ACAZ C2

Alfred Herrmann, pioneer of the Belgian aviation, designed and supervised the construction of the first Belgian two-seater, all-metal (duralumin and alpax) biplane aircraft for hunting and reconnaissance in the 20s. It was called ACAZ C2. The plane was constructed under the aegis of Commander Fernand Jacquet, a hero of the First World War, with the help of a handful of mechanics from Ostend and some fishermen in a small workshop in the Zeebruge harbor. In use since 1923 for the construction of aircraft, this workshop witnessed the creation in 1924 of ACAZ (Ateliers de Contructions Aeronautique de Zeebruge) and then of the ZACCO (Zeebruge Aeronautical Constructions Company) Intended for the Belgian Air Force, the C2 was powered by a Hispano Suiza 12 Ha engine (12 V-shaped cylinders of 450 HP), provided with a light metal propeller Levasseur-Reed. The plane flew for the first time in the first half of 1926 and obtained its certificate of airworthiness on July 28, 1926.

During its trial flights for the Belgian Air Force, the prototype was armed with a Vickers machine-gun (7,7 mm) drawing through the propeller for the pilot and with a two Lewis (7,7 mm) twinned gone up on a turret 80 cm in diameter for the machine gunner, place also being able equipped with cameras for the air reconnaissance. In 1927, the Belgian civil and military authorities decided to give up the project, partially because of politico-economic reasons. If the aircraft had some interesting technical characteristics such as a simpler and faster construction and maintenance, it offered on the other hand performances barely superior to the Breguet XIX A2 including a bombardment version (versatility that the C2 did not offer), the Breguet XIX B2, entered service three years earlier in Belgium and these two versions having been manufactured under license in Belgium since 1926.

On the 9th of March,1928, Second Lieutenant Edmond Thieffry, Warrant Officer Joseph Lang and Lieutenant Philippe Quersin -- all legendary figures of the First World War -- failed in their attempt to fly with the modified C2 prototype to the Congo ; they had to make an emergency landing before their first stopover.
    Modifications : Modifications made to C2 for the raid
    Article : "The new attempt to fly from Brussels to Leopoldville"
    Article : "The baptism of the Princess Astrid"
    Article : "Princess Astrid to leave in the first days of March"
    Article : "Princess Astrid did not depart for her flight from Belgium to the Congo"
    Article : "Princesse Astrid breaks the wings as of the first stage"
    Article : "Aircraft captain Edmond Thieffry's version"
    Article : "Pilot Joseph Lang's version"

Following this mishap, the C2 was dismantled and brought back by train to Brussels. Edmond Trieffry then considered making a new attempt towards the Congo with the aircraft provided that certain improvements were made to it, such as strengthening the landing gear. His project was not followed up and the C2 probably did not fly more or little since this accident. In 1931 the C2 was sold to SEGA (Société des Entreprises Générales d'Aéronautique) then removed from the Belgian aircraft register on January 25, 1933.

Main advantages of this aircraft

The aircraft ACAZ, typifies C2 - engine Hispano-Suiza type 51-12H in V gives 462 cv at 1800 tr/mn (normal speed) - is a two-seater biplane of completely metal fight including the covering of wings.

1) Remarkable performances thus weapon of fight allowing to compete with the best foreign types.
2) Total visibility obtained by the gap of wings and bights to both plans ; the pilot and the machine gunner are in a small nacelle dominating the fuselage. By these means the pilot can see above and below the superior wing and the visibility on the sides of the fuselage is strikingly increased with regard to the other devices. Furthermore, being in the same nacelle, the pilot and the machine gunner can communicate easily.
3) Big handiness, the masses being strictly grouped. Gone up extra fast.
4) Several systems protecting the life of the occupants are foreseen:
    a) Gas tank with lid largable ACAZ system.
    b) Fire extinguisher.
    c) Parachute for pilot and machine gunner ; easy evacuation because of wings and of nacelle.
    d) Stiff nacelle forming frame of protection in case of accidents.
5) Solid but simple metal construction allowing a mass stake without excessive equipment.
      The metal construction allows the stay the bad weather without damages for the device.
6) Simple and fast regulation foreseen for the cell and the empennages.
7) Conception ahead of the current programs thus type of current aircraft for a big number of years.

In summary : a beautiful war weapon ; fast, solid, handy and very elegant being able to compete and even outstrip all the existing devices or under construction ; prototype nowadays.

	Characteristics
	Scale 12,5 m Dihedral of the superior wing 4° Dihedral of the lower wing 0° Way of the landing gear 2m Section of the fuselage to the boss couples: 0,9 x 1,38 m Total length 8,25 m Maximum height 3,4 m Surface superior wings (including ailerons) 21,36 m ² Surface lower wings (including ailerons) 19,2 m ² Carrying surface 40,56 m ² Total surface of 4 ailerons 4,88 m ² Total surface of the elevator 2,84 m ² Total surface of the static shot 2,94 m ² Total surface of the plan(shot) of drift 0,58 m ² Total surface of the rudder 0,985 m ²	Outstrip graft plans 1,60 m Depth of wings (superiors and subordinates) 1,86 m Gap of wings 750 m/m Slope of wings with regard to the axis of fuselage + 3° Slope of the engine with regard to the axis of fuselage 0° Centring: parasol. Axis of drive of the engine below the centre of gravity. Little taken away centres, Stability in any slopes guarantee by the essays in the tunnel. Profile of wing ACAZ N 2 - very fine speed wing, the centre of pressure of which varies little (Conclusion of the essays in the laboratory). Charge at m ² : 46,9 kgr Charge at CV : 4,11 kgr

Estimate of the Weights

Wings, hut, checkmates and shrouds of wings with all the horseshoes, the ailerons 300 kg
Fuselage 105 kg
Empennages, govern 35 kg
Atterrisseur complete 65 kg
Weight of fuel for 3 1/2 the hour of flight ; gasoline(essence) 380 kg, oils 25 kg
Vacuous engine + helix (without water) 435 kg
Radiator + water total 105 kg
Live weight (Pilot, machine gunner, equipment, armament, developments, T.S.F, parachutes) 350 kg
Commands, tanks, divers and unforeseen 100 kg

Total weight: 1900 kg

Performances found by the essay in the tunnel of the model of the plane
By the Belgian aerodynamic laboratory

Maximum speed on the ground with full load 225 kph
Minimum speed on the ground with full load 86 kph
Radius of action 790 km. Ceiling 7400 m. Speed in the ceiling 155 kph

Maximum and minimum speeds and time of ascent

Height

Vmax

Vmin

Time of ascent

1000 m
2000 m
3000 m
4000 m
5000 m
6000 m
7000 m

221 kph
217 kph
214 kph
208 kph
202 kph
193 kph
178 kph

89 kph
94 kph
99 kph
107 kph
113 kph
123 kph
137 kph

2 mn 30 s
6 mn
10 mn
16 mn
25 mn
42 mn 30 s
1 h 31 mn

Article writed by Fred. Hermann for the belgium newspaper "La conquête de l'air"

Comments about the previous article by his autor

Thanks to Yves Duwelz, to Jean Pierre Lauwers, to Didier Campion, to Rod Filan, to Jan den Das, to Jacques Willems, to Luc Wittemans and to Gérard Rooss for informations and documents relative to the history of ACAZ C2 which they sent me.

C2 model exists in scale 1/72 at Omega Models