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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0176.PDF
MARCH 27, 1909. A feature of the Breguet construction which is well worthy of attention is the method of obtaining a smooth round cutting edge by the use of thin sheet aluminium tacked on over the Continental fabric. Aluminium ribs of shallow channel section are also used for stiffening the decks, and the same metal is employed in the con- struction of the flexible propeller blades, which are, however, not shown at Olympia. For the support of the main planes only four tubular steel struts are used, one pair at the extremities, and the other pair in the middle, where they form part of the central framework. The engine with which the machine will be equipped is a 75-h.p. Gobron aero-motor; it will drive a tractor screw in front, which is another peculiarity of the Breguet biplane, since most machines of this type have pro- pellers behind the main planes. Rep (BF.SSLER-WAECHTER). The Rep monoplane exhibited by Messrs. Bessler- Waechter, who are the British manufacturers for M. Esnault-Pelterie, is in the main a copy of that No. 2 bis. which was exhibited at Paris and with which M. Pelterie at any given speed, an increase of speed of the engine also causes ascent with any given setting of the elevator. A feature of the general scheme of the R.E.P. flyer is the mounting of the machine on two wheels, with guide wheels on the tips of the main wings, so that the pilot can learn to partially control his machine without leaving the ground. Why M. Esnault-Pelterie adopted the mono- plane principle he explained in a lecture before the members of the Aero Club some weeks ago. It was, as our readers will remember, mainly because he found that the wires necessary in the construction of a biplane offered tremendous resistance, far greater in fact than would be imagined from their small diameter. De la Hault (MIESSE). The flapping wing flyer for which Messrs. Miesse have the British concession is a machine of very peculiar construction. The wings consist of a pair of fabric-covered blades which are mounted on trunnions and are articulated through ball and socket connections by a pair of spur wheels which in turn are operated by a system of gearing from an engine which is placed on " Flight" Copyright Photo.AERO SHOW AT OLYMPIA.—The Rep Monoplane, seen from above, and showing the lacing of th>: wing surfaces to themain frame; the lacing is subsequently covered with fabric. The elevator, tail, rudder and rigid keel are very distinctly shown. "Flight" Copyright Photo The De la Hault orthopter, which is designed to risein the air by beating its wings. The wing stroke, although apparently of a rowing nature, gives nopropulsive effort. The engine is an 8-cylinder Miesse. has himself made his most successful experiments. Except in slight details which would pass unnoticed by those not closely acquainted with the precise lines of the earlier model, the flyer on view at Olympia is quite unaltered, but close inspection shows that the tail end of the body of the machine has been slightly modified in its lines and now is more rounded in its section than formerly. The rudder, too, k a little smaller, but the system of control remains unchanged. Ascending and descending is accomplished mainly by the use of the stern elevator, steering is managed by means of the rear rudder, and lateral stability is obtained by warping the main wings. These operations are performed by levers, one of which besides warping the wings also flexes the elevator within certain limits; this particular lever is universally jointed to move either sideways or to and fro. There are two other levers which can be used to set the rudder and to set the elevator in any given position. When ascending it is the rear edge of the stern elevator which is tilted ; in biplanes which have an elevator in front of the machine it is of course the front edge which is tilted for this purpose. When proceeding a lower level and with its crank-shaft vertical. The relative position of the ball socket joint to the trunnion which carries the paddle is such that the rotation of the gear wheel causes the paddles to perform downward beat followed by a feathering motion, but although this has the appearance of a rowing stroke there is no propulsive effort, for such forward drive as there might be is neutralised by a retarding period immediately preceding the down- ward beat. We are informed that this machine has . actually lifted itself in the air for a period which was only brought to a conclusion because the gear wheels gave way. Weiss (HANDLEY PAGE). Readers of the "Flight" section of The Automoior Journal will recollect our description of the bird-like model monoplanes constructed by Mr. Weiss. The machine which Messrs. Handley Page exhibit at Olympia is a full-size flyer on the same lines, and has also been built by the inventor himself. Like most work which has been put together in this way, the flyer is naturally somewhat rough-and-ready in appearance, for practically 178
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