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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0173.PDF
MARCH 27, 1909. between the main planes is 05 metre less than that on the modern Voisin machines. The control is unaltered and the details of construction are likewise unchanged; the engine with which the flyer is equipped is a 50-h.p. 8-cyl. Antoinette. M. Delagrange has^ as readers of FLIGHT know, met with a considerable measure of success with these machines. He was one of the early winners of the Aero Club of France 200 metres prize, and for a brief period before Wright's achievements in that country, actually held the world's record with a flight lasting nearly 30 minutes, during the course of which he accomplished a. distance of 247 kiloms., by making 15^ circuits of the Issy Parade Ground. Among other places, he has flown in Rome, and among other notable facts in con- nection with his performances is that he took aloft the first lady passenger, Madame Therese Peltier. Short (SHORT BROS.). The biplane Messrs. Short Bros, are showing at Olympia is one they have designed and constructed to their own ideas, and must not be confused with the Wright machines, which they are also building, but are. and arrangements have been made to use a loose- wheeled chassis for trial purposes if necessary. The machine exhibited at Olympia is unfinished, but it is so far forward that it is difficult to believe that there has been but a fortnight's labour spent on it. To those really interested in flying machines its present state is possibly far more interesting than its final condition would have been, in fact, it may be said to bear the same relationship to the fledged flyer as a chassis does to a complete motor car, for it gives an unimpeded view of its constructional details. The machine is built entirely of wood and the workmanship throughout is excellent ; moreover, much ability has been shown in the design of details, and it is evident that those responsible are fully appreciative of the importance of accuracy in experi- mental work. The structure as a whole is characterised by considerable flexibility, the object being to allow the machine to accommodate itself to the inequalities ot the ground when landing. On the other hand the planes are rigid fore and aft to ensure an accurate curvature under all pressures. The main transverse spars dismantle into three sections for transports the joints being effected by simple fish-plate fastening, * " Flight" Copyright .Photo. AERO SHOW AT OLYMPIA.—The Short flyer seen from one side, showing the skeleton framework. One ofthe four rudders has alone been covered with Continental fabric, the remainder of the machine being quite unfinished. The flexing of the righting tips is well shown OQ the extreme right, and in front, on the left of the photograph, the biplane elevator can be seen. unable to show. It is not like the Wright machine, except so far as it belongs to the same " tail-less" category, but this is an important similarity in view of the popularity of the Voisin "tailed" flyer among other constructors. Not only has the Short machine no tail, but it has no outstanding rudder as there is on the Wright flyer, steering on the Short model being effected by means of four interconnected rudders arranged in pairs just behind the extremities of the main planes. Where the rudders are situated the main planes them- selves have greater fore and aft dimensions, and the flexible lips thus formed ate flexed in opposite directions to control the lateral stability. Propulsion is effected by a pair of large diameter twin-bladed wooden propellers, situated immediately behind the rear edges of the main planes. The machine is mounted on a pair or skis, which are relieved of the bending strain by the usualA system of diagonal wires and vertical wood struts. These latter are of plain oval section and are hinged at their extremities to aluminium lugs on the main spars by the use of flush steel flitch-plates. The planes themselves when finished will be double surfaced, and the construc- tion of the fore and aft ribs to which the Continental fabric will be attached is one of the most interesting details in the construction. The same principle cf double surface construction has been adopted for the rudders. There is a small vertical plane forming a prow or " cut-water" between the two decks of the biplane elevator. Like the rest of the machines the propellers are constructed of wood and have also been made at the Short factory. Each propeller is built up from a composite block of wood made of six layers. 175
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