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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0711.PDF
NOVEMBER 6, 1909. but enviable. All returned to their sheds safely, and " Parseval III" had the best record, having remained aloft for fourteen hours. " Gross II" was second with 11 hrs. 20 mins. to her credit, " Parseval" taking the next place with 10 hours, while the " Zeppelin " landed after cruising for only 8 hours. Italian Military Dirigible Mishap. LAST Sunday a long journey was undertaken by the Italian military dirigible, which successfully completed the round trip to Naples and back, a distance of 300 miles. It started from Bracciano but landed at Rome, and when commencing to return to its starting point, in the early hours of Monday morning, an unfortunate mishap occurred. A large crowd had gathered to watch the proceedings, and in endeavouring to keep them back Lieut. Rosetti was struck by a blade of the propeller. ® ® CORRESPONDENCE. %* The name and address of the writer not necessarily for fiublication) MUST in all cases accompany letters intended for insertion, or containing queries. • "tUfc-A 4-LB. ENGINE WANTED. " '' \ j ^i- To the Editor of FLIGHT. SIR,—I should be much obliged if you could tell, through your paper, whether it is possible to oblain a petrol or steam engine, weighing about 4 lbs., that would drive a 10-in. Cochrane propeller at about 1,200 r.p.m. Yours truly, Baker Street. '• - H. JERRARD. •,,..,,•,...•. BRITISH FLIGHT GROUNDS. To the Editor of FLIGHT. SIR,—Having noticed the letter in your last issuer "British Flying Grounds," I have been surprised that no one has ever mentioned Stinchcombe Hill, lying between Stinchcombe and Dursley (where the celebrated Pederson bicycle is made). Here is table- land which I should take to be over three miles in circumference, practically flat, without trees or fences ; and you may be on this hill day after day and find yourself quite alone, excepting, perhaps, Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Faithfully yours, T Sparkbrook. - ESAU MABBETT. PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT PROPELLERS. To the Editor of FLIGHT. SIR,—With reference to the present and useful trend towards contests for the most practical and efficient propeller for aviation, will you be good enough to publish the fact that I have constructed two screws, 8 ft. 3 ins. and 10 ft. 6 ins. diameter respectively, which I hope to test on the full-sized monoplane I am building, the explanatory model having been exhibited at Olympia under the auspices of the Aero Club. These screws are designed in variance to prevalent rigid types on the laws advocated by Prof. Pelligrew, Kress, and Vogt, who advocate this principle on the fundamental lessons demonstrated in the natural volant kingdom, whereby it is shown that Nature's screws are of a plastic nature, graduating in formation from the shoulder to the tip, and of exceedingly light weight. Consequently, no matter at what speed they are driven, they accommodate themselves automatically to all air pressures, whilst their strength is enormous. It follows, then, that screws designed in accordance are true revolving wings—Vogt terms them revolving sails—and since the natural wing or a care- fully constructed prototype has immense elevating and propulsive properties, there is no reason why the flexible type of screw shou'.d not enjoy advantages or even excel over the rigid screw. Should any of your readers care to test either of the above screws in fair competition against any rigid screw by power if available from i-h.p. to 50-h.p., I think that the advantages mentioned above will be clearly demonstrated, even though my screws have not had the exhaustive tests of their rivals. In a nutshell I claim (I) lightness, (2) strength, (3) safety, (4) equal efficiency to rigid screws of same diameter, (5) cheapness. I shall be happy to show any dona-fide reader these propellers by appointment. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Pimlico. EDGAR E.. WILSON. He was immediately conveyed in a motor car to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on the way there. " Espana " on Trial. HAVING completed her official trials to the satisfac- tion of the Spanish Military Authorities, the dirigible "Espana," which has been built by MM. Lebaudy Freres, was handed over on Tuesday last. The first trial was carried out on that day and consisted of a five hours' run. Leaving Beauval at ten o'clock, the vessel was headed for Paris, over which it passed, and then went on to Courbervoie, Poissy and Mantes. At the last place, the Cathedral spire provided the turning point before commencing the return journey. The shed at Beauval was safely reached after the dirigible had been in the air for 5 hrs. 10 mins., during which time 175 miles had been covered. '' •,; • © ® TERMS IN FLIGHTV ' ' .'-. ""*" To the Editor of FLIGHT. SIR,—I think there is a good deal to be said in support of Mr. Osborn Smith's suggestion that nautical terms should be chosen in preference to coining new words. Flying machines have often been called airships, which word is more naturally applied than aerofoil or aeroplane, having regard to the presence of propeller, rudder, keel, hull (often boat-like), planes curved like sails, pitching, 'scending, and rolling motions, and in all probability a very good imitation of mal-de-mer. Further, I believe, the rule of the road adopted is that already in maritime use, and with the inevitable advance, and the building of larger ships, and longer flights, the pilot will of necessity be a navigator, even if he be not termed a captain. The calculations which are made in order to determine the elements of the aerial craft, are also very similar to those carried out by the naval architect. At the same time it may be said that in addition to air-ships there may be air-buses, air-taxis, or air-houses in the same way that there are at present water-cycles and houseboats. In the description of such machines as these it is not expected that sea-going terms would be used, but on board the true ship of the air nautical phraseology cannot be out of place. Yours faithfully, Glasgow. C. L'ESTRANGE EWEN. . OMITTED ADDRESS WANTED. To the Editor of FLIGHT. SIR,—We have received an application from Mr. E. R. Gilbert for one of our aviation catalogues. He mentions having seen the advertisement in FLIGHT, but omits to give his address. We should be obliged if you will put a note in your valuable paper requesting him to send us his address. The postcard was posted at Rugby. We remain, yours faithfully, HI, Piccadilly, W. THE MOTOR SUPPLY CO., LTD. "SAVE US FROM OUR FRIENDS." To the Editor of FLIGHT. SIR,—I read with much interest and amusement your leading article on tTie above title directed, as usual, against myself. I wish to say, in answer to it as a comment and in fairness to myself, that I am delighted to think that what little I have done to help this cause has apparently (judging from your article) had the desired effect of directing your policy into looking more seriously into the serious side rather than the ridiculous. Your paper, as a whole, is a credit to you, but it is marred by the fact that you allow yourself to wander and attack individuals, which cannot be of any interest whatever (even to your most ardent supporters); and finally I may add that whatever you may say, do, or think, it will not deter me one iota from doing what I think right in trying to place this country iu aerial science equal, if not ahead, of every other in the world. Yours truly, W. J. WlNDHAM. [If anything could be needed to prove to the average thinking man and woman that our remarks of a couple of weeks ago con- cerning the part which is being played by Mr. Windham are only 713
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