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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0329.PDF
APRIL 13, 1912. JygfiT AIR EDDIES. MR. HOLT THOMAS, who, as recorded in these pages last week, has taken over the sole agency for Henry and Maurice Farman aero planes and hydro-aeroplanes for England, has engaged four hangars at Hendon, which ground he intends to make his chief flying centre. It is quite on the tapis that before long we shall have the opportunity of again seeing Renaux flying at Hendon, for I under stand that arrangements are being made for that well-known French pilot to come over to this side of the Channel for the purpose of demonstrating these well-known machines. • • • Besides Renaux, there is more than a chance of seeing M. Caudron flying at Hendon during the next week or so. The English agency for Caudron aeroplanes has, as is mentioned elsewhere, been acquired by Mr. W. H. Ewen, who should really have delivery of his first biplane by the time these lines appear. It is M. Caudron's plan to come over with his machine and personally carry out preliminary demonstrations. Charles Hubert is rather happy that he has managed to get excused from doing his conscription service in France on account of the weakness that he yet feels in his legs. However, he says, "You will be surprised to see how easily I walk now without much limping; but even this limping business will gradually get less, and in a few months no one, I think, will ever know that I had such a bad spill in September last." * • * The many friends of Mr. Furbank, one of the Flanders pupils at Brooklands, who flew under the name of Mr. " Lark," will be glad to hear that he is steadily improving from the rather bad accident that he sustained on the 16th of last month. Salmet, whose wonderful flight from London to Paris and back will long be remembered in the annals of aviation, intends, when he gets delivery of the new monoplane which M. Bleriot has promised him, and when the weather gets more favourable for long cross-country flying, to attempt to fly from London to Paris and on to Berlin in one day. • • * tjuite surprising progress did Hucks and Lewis Turner make in tackling the Anzani-Bleriot. Turner, who had never before been on a monoplane, at his first attempt made two circuits. On Wed nesday of last week, Hucks got down to the aerodrome early, and after twiddling violently, as I predicted a week or two ago, made quite a nice straight flight. Once in the air, he had full control, but governing such a low-powered machine on the ground with such a flexible chassis as a Bleriot is endowed with, is quite a different matter. However, during the morning he got from straights to circuits, and after breakfast kept the little machine in the air for five circuits, in spite of a failing engine. Turner, not to be outdone, then went ahead and made six circuits on the same machine, but then, of course, he is much lighter than Hucks. • • • Sippe is getting on very nicely with the experiments with Commander Schwann's AVTO hydro-biplane, tests of which he is superintending at Barrow. On Tuesday of last week he had the machine out and made several short flights. The machine has now been fitted with floats of Duralumin at Messrs. Vickers works. Sippe's chief trouble seems to be to know how to avoid the pro peller becoming chipped through contact with the spray thrown up. The ends of the propeller have been bound, but this precaution is not apparently quite satisfactory. • • • The most closely contested competition daring the coming season promises to be the Daily Mail circuit of London, which provides a comfortable 120 miles circuit round the Metropolis. The course has not yet been decided but will probably lie, starting from Hendon, over Wembley Park, Ealing, over Brentford to Wimbledon ; thence via Streatham and Tooting to the Crystal Palace. From this point, passing Shooter's Hill, the Thames will be crossed somewhere via Ilford, and a return made via Wanstead and Tottenham—quite a comfortable little jaunt for one day's flying. In addition to offering a trophy the Daily Mail are putting up money prizes. • • • Chatting to a friend the other day about the weird notions as regards the general outline of an aeroplane that most book illus trators seem to possess, brought back to memory a most amusing incident that happened when I was connected with a rinn that amongst their many activities, undertook the supply of parts and accessories to the amateur builder. A gentleman called one day with a view to obtaining a pair of propellers for a machine he was then constructing. Of such moment did he deem his invention, and such secrecy did he mean to maintain regarding its details, that it was with difficulty that I managed to wheedle from him the necessary data for the propeller man to work on. To commence with, he explained that as he had had little experience in aviation— he was a steam laundry proprietor by calling—perhaps the few details he purposed giving would arouse some small amount of incredulity. However, he assured me that the design was the result more of an inspiration than of actual study, and that a day would dawn when its utility would be universally recognised. Then followed preliminary details. The s|ieed was to Ixr anything between 60 and 120 miles an hour, the weight, all on, 500 lbs., for his motor he intended to use a 2-h.p. motor cycle engine, and the clearance from the propeller hub to the ground, 20 inches. I began to lie interested, and urging for further details he, in confidence, sketched me a rough outline of the machine. Enquiring how he intended getting 120 miles an hour out of a 2-h.p. engine, he explained that, as the machine was equipped with si.\ fewtrs, that would be quite easy of attainment. lie then recapitulated his " powers." • • • His first was his aeroplane, a cambered surface some 10 ft. by 6 ft., arranged above the head of the pilot like an awning. Hi* second power was a gas-bag, 6 ft. long by 3 ft. in diameter, which he reckoned on being quite sufficient to lift the whole machine. I hereupon pointed out that the hydrogen contained by a gas-bag that size would lift just over 3 lbs., and that, estimating the weight of the envelope and the internal framework necessary to keep it rigid in a relative wind of 120 miles an hour, at 5 lbs., he would be at a net loss of about 2 lbs. over the gas-bag. At this juncture he glared at me with an evil eye, but nothing daunted, proceeded to tell mc of the rest of his powers. • • • His third were extensions of the main aeroplane which flapped. His fourth power was his motor of 2-h.p. as explained previously, his fifth were his twin profilers, and for his sixth ]x>wer he reckoned to do a little bit on his own account by pedalling. From this data I plunged into calculations, and estimated that two propellers 36 ins. in diameter, chain driven in opposite directions, would just be about his mark. With so many " powers " crammed on to one small machine, he figured that wild horses could not prevent it attaining immediate and glorious success. There is rather an amusing sequel to this anecdote. We had just arrived at this stage, when the office boy entered and informed me that Mr. , aeronautical engineer, would like to know if he could have the pleasure of supplying me with anything. I locked the steam-laundry proprietor in my room, and went out to tee the aeronautical engineer. Yes, he could supply me with something- he could supply a pair of propellers. I gave him a most complete specification. They were to tie of a certain pitch, certain diameter, of five laminations of different kinds of walnut, and the blades to be silk-covered and varnished. They were to resemble Chauvieres, and they were to revolve in opposite directions and absorb 2-h.p. at 1,000 revs. • • • I thought the best idea would be for him to cut along back to his works, figure the whole thing out, and let me have an estimate by the following morning. This course he thought unnecessary. He scratched his head, looked wise, and, after a minute's pause said : " Hm—yes—let's see. What shall we say ? Hm ! I can let you know now. What! I'll do 'em for seven shillings the pair, if that'll suit you." • • • I closed with him, and went back to the inventor, whom 1 assured would get his propellers within a day or two. He left in very good spirits, minus a cheque. The propellers arrived three days after wards ; and quite a decent job they were, considering the work they were intended for. At any rate, 1 was very happy, for it provided me with an excellent morning's amusement. My firm made £4 13*. over the deal ! " OISEAU BLEU." 329
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