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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0903.PDF
Conducted by V. E, The Scientific Aspect of Model Aeroplaning. WE desire to call the reader's attention to the articles in this week's and last week's issue on " An attempt to investigate the physical properties of a twisted skein of rubber," an admirable piece of work, and one which clearly shows that there are not wanting those who are fully prepared to undertake really serious, patient and systematic work and study in the interests of model aeroplaning. We sincerely trust it may serve as an inspiration to others to attempt and carry out similar work. The debt which model aeroplaning owes to individual as contrasted with concerted effort can hardly be over estimated. The average club modellist seems to care about nothing save to make his " flying stick " keep in the air five seconds longer than some other member's, or fly six yards further ; as for any con certed effort on the part of any club to seriously attack any one of the numerous problems still awaiting solution, we regret to be compelled to say that we have never heard of such. There are one or two points in the article to which we would like to call attention. In series E it would be very interesting to know the effect of a time interval (not less than two days) on the partial recovery of rubber after the initial wind. The authors do not make the conditions very clear under which the rubber was given a week's rest, i.e., to what previous tests it had been subjected. Referring to their note on end pull, the difficulty is not really from end pull per se, but from this combined with the torsional force exerted by the twisted rubber that necessitates skilful building. With regard to the note on the various sections of rubber the reader should refer to Mr. T. W. K. Clarke's remarks, February 17th issue. The writer's experience is that weight for weight more energy can be stored in the strip than in the square sectioned, but that the latter has the longer life. Com pare also the amount of energy that can be stored in a pound weight of rubber as found in the foregoing experiments with that as deter mined by Mr. G. T. R. Hill (February 17th issue). Model Club Notes. Owing to the extremely uninteresting nature of these notes so far as the ordinary reader is concerned, it has been decided to publish them monthly only, the notes to be a resumi of the work done. Club members will be notified of forthcoming events by means of a brief weekly calendar showing dates of forthcoming competitions, &c. We might just mention incidentally that something in the nature of a more serious and combined effort on the part of club members will be expected in the future than in the past if these notes are still to appear in FLIGHT, and also that more care and trouble should be taken in the drawing up of the same. Mf. A, Richardson's Model. We give, this week, two illustrations of a model designed and built by Mr. A. Richardson (Westcliff-on Sea). The length over all is 23 ins., and span 27 ins. The model is built mainly of whitewood, cane, and silk. The builder states that he is about to fit a small electric motor to the same, and hopes for some success, as the model is a good glider. We trust Mr. Richardson will not waste his time over any such useless device. The especial interest which attaches to this model is that the maker is so unfortunate as to possess only JOHNSON, M.A. one hand, the model, nevertheless, being entirely constructed by him without any assistance. Model Hydro-Aeroplane Floats. Mr. J. S. Gordon, of the Scottish Ae.S. Model Aero Club—a club which is well known for the attention it has devoted to model hydro aeroplanes—sends the following communication and accompanying iketch : " I have been continuing my experiments with floats, and up till now I find that the models get along and off quicker when the floats are made with a span narrower than the chord dimension. Plan and section of float shown to scale. Size being 6 ins. long; 24 ins. wide (span) ; J ins. deep at 2 in*, from the leading edge. HYDRO-AEROPLANE FLOAT FOR MODEL.-Welght 4 oz„ supports 4 ozs. net (actual test). By the formula I sent recently it should support 34 ozs. In reality it supports 4 ozs., while 5 o/.i. makes it sink slowly to the bottom." It will be noticed Mr. Gordon's float weighB 4 oz. and supports 4 ozs. ; for the weight supported the float is somewhat heavy. On testing oneot my own floats, shown in section, &c, July 6th issue, the weight is exactly 4 oz., size, 6 ins. by 6 ins. This float gupports 8i ozs., slowly sinking with 9 ozs. Another stepped float 9t ins. long by 2| wide, average depth J in., weight also \ oz., slowly sank with 52 ozs. Two larger floats, just completed for a steam-driven model, 6 ins. wide by 24 ins. long, and which weigh 4 ozs. each (approx.), weie found on trial to be capable of holding up 3 lbs. and 34 lbs. respectively. They were, it is hardly necessary to state, of some what stouter build than the smaller floats. The above weights are Mr. A. Richardson's model at rest, 903 ind, on the right, in flight.
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