Parnall Elf
title: "Parnall Elf" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1920s-british-civil-utility-aircraft", "1920s-british-sport-aircraft", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft", "biplanes", "parnall-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1929"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parnall_Elf" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Elf |
| image | File:Parnall Elf in flight.jpg |
| aircraft_type | Two-seat light aircraft |
| manufacturer | Parnall & Co |
| designer | Harold Bolas |
| number_built | 3 |
| first_flight | 1929 |
| :: |
| name = Elf | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Parnall Elf in flight.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Two-seat light aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = Parnall & Co | design_group = | designer = Harold Bolas | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 3 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1929 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Parnall_Elf.jpg" caption="Parnall Elf G-AAIN, Shuttleworth"] ::
The Parnall Elf is a British two seat light touring aircraft of the 1920s. Built by George Parnall & Co. the Elf was the last aircraft designed by Harold Bolas before he left the company to go to the United States.
Design and development
The Parnall Elf was designed by Harold Bolas, chief designer of the reformed George Parnall & Co. The type made its public debut at Olympia in July 1929. The Elf was a biplane of wood and fabric construction with staggered wings set well forward on the fuselage as a feature to assist crew escape in an emergency. The wings were unusually braced with 'vee' interplane struts which dispensed with any flying wires
Survivors
- Parnall Elf, G-AAIN, is maintained and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire, England and may be flown regularly throughout the summer months. 'G-AAIN' flew at the "At The Movies" Drive-In airshow on 2 August 2020, hosted by the Shuttleworth Collection
Specifications (Elf Mk.II)
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Parnall_Elf_3-view_Aero_Digest_January,1930.png" caption="Parnall Elf 3-view drawing from Aero Digest January,1930"] ::
|ref=Parnall Aircraft since 1914 |prime units?=imp General characteristics
|crew=2 |capacity= |length ft=22 |length in=10.5 |length note= |upper span ft=31 |upper span in=3.5 |upper span note= |lower span ft=26 |lower span in=9 |lower span note= |height ft=8 |height in=6 |height note= |width ft=7 |width in=2 |width note=folded |wing area sqft=195 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight lb=900 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=1700 |gross weight note=
::::1500 lb for aerobatics |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=21 impgal in a fuselage main tank and centre-section gravity tank |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Cirrus Hermes II |eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled in-line piston engine |eng1 hp=120 |eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed-pitch propeller |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note= Performance
|max speed mph=116 |max speed note=at sea level ::::112 mph at 5000 ft |cruise speed mph=103 |cruise speed note= |stall speed mph=40 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=400 |range note= |ferry range miles= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=16000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ftmin=800 |climb rate note= |time to altitude=10000 ft in 21 minutes |lift to drag= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |more performance=
References
Bibliography
- Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. SBN 901319-01-5
- Ogilvy, David. Shuttleworth – The Historic Aeroplanes. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1989
References
- Ogilvy, 1989.
- and could be folded for ease of hangarage. The main fuel tank was fitted in the fuselage, while a pump raised the fuel to a small tank in the wing centre section where it was then fed to the engine by gravity. An Elf placed fifth in the 1930 [[King's Cup Air Race]] out of a field of 88 entrants. The purchase price of the aircraft at this time was between £875 and £890.Guttery, 1969. p. 43.
- (1990). "Parnall Aircraft since 1914". Putnam Aeronautical Books.
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