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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0906.PDF
I/PGHT all motor races are run in such a way as to eliminate right-hand turns wherever pos-ible. Now if the effects of gyroscopy are such at to influence the steering of a heavy vehicle with a solid foundation beneath it and equipped with a motor running at comparatively slow speed, of what enormous importance must they become in a light body with no fixed support to react against, and with a motor running at over 1,000 r.p.m. Mr. Brooke's letters (one published in FLIGHT and one in Aero) were occasioned by the appearance in one of the American journals of an alleged description of certain experiments made by M. Laurent Seguin, with a view of determining the amount of weight necessary to counterbalance the gyroscopic action as presented by his Gnome motor, the result (as stated) being that the force was found to be practically negligible. Now I beg to call attention to the fact that if Mr. Brooke by reason of having designed a non-gyroscopic motor is not an unbiased judge, as he himself admits, then M. Seguin certainly cannot be one j without for a moment doubting his integrity as an engineer or the sincerity of his experiments, yet his findings along that particular lint' of investigation cannot be accepted as final by a body of scientific men. Therefoie I may say that the course suggested by Mr. Brooke of having this matter fully investigated by a body of competent men is an excellent one and one that deserves full support from the technical press. Whether it should be left to the care of the Aero Club of America, as he suggests, is a matter open to discussion. In any case, I trust that the result of such investigation will turn out to be an " eye opener " to many of us. I regret to have been unable to secure a copy of FLIGHT with M. A. Kapteyn'g article. The subject was first brought to my attention by a lecture he held as far back as March 13, 1909, at the Royal Dutch Engineering Society, of which I have the honour of being a member. Even then he pointed out the dangers lurking in a rotary motor, and his subsequent investigations have undoubtedly made him one of the greatest authorities on the subject. In concluding, let me state that I have never met Mr. Brooke and have no connection of whatsoever kind with his enterprises. Thanking you for the kindness for giving this a place in your columns. BAIION C. ADRIAN VON MUFFLING. Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.A. Balloon Ascents and Midland Facilities. [1641] With reference to the very interesting article by Mr. Griffith Brewer in current issue of FLIGHT, I would like to point out that Mr. Radley's " Meteor" started from the grounds of the Midland Aero Club at Dunstall Park, where the club have had specially laid <>n a 12-in. gas supply for inflation purposes. From actual experience I can heartily endorse Mr. Brewer's remarks about the advantage of Wolverhampton as a centre for ballooning. As he points out, Wolverhampton can be reached by North-Western or Great Western Railway in 2\ hours from London, and being in the centre of England one makes sure of a good trip with plenty of land in whatever direction the wind may be blowing. The ground itself is ideally situated for ballooning, with a turf surface many acres in extent, where one could fill and get away in perfect safety in any sort of wind. The Midland Aero Club would lie very pleased to grant facilities for ascents from their grounds to members of recognised clubs, and will render every assistance possible in making all the necessary arrangements. GILBERT DENNISON, Hon. Secretary, Midland Aero Club. Grand Hotel, Birmingham. ••Practical" Aero Clubs. [1642] In your reply to Douglas Stewart, page 885, Septem ber 28th issue, you state that there appears to be very little gliding going on, and you also deplore the fact that the number of " practical" aero clubs is practically nil. Unfortunately, this is the state of things at present. But if Mr. Stewart or any other of your numerous readers would like to join a " practical " aero club, with headquarters in London, whose