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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0156.PDF
plE MARCH. 5, 1910. THE, MACFIE BRITISH AEROPLANE. SOME little time ago, as our readers may remember, flight experiments were carried out on the Maplin Sands by Mr. Macfie, who succeeded in making a few long jumps before the military authorities in charge of the gunnery range at Shoeburyness caused these promising trials to be temporarily abandoned. Mr. Macfie transferred his machine to France in the hope of finding a satisfactory trial ground, but meeting with considerable difficulty in arranging for what he considered to be reasonable con- The Frame. The frame of the machine is a light V-section ash girder measuring about 3 ft. deep at the forward end and 12 ins. deep at the tail. The bottom member lies Side view of the Macfie monoplane. "Flight" Copyright. ditions under which he could continue his experiments, he has once more returned to England, and is now about to conduct further trials over home soil. "^The Macfie aeroplane is interesting as an almost entirely home-made machine, and also because it embodies several ingenious features in the details of its construction. As a type it resembles at first sight the Bleriot monoplane, but the wings have a dihedral angle like the Antoinette. horizontal when the machine is on the ground, and the two top members, therefore, have a gradual slope from the tail to the forward end of the machine. The front extremity of the frame is formed by a kind of prow that is specially constructed as a support for the engine, pains having been taken to try and reduce the effect of vibration as much as possible. The two upper members of the frame are spaced about 2 ft. 6 ins. apart at the widest point, which is immediately between the wings, and they likewise taper together towards the tail, where they terminate 12 ins. apart. At intervals the longi tudinal members are stayed by cross - pieces, and the fasten- View of the Macfie monoplane from in front. " Flight" Copyright. They are fastened to a frame that is built of wood and wire and forms a V-section lattice girder of tapering section. In front, the frame is mounted on a wheeled chassis, and behind it rests upon a skid. The rear part of the frame carries a pivoted tail and a rudder. In front, immediately above the chassis, is the engine, which drives a two-bladed tractor-screw. The pilot's seat is between the wings, and the control, which includes wing- warping, is effected by a single vertical lever and a pedal. ing of these is one of those peculiarities, it might almost be said curiosities, in the constructional detail of the Macfie aeroplane. An accompanying sketch shows exactly how the joints are made. The girder struts abut flat and true against the bearer spars, but they do not make any sort of a mortice joint. Their fastening is effected by the use of steel angle- plates that are lashed to the different members by strips of fine Irish linen tape. The tape is previously soaked in a 152
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