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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0093.PDF
FEBRUARY 5, 1910. and that a compactness is obtained which differentiates the design from any other machines that are at all well known. Passing direct to the large biplane that is now nearing completion, we may say at once that there are two very marked reasons why considerable interest is demanded by it. Firstly, there is, of course, this new principle on 1/ycHT) with diagonal wires tha<t run spirally around them and are soldered where they pass over the screw heads that hold the struts to the spars. These long girders are, moreover, made in three separate lengths and are readily jointed together for erection ; and the girders when in place are coupled up by five pairs of vertical tie-bars, disposed as shown in our drawing, and of a square cross-section * • •-• View of the experimental monoplane with which numerous practical experiments were carried out before the large machine now building was commenced. This mpdel, with its elastic motor, used to rise under its own power off its starting-rail, and travel a considerable distance in the air. trial, affecting the form of the planes, but also, even apart from that, many of the constructional details that have been introduced are valuable contributions to the con structional development that is now going on all round. The inventor and designer has in this way displayed a degree of constructional skill which is far above the average in a first machine of this kind; and certainly haste to put his ideas to the practical test on a large scale has not been allowed to interfere with the thorough soundness of the job. The new biplane is ambitious in proportions, for it te intended to carry a very considerable Details showing the wood and steel wire construction of the main girders. weight, representing at least two or three persons, in addition to the comparatively heavy engine that is being installed. An extraordinary degree of strength has been secured with a remarkably low total weight, by the use of wood and of steel wire in a very special way. Thus has a net result been obtained of a total spread of about 1,200 square ft of surface with a total weight of about 1,600 lbs., including 500 lbs. for the 50-h.p. engine. As a backbone, two main girders are employed, one above the other, 8 ft. 4 ins. apart and some 45 ft. long. Each of them is triangular in shape, built as shown in our separate detailed sketch, some 1 ft. deep and built up of i£ in. diameter spars with short 1 in. struts and chamfered off fore and aft to reduce their wind resistance. Universally-jointed on either side of each of these girders is a transverse spar that slopes upwardly outwards and serves to carry the main planes by means of steel cables passing between its extremities and those of the girder to which it is attached. Each pair of transverse spars lies approximately on the level of each of the planes, and these spars are tied together by diagonals that render them comparatively rigid in spite of their ball-and-socket joints. Each spar is built up in the manner shown in our final sketch with six wooden membershaving a cross-section of 11 in. by A in., with intermediate steel wire diagonals soldered to steel straps. Special wire strainers are used Internal wood and steel wire construction of the transverse spars. during the process of construction of this central portion, and an immensely strong member results. Finally, the completed spar, as illustrated in our sketch, is covered with fabric, and then its cross-section,, which is oval in shape, is approximately 1 ft. in width by z\ in. maximum depth. As will be observed from the plan, moreover, these spars are about 16 ft. in length. The planes themselves are of fabric and are carried by steel cables stretched between the ends of the girders and the ends of the spars as already mentioned. The fabric forms a single surface upon bent wood ribs that lie longitudinally through it and are pocketed against it, these ribs tapering off rearwardly and thus giving the
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