members have done a good deal of gliding, and the annual subscription of which is really nominal, viz., 5*. (no entrance fee), the undersigned will be pleased to forward particulars concerning same on receipt of a card. The club in question, The Polytechnic Aero Club and Flying Society, owns two Weiss gliders, presented by Mr. Jose Weiss, a Wright type biplane glider, presented by Mr. H. Vaughan, and a 44 ft. span " portable " monoplane built at the Poly. The Wright especially has done a good deal of valuable service during the summer, and most successful week-end meetings have been held. The club has its headquarters at the Polytechnic, Regent Street, W., where technical and practical classes are held during the winter evenings. OCTOBER 5, 1912. This is the kind of club which deserves every support, but the " Poly. Ae. Club" not having courted publicity, is not very well known, and consequently not appreciated. We hope, however, to do big things in the future, and anyone joining now will be in time to start evening classes in " Aeroplane Drawing and Design," " Aeroplane Construction and Aero Workshop Practice," " Aero dynamics," &c. ,,.••/- , , Thanking you for the valuable knowledge derived from a weekly perusal of your valuable paper. Regent St., W. W. H. EMERTON, Hon. Gen. Sec, The Polytechnic Aero Club and Flying Society. ® ® ® ® PUBLICATIONS PECEIVED. Announcements, Educational and Social, for the Session 1912-13. The Northampton Polytechnic Institute, St. John Street, E.C. Petrol Engine Construction and Drawing. By W. E. Dommett, Wh. Ex., A.M.I.A.E. London: Edward Arnold, 41-43, Maddox Street, W. Price y. net. Famous Airmen and their Equipments; with some Notes on First- Aid in Emergencies. London : Burroughs, Wellcome and Co. Apprecier un Aeroplane, Pavieliorer s'tl y a lieu. By Capt. du Genie Duchene. Paris: Librairie Aeronautique, 40, rue de Seine. Price I fr. 50. ® ® $ $ NEW COMPANIES REGIS l"E*ED British Aero and General Assurance Agency, Ltd.— Capital £500, in £1 shares. British Rotary Motor (Aviation) Co., Ltd., 137-138, High Street, Bromley, Kent.—Capital ,£5,000, in £1 shares. Coventry Auto-Aero Co., Ltd.—Capital £2,000, in £1 shares. Integral Propeller Co., Ltd., 307, Euston Road, N.W.— Capital £1,000, in £1 shares. ® ® ® ® Aeronautical Patents Published. Applied for la IOII. Publislied October-yd* 1912. 27,770. E. W. WAKEFIELD. Hydro-aeroplanes. Applied for in i«»ia. Published September z6tht 1912. 8,808. L. C. J. HARKL. Supporting surfaces of aeroplanes. 14,080. H. H. ELLIOTT. Aerial propellers. Published October yd, 1912. 3,498. C. M. OLMSTED. Aerial propellers. 4,589. KOLLEKENS FKERES. Mounting and dismounting aeroplanes. 10,358. L. L. CLEMENT. Aeroplanes. PRINCIPAL CONTENTS. Editorial Comment 888 An Object-Lesson from France. To India by Air. Flying at Hendon 890 The Evolution of the Aero Compass. By M. B. Field and F. A. King ... 891 Meterology and Flying 3 Royal Aero Club. Official Notices „". ... "' .'" 894 From the British Flying Grounds ... ... 895 Momentum in Air ", ... 897 French Army Aeroplane Review ... ... ... ... 898 Foreign Aviation News ... ... .'.'.' 809 An Attempt to Investigate the Physical Properties of a Twisted Skein of Rubber. By W. W. Hastings Rider and Allan P. Hitchens, B. Eng. (Liverpool) g^ Models. Conducted by V. E. Johnson, M.A. ... .'.'. ... ... .'.'. 903 Correspondence .'.. * Q0* FLIGHT 44, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Telegraphic address : Truditur, London. Telephone : 1828 Gerrard. SUBSCRIPTION "RATES. FLIGHT will be forwarded, post free to any part of the world at the following rates:— UNITED KINGDOM. 3 Months, Post Free 6 .1 » 12 d. 8 3 6 ABROAD. 3 Months, Post Free... 6 12 »» s. d. 2 9 5 6 11 0 906 r-i. " t 'U "" " I2 » » ••• ll ° Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietors of FLIGHT, 44, St. Martin's Lane, W.C., and crossed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted. Should any difficulty be experienced in procuring FLIGHT from local newsvendors, intending readers can obtain each issue direct from the Publishing Office, by forwarding remittance as above.
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