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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0646.PDF
OCTOBER 16, 1909. and seems to be a very good solution of a particular difficulty which has to be overcome. Wheels are necessary for running along the ground when starting, but skis are better suited to withstand the shock of landing. In those devices which combine both members, the wheels are mounted so that they are normally some six or eight inches below the level of the runners. They are suspended ELASTIC. " Flight" Copyright. PARIS FLIGHT SHOW.—Sketch illustrating the use of wheels in conjunction with ski for the chassis of an aero- plane. in such a manner as to be capable of taking the dead weight of the machine, but on sudden impact with the ground the wheels rise and the runners take the load, thus preventing damage to the wheel- mounting which is otherwise liable to take place. Even on a so- called smooth flying ground a chassis wheel gets quite an amount of bumping about; in fact, it is rather remarkable that more accidents have not happened with this member. Elastic Springs. The suspension at present employed almost invariabiy includes the use of elastic springs. These springs are built up out of innumerable fine strands of elastic until they form a cable which averages from an inch to an inch and a quarter in diameter, according to the load. The cable is covered with a woven cotton fabric and is fitted with a " Flight " Copyright. PARIS FLIGHT SHOW.—Portion of an elastic spring, showing the brass ferrule which is clamped to its extremity to provide a means of attachment to the machine. clamp at each end, so that it can conveniently be attached to its anchorages. The price which the accessory dealers are asking for these elastic springs suggests a very keen eye to the main chance, in spite of the present cost of rubber; for a single " spring" about 12 ins. in length 35 fis. was demanded. Timber and Steel. Turning to the materials used for the construction of aeroplanes, timber is unquestionably still more popular than steel, although there are not wanting prominent designers, like M. Esnault-Pelterie, who use steelwork very largely in their machines. Spruce for spars and other fairly bulky members, and ash for the lighter pieces, especially those which are curved, are the most common woods employed. Tubular steelwork for the chassis is, of course, frequently to be seen. Deck Surfaces. The surfacing of the decks or wings is in most cases carried out with rubber-proofed fabric, although in a few instances fine untreated canvas is considered adequate. From the many letters we have received on the subject, we are led to suppose that the method of fastening the surface material to the skeleton framework of the deck presents points of special difficulty to our readers, but in reality there is not a great deal in this matter which calls for special comment as the result of an examination of the actual machines. Sometimes the fabric is hardly fastened down at all, at others it is stuck down with cement or tacked down with nails to occasional ribs. A pre- "Flight" Copyright. PARIS FLIGHT SHOW. —Sketch illustrating how Ithe surface fabric may be protected from the nails which secure it to the rib by the use of rib laths. The above sketch illustrates a portion of a wing tip seen from beneath. caution which some builders take in the latter case is to place a thin strip of wood outside the fabric to prevent the nail heads from tearing through. The method adopted by Santos Dumont of sewing the upper and- lower surfaces together between the ribs is interesting and uncommon. Many firms are using strips of aluminium " Flight" Copyright. PARIS FLIGHT SHOW. — Sketch illustrating Santos Dumont's method of fastening the fabric by sewing the upper and lower surfaces together between the ribs. bent into c section for the leading edges of the decks, as it is light, and gives a smooth continuous front. A method of finishing off the trailing edge, ;which is at once effective and neat, is to run a steel wire through a pocket which can be conveniently made by turning back the fabric. Incisions in the cloth expose the wires at intervals coinciding with ribs of the framework, over the ends of which it can " Flight" Copyright. PARIS FLIGHT SHOW.—Sketch illustrating the use o£sheet aluminium for the leading edge of the main decks. 65O
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