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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0617.PDF
JtJLY IS, 191 1. (75^3 POWER-DRIVEN MODEL. By PERCIVAL A- RIDGERS. MY sole object in constructingsolarge amodelashere described is to test a mechanical device for maintaining lateral stability. As I am of opinion that it is impossible to make satisfactory tests with small models, this machine, as will be seen by the photographs, will be large enough to carry a child. It is made in four parts, viz., fuselage and chassis, two planes, and combined tail and rudder. These parts can be assembled in a few minutes, and thus renders storing and moving an SHUT .HON CU« (STEtl.') 1 NiePLE.? Details of Mr. Ridgers' machine. -easy matter. The undermentioned are a few of the details of construction, the majority of which are quite original. The wood used throughout is American white wood. The fuselage main spars are £ in. x f in. square in front, tapering to fin. x J in. square at tail. The bracing spars are joined to main spars by clips, as Fig. 1 on detail. These are made of sheet iron, each clip being made from a single piece of sheet iron, which is cut and bent as sketch. This makes an exceedingly strong clip, as being without joints it cannot break. Over these clips and fixed with the same screws are other clips, as Fig. 2. These are drilled to receive heads of cycle spokes. The wire tighteners (Fig. 3) are constructed of pieces of cycle tube and spokes and nipples. The spokes are first threaded through clips (Fig. 2), and tightened by screw ing up nipples which are threaded through holes in pieces of cycle tube (Fig. 3). This method allows any wire to be tightened instantly with a nipple key. The planes are each 8 ft. by 4 ft. and are double-surfaced. They each have three shaped pieces to form camber. Fitted to these are six longitudinal spars, shaped and bored for lightness (as Fig. 5). Screwed to these spars are thin battens. The whole is braced from two oval cycle tube standards bywires. Fig. 4 describes method of tightening these. Two zinc girders are used, one on leading and one on trailing edge of planes, as Figs. 6 and 7. The method of fixing canvas is shown in Fig. 8. This is a zinc strap turned up to receive fabric, along the edge of which is sewn a stout copper wire. The zinc strap is then turned down over wire, and then fixed by bolts to zinc girders. The canvas is made in two halves, and eyeletted and laced where it meets at centre. The chassis (Fig. 9) is pneumatic sprung. Centre tube A is a plunger, sliding in tube B. C is a loose collar ; E is a bracket. The tail is of crucifix form, and is so made than any part can be instantly replaced in case of breakage. The propeller is 3 ft. 6 ins. long, and under tests appears to give every satisfaction. The springs seen in front of chassis were intended for a shock-absorber for a 3-h.p. Century engine, but I have since found engine not strong enough, This machine over all measures 18 ft. wide, 15 ft. long. To successfully fly same I shall need a much stronger engine, which, perhaps, some reader of FLIGHT may be able to put me in the way of obtaining. In conclusion I must say that I cannot speak too highly of FLIGHT, from which I have obtained much useful information, and wish it every success. Views of the machine, showing the seat for a child, 619
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