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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0690.PDF
OCTOBER 30, 1909. Anzani 25'h.p,—Air-cooled 3-cyl. semi-radial engine of the type used by M. Bleriot in the cross-Channel flight. The cylinders are separate castings, complete with heads and valve-chambers. They are ribbed circumferentially to increase the cooling surface, and are fastened to a one-piece aluminium crank-chamber of cylin- drical shape. The induction-valves are atmospheric; the exhaust- valves are operated by three separate cam-shafts. The cylinder walls are perforated to exhaust to atmosphere at the end of the stroke. All the cylinders are set in the same plane, and the pistons (stee with cast rings) are coupled up to the same crank, two of the big ends being forked. The angle between one cylinder and its neigh- bour is 6o°, and the firing order is I, 3, 2, taking No. 2 cylinder as being that in the centre. From No. 1 to No. 3 the firing interval is 1200, from No. 3 to No. 2 and again from No. 2 to No. i is 3000. Dimensions.—105 mm. by 130 mm. ; weight, 65 kilogs. ; h.p., 25 at 1,600 r.p.m. ; price, 3,000 francs. <& ® ® ® FLIGHT AS A SPECTACLE.To the general public, who in the majority of cases can hardly hope to have any intimate acquaintance with the practical side of flying, at any rate for some little while to come, the spectacular aspect of flight necessarily con- stitutes at the moment the most interesting feature of such demonstrations as have been taking place at Blackpool and Doncaster. It is the display rather than the competition which appeals, and in any case the man in the street is not apt to be very much concerned with an event as such unless he happens to have money on it. Such being the case, it is therefore a matter of some importance to consider the attractions of flight as a spectacle in order to judge of the influence which it may have on the support which flight meetings are likely to receive at the hands of the public after the first flush of novelty has worn off. There is no doubt that a machine in flight is a sight affording new impressions of a vivid character. It is something which everyone ought to see, but having once watched an uneventful flight on a calm day, there is equally no doubt that there arises a desire for a stronger thrill. To see Farman circling the course at an altitude of only some ten or fifteen'fret above the ground is to receive an impression of such absolute safety that the average spectator has no hesitation whatever about going away for refreshments while the flight is still in progress. Between this and the demonstration provided by Latham, when he flew at Blackpool on Friday, October 22nd, in a wind fluctuating between fifteen and thirty miles an hour, there is an immeasurable gap. Latham's flight was probably the finest thing which it has ever been the privilege of man to witness. It was, in truth, an example of the real conquest of the air, for every instant of its duration the flight remained a battle against the elements. No steady effortless parade was this; his flyer was like a little sailing boat in a stormy sea, and required the same patient, or far greater, skill to avert disaster. Sometimes almost stationary in respect to the ground, though ploughing speedily through the air, at other times blown bodily sideways to such an extent that the pilot had to head the breeze in order to keep position, the flyer was never for two consecutive moments in the same condition. Each instant presented some new phase, which held the spectators' gaze steadily on that frail-looking gnat-like object as it fought the wind. Yet in time to come, when others fly like this, and the conquest of the air is about as complete as the conquest of the elements at sea, it is possible that spectators will cease to be impressed, because they will no longer realise how much it means. Then will be the day of evolutions in the air, skilful figure-making such as is practised by the accomplished skater. There has been little of this to be seen so far. The brothers Wright have attempted most, but their flights have not happened in this country. To the organisers of flight meetings this element must ever become of increasing importance, and they will be well advised to encourage this side of the art. Even at present the mere ascent and landing offer attractions from the spectacular point of view which are absent in the flight itself. One of the most interesting incidents which took place at Blackpool was Rougier's descent from a high altitude opposite the Judges' box. Standing up in his machine, the pilot appeared to be leaning the weight of his body upon the steering-wheel as he forced down the leading edge of the elevator to the limit of its travel. Quickly but steadily the machine descended, and at the last moment Rougier sat back in his seat, and drawing the steering-wheel towards him, thus tilted the elevator so that, like a bird spreading its wings, he brought the machine to earth without a shock. There remains the question as to what is to be done with the competitors who are not certain whether they can fly at all, and who in any case are sure to be only able to fly a little way. Left to go on working away in their sheds, as they were at Blackpool, they can hardly be said to have added anything to the spectacular side of the event, yet there is no reason whatever why they should not contribute their share, as indeed they were supposed to do. Their efforts at rising, and their subse- quent descents, would do much to relieve the monotony of waiting for the flight of the day, and it seems to us very desirable that the official arrangements should ensure something of this sort taking place. GORDON-BENNETT AT last the Swiss Aero Club have come to a final decision regarding the Gordon-Bennett Balloon Race, and have upheld their original award, so that the cup once more goes to America. Mr. Mix, in the " America II," covered the greatest distance of 1,12m kiloms. (697 miles), while M. Alfred Leblanc, in the " He de France," was second with 817'17 kiloms. Railways and Aeroplanes. A LITTLE while ago, we mentioned as evidence of the fact that flight had come to stay, the fact that rates for insurance against various risks were being drawn, and yet another illustration lies in the announcement that BALLOON RACE. (508 miles), M. Messner, in the " Azurea," third, with 80370 kiloms. (499 miles), and Col. Shaeck fourth, with 77202 kiloms. (479 miles). Apparently the Club found that the descent of Mr. Mix in Bohemia, when the balloon was hauled down by the peasants, who seized the trail rope, came within the meaning of the rule, which allows of one descent en route. <?> ® the attention of the Goods Managers' Conference (Clas- sification Committee) at the Railway Clearing House, will shortly be given to the question as to whether aero- planes should be included in the general railway clas- sification of goods by merchandise trains. 692
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