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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0213.PDF
MARCH 19, 1910, (/ycHfj THE. NEW "SHORT" BIPLANE. Leading Particulars of the Short Biplane, 19JO Model. Make, Short ; diameter, 7 ft. 6 in. ; material, General Dimensions.—Areas—Main planes, 282 sq. ft. ; fixed tail (hor.), 2i| sq. ft. ; (vert.), 10 sq. ft. ; elevator, 55 sq. ft. ; rudder, 10 sq. ft. Lengths.—Span, 31 ft. 8 in., chord, 5 ft. 4 ins. (aspect ratio, 6); camber, 3^ ins., situated about 24 ins. from leading edge ; leverage of rudder, about 8 ft. 6 ins. from leading edge of main planes ; gap, 4 ft. 4 ins. ; overall length, 31 ft. Materials.—Timber, spruce ; fabric, North British Rubber Co. Engine.—35-h.p. Green. spruce. Weight.—Machine, 390 lbs. ; engine, 225 lbs. ; driver, oil, petrol, 200 lbs. ; radiator, tanks, piping, 42 lbs. ; total flying weight, 857 lbs. ; loading (all weight supported on main planes) 3 lbs. per sq. ft. Speed of Flight.—45-50 m.p.h. System of Control.—Balancing planes, elevator, rudder. Price.—^650. THAT fact which above all others makes the new Short biplane interesting, is that its design is the outcome of actual experience in flight. During the last twelve months, Short Brothers have been collecting information from the practical aviation that has been actively in progress at Eastchurch and Shellbeach, which has proved invaluable to them, and it may be said that all their experience to date is embodied in the design and con struction of this latest machine that they have developed. What makes it even more interesting, is that this machine is by no means radically different from the larger biplane with which Mr. Moore-Brabazon won the Daily Mat/prize. That flyer was the first of the Short models to be actually flown, and the similarity between the two seems to us to be good cause to compliment the firm on the success that attended the scientific thoroughness with which they went to work in the first instance. Leading Characteristics. The latest Short biplane is characterised by its apparently massive construction, yet on examining it more closely it will be seen how scientifically the bulk of the material has been disposed. That this is the case is proved by the low actual weight of this machine, the framework and fabric weighing only 390 lbs. One fact that has stood out among all others as the result of practical experience is the absolute necessity for making the chassis portion of the machine and the engine bearers as strong as possible. These are, pre-eminently, the massive parts of the new Short biplane. The chassis itself is a particularly interesting and very simple piece of work, consisting of a pair of lattice girders forming landing skis. These members owe their rigidity mainly to the fact that they are not very deep, and it is in fact a characteristic of the machine, distinguishing it from the majority, that the lower deck is very close to the ground when the machine is on the earth. Short Brothers regard this as a most important feature of their design, their experience having taught them how difficult it is to construct a high chassis that is sufficiently rigid to stand the terrific severity of the shocks to which it is likely to be subjected by beginners, who are sometimes apt to suddenly " drop " their machines from a height of possibly ten feet straight on to the ground Centre of Gravity. Another outstanding characteristic of the Short design in this particular model, is the position of the engine " Flight" Copyright. General view from above of the new Short biplane, with fixed tail, front rudder, and balancing-planes among the special features. 211
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