Light Aircraft 5th Category (weight 3,000-4,500 kg), the Coppelia racing aircraft, illustrated here in its preliminary form, had been designed by a Londoner, Mr. George Korab, B.Sc, A.F.R.Ae.S.

Originally, the installation of two Turbomeca Pimene turbojets was foreseen, but their combined static thrust of 440 lb proved inadequate, and redesign was undertaken round a single Armstrong Siddeley Adder (1,100 lb static thrust).

Pilot and navigator was seated in tandem, and provision was made for two JATO units under the jet-pipe at the rear of the metal-constructed fuselage.

Fuel tanks occupied all the centre portion of the fuselage and projected into the wing, which was of mixed construction.