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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0276.PDF
MAY 15, 1909. " Flight " Copyright. A detail on the Rep monoplane. longevity of a joint of this description had the members, B and C, been themselves faced with steel so to prevent the split-pin cutting into the wood. ••-•In the Voisin flyer, which is an example of rigid con- struction, the attachment of the vertical-strut, B, to the horizontal-spar, A, is accomplished by means of an aluminium socket, A1, which is fastened to the spar itself by two bolts, A2. The heads of these bolts, it will b e noticed, are used as eye- pieces :: '":.'•'.'•'-'.: for the attachment of the diagonal stay-wires, C, which, by the way, would seem to be in a position to exert an appreci- able leverage upon the bolt-heads. On Captain Wind- ham's Pischoff, the socket is replaced by a pair of angle- brackets, A', which are similarly fastened to the main- spar, A, but have, of course, to be bolted to the vertical strut, B, in addition. As a result, it is not so simple a job to make a really rigid connection, although the method doubtless lends itself to cheap construction. Some other details not related to the particular type of joint which we have just discussed, are also included among the accompanying sketches, one of which, for instance, shows a little detail in the construction of the Rep monoplane. It illustrates a connection between a rectangular steel tie-rod, B, and a main spar, A, which is carried out by means of a swivel, C, carried on a bracket, A1, formed by steel flitch-plates screwed to the main spar itself. This particular joint is one used in connection with the warpings of the wings, but as a detail of con- struction it is, of course, not limited to this particular application. ® @ * Army Dirigible II." . TRIALS were made at Farnborough on Tuesday and Wednesday last with the new Army dirigible. Only short flights were made, that on the first day lasting for about Another little device initially designed for a special purpose, but which might conceivably have extended utility, is the flexible rib on the Short flyer. It is a feature of the Short construction that the surfaces of their main planes are as rigid and exact in contour as they can possibly make them. On the other hand, however, it will be recollected that their machine embodies rearward extensions of the main-plane in the form of " lips," which can be flexed on either side of the neutral stream line for the purposes of righting and steering. One of the accompanying sketches shows how this flexibility is obtained. The top and bottom laths, A and A1, which "Flight" Copyright. ; Adjustment for tightening stay-wires. form the rib, are caused to grip the transverse-lath, B, which forms the trailing edge of the lip in question, by means of a light steel band, A3. This is so arranged that when the lip is flexed up or down the laths can accom- modate themselves by sliding into their natural positions without in any way disturbing their joint with the rear edge. Mention has already been made of the fact that while some constructors believe in tight bracing, others use comparatively slack wires. In the former case it is commonly considered desirable to afford some means of keeping the wires taut, and of readily adjusting them. The device for doing this is in most cases a simple barrel nut, such as that illustrated, in which the wire, B, is divided and attached to a pair of right and left-handed steel screws, A1, which engage with the nut barrel, A. Through the centre of the nut a hole is drilled so that it can be conveniently turned by the use of a "tommy- bar," and the same hole serves for locking the nut by means of a piece of wire, A2, arranged as shown in the sketch. . - : •-.-;.- an hour, but on the second day it was noticed that a steadying sail had been fitted beneath the balloon. As far as could be judged the trials were satisfactory, although no information was divulged officially. Latest form of the Robin biplane which is fitted with an 8'cyl. 5O.h,p, Antoinette motor, chain transmission andtwo propellers. It has a span of 12 metres, and a plane surface of 52 sq. metres. The feature of this aeroplane is the pronounced curvature of the lower plane. 278
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