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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0865.PDF
OCTOBER 22, 1910. the more favoured wing flexing. The tubular fusellage seems to be coming into fashion, and there are several interesting examples of it at the Show. More change is noticeable in the design of biplanes. All types are greatly reduced in size, and tend towards the monoplane principle. Only four or five machines retain the forward elevator, and that in each case in conjunction with one on the tail. The Wright is almost alone in the employment of a biplane front elevator, whilst the Farman is the only machine with a biplane tail. The chord of the main planes has become less in the majority of cases, the Breguet biplane, for instance, having planes of a little over 3 ft. in width. The Goupy, Turcat-Mery and Rougier, and one or two others place the propeller in front of the main planes, whilst a few, such as the Farman, Voisin, and Wright, still retain the old position. In construction there is an increase in the use of steel tubing and steel joints and sockets, with a correspond ing decrease in the use of aluminium. Such wooden stays as are in use are given in most case an oval stream-line form. In fact, considerably more attention has been shown all round to the reduction of head resistance. Different methods of plane construction, such as that employed both on the Paulhan and Faber machines, is responsible for the disappearance of a great deal of wire stay work. There is a notable improvement in the finish of the aeroplanes shown this year. At previous exhibitions heavy coats of varnish and startling colours covered a multitude of sins. Makers have at last begun to realise that the extra care entailed in giving a perfect finish helps greatly towards an increase of strength. One or two of the machines look as though they had been assembled in too great a hurry, a few, perhaps, have the battered appearance consequent on previous use, but as a rule the exhibits have been built with the greatest of care and attention to detail. Good examples of artistic work can be found in the Antoinette monoplane, in both the Farmans, and in the Bleriot. The military value of aeroplanes as illustrated during the recent manoeuvres has induced many makers to design specially for the Army. Clerget, for instance, has produced a tandem monoplane with three seats and driven by a 200-h.p. motor. Voisin is the first to fit a mitrailleuse to his two-seater biplane. The effects produced after firing this gun from some height ought to be interesting. The Breguet biplane and the Hanriot and Bleriot monoplanes are also mounted as aeroplanes of war. There is no alteration worth noticing on the Antoinette mono plane. In fact, since the disappearanoe of ailerons from this type well over a year ago, no change of any importance has been made. Since the death of Wachter the wire stay cables below the wings have been strengthened sufficiently to render a recurrence of that fatality even under similarly adverse circumstances extremely unlikely. A wooden propeller, the Normale, has now taken the place of the old adjustable one of metal, which was never really satfsfactory. A few changes have been made in the structure of the engine, to the improvement of which is due the recent excellent performances of the Antoinette. Similarly, few changes appear on the Henry Farman biplane from that used during the last few months. The clumsy universal-joint connecting the control-lever to the frame has now disappeared, and its place has been taken by a neat device, which will be illustrated later. The whole machine has a much better finish than had its predecessors. M. Maurice Farman has discarded the vertical planes once fitted by him, and the skids on his machine are now continued until they join the elevator, as on the Sommer. [/OGHT] The front chassis section of the Tellier monoplane, showing the very strong construction of the fusellage and simple fitting of the 6-cyi. Panhard aviation motor. The Wright biplane now fits wheels as a standard, and the stabilising tail first introduced by the French company appears on all machines. M. Bleriot exhibits machines similar to those which have done so much to increase his reputation during the past few months. He, too, has a military type of monoplane—a two-seater made rather heavier and stronger than usual. Except in so far as the fusellage has been altered to take the Gnome engine, the B16riot remains the same in appearance now as it was a year ago. The angle of incli nation and the wing curvature is much less, and to the passenger machine is fitted a fan-shaped tail. Beyond that no change. After many months of faithful adherence to the cumbersome but simple box-kite type of biplane, Messrs. Voisin have recently come into line with other makers, and with astonishingly successful results. The machine displayed by them on the stand of the Compagnie Aerienne is a two-seater copy of the Paris-Bordeaux type. The front elevator has gone, though the fusellage is still built out in the canoe-shaped manner of the earlier models, but without the former canvas covering. Gone, too, are the vertical planes and the box tail. Large ailerons are fitted to the trailing edge of the upper plane, and the present tail is one of the simplest on the market. The trailing edge of the tail plane (which is curved and weight carrying) is hinged and acts as an elevator, and the square rudder is immediately beneath. The two seats are placed side by side, the passenger sitting to the left. In front of him is placed, on this model, a mitrailleuse of similar calibre to those used in the French Army, but considerably lighter. Steel tubes have replaced the wooden portions of the framework. (To be continued.) ANALYSIS OF MOTORS AT THE PARIS SHOW. Vertical cylinders. Labor. Chenu. Gregoire-Gyp. Clerget I. Aster (desaxe). Wright. Gobron-Brillie. Panhard. Rotary engines. Gnome. Rossel. Filtz. Bajard-Monier. v type- Radial cylinders. Opposed cylinders. Renault- R.E.P.* Darracq. Daimler. Anzani.* Bayard-Clement. Clerget II. Viale.* Dutheil-Chalmers Antoinette. Lemasson.* Suere. E.N.V. Anzani. Coudert Fiat. Canton-Unne. Farcot. * Semi-radial. Special engines.— Broc, neither poppet or slide valves ; Cauda, radial cylinders fixed tangentialiy and completing 4-stroke cycle every revolution ; Weisz, fixed pistons, moving cylinders ; Ligez, 3-cylinder rotary, both cyUnders and crank-shaft rotating ; Beck, curved cylinder*.
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