FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0769.PDF
SEPTEMBER 2, 1911. I/JIGHTJ Man-carrying glider constructed by Masters Pickering and Willoughby. structor, and personally I should be very pleased to receive par ticulars of same. If spars of stream-line form could be made by this process, without the necessity of making them in halves, they should be most useful, if of uniform quality. Referring to the wire strainer, which I notice illustrated in "Models," of same issue, I used this mode of tightening wires in the summer of 1909, on a full-sized machine, and whilst it certainly answers its purpose, it requires to be most carefully used, as an enormous leverage can be obtained ; in fact, we often strained 10 and 12 gauge high-tensile steel wires to breaking point by this means, so that with the light wires used in model work it would require very delicate handling. We drilled holes round the periphery of the ratchet, and tightened up by means of a short " tommy bar " when extra tension was required. Also the teeth require to be well undercut, or the wires may spring out under a sudden shock, such as may be had when landing. Coventry. WILLIAM A. WEAVER. A Valkyrie Type Qlider. [1329] The enclosed photograph represents the unaided work of my son and his friend, aged 16 and 15 respectively. They take more than a keen interest in aviation, and have during their holidays the last year or so built successful models of most of the various types of biplanes and monoplanes. They have now tried something on a larger scale, viz., a glider, obtaining their idea from your scale drawing of a Valkyrie monoplane, on page 273 of your issue of April 1st, 1911. The dimensions of the glider are—span of plane 26 ft., length 20 ft., breadth of body 6 ft. The planes are covered with strong proofed and sized cloth. The machine is substantially built, easily assembled, convenient to transport, and only cost, for the raw material, about 25s. The builders, Charles Leigh Pickering and Norman Dean Willoughby, are now waiting for a suitable breeze and at least a " flight." The machine took about a fortnight to build. Knutsford. ROBERT L. PICKERING. London Aerodrome Limited. [1330] With reference to the notice appearing in your last issue of the appointment of myself as voluntary liquidator of this Com pany, I beg to state, in order that there should not be the slightest misunderstanding, that the only reason for such appointment is the sale of the Company's whole undertaking to Mr. Claude Grahame- White, who, I understand, has now disposed of the same to the Grahame-White Aviation Company, Limited, which Company will continue the business at Hendon as heretofore. London, E.C. WALTER A. PEARCE. The Twisting Tail. [1331] My attention has been called to letters that are requently appearing in your excellent paper bearing on the subject of a twisting tail. This definition does not give much of an explanation of what the writers mean. For some years past I have experimented with model gliders ot the monoplane type, some having lifting tails and others the reverse, each model having some form of twisting tail. It is possible, and decidedly more natural, in the opinion of the writer, to control horizontal or even vertical direction by means of a tail such as I have used and the design of which is protected. It has not been my privilege to see much flying, but the action of the vertical rudder as used in most, if not all, aeroplanes is not '' natural." Supposing the rudder is ported, the area of that member sets up a resistance upon the port side of the centre of pressure, and by so doing retards the after portion of the machine (in the case of a monoplane), thereby causing it to "hang"; at least, this is my experience with models. As it would not be beneficial for any other persons to apply for a patent in connection with the same principle or the application of that principle, and would also mean unnecessary expense for me, perhaps some of your correspondents will at least give an outline of their experience. Roj. F. RICHARDS. MODELS. Hot Air Engine. [1332] Perhaps some of your readers with experience would criticise this drawing of a 4-cylinder rotary hot air engine that we are thinking of making. The cylinders rotate in the opposite direction to the propeller by means of two gear wheels. It is to be- made of aluminium throughout. The lamp to be methylated spirit. Would this drive a 10-in. propeller ? Tonbridge. H. B. M. and J. G. F. tI333] I have pleasure in enclosing photo of my one-eighth scale model Valkyrie Type " A," on which I should be pleased to receive the criticism of your readers. Shoeburyness. W. BACON. 771
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
