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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1067.PDF
NOVEMBER 16, 1912 l/HGHT] CORRESPONDENCE. *.* The name and address of the writer (not necessarily for publication) MDST in all cases accompany utters intended for insertion. or containing queries. Correspondents communicating with regard to letters which have appeared in FLIGHT, would much facilitate ready reference by quoting the number of each letter. Balloon Records. [1668] Your correspondent (1657) asks for information with regard to the greatest recorded height ever attained by a manned balloon, viz., that made by Messrs. Coxwell and Glaisher on September 5th, 1862. In " Aerial Navigation of To-day," the author (Mr. C. C. Turner) states that the balloon ascended from Wolverhampton on the date above mentioned, and that although the last observation was made at a height of 29,000 ft. (shortly before Glaisher lost consciousness), it was established beyond doubt that the balloon reached an elevation of (about) 37,000 ft., or fully 7 miles. Coxwell apparently did not become unconscious, but lost the power of his hands, and was only able to open the valve-cord with his teeth to prevent further ascent. Amesbury. (Miss) I. S. J. WINDLEY. [Letters containing this information have also been received from G. V. Upwaid, R. W. Leadbeater, C. S. Crickmer, " R.P.C.," G. Palmer, and H. Oliver.—ED.] [1669] In reply to C. A. K. Cox (letter 1657), the following is a paragraph from " How to Fly," by Richard Ferris :— '' In recent years the greatest height reached by a balloon was attained by the Italian aeronauts, Piacenze and Mina, in the " Albatross," on August 9th, 1909. They went up from Turin to the altitude of 30,350 ft. The world's height record rests with Profesors Berson and Suring, of Berlin, who on July 31st, 1901, reached 35,500 ft. The record of Glaisher and Coxwell in their ascension on September 5th, 1862, has been rejected as not authentic, for several discrepancies in their observations, and on the ground that their instruments were not of the highest reliability. As they carried no oxygen, and reported that for a time they were both unconscious, it is estimated that the highest point they could have reached under the conditions was less than 31,000 ft." Ludlow. DENNIS FOSTER. Gyroscopic Action In Accidents. [1670] The last issue of Aeronautics (American) states that the several accounts of the Quimby-Willard accident printed in that and other magazines, were written by " experienced aviators who were on the ground, and ought to know," and infers that my opinion should have no weight as against this so-called " expert testimony." It is true that I did not witness the accident, but I have carefully studied the numerous descriptions of it, and have culled from them a number of important points relating to the action of the machine at the time. While no two of these accounts fully agree, some offering as many as three solutions, and some of them saying that " probably the real cause will never be known," they generally agree on the following features :— 1. " Suddenly something happened." 2. " The machine seemed to hesitate and tremble for an instant." 3. " The fuselage of the machine was thrown upward and to the right." 4. " The body of Willard was pitched upward and outward," a distance variously given at from 25 ft. to 35 ft., "as though shot from a catapult." 5. That " the machine twisted to the left as it fell." 6. That " after Willard had been thrown out, Miss Quimby succeeded in momentarily righting the machine." 7. That "the next downward twist dislodged and threw Miss Quimby." 8. That " the machine this time headed straight for the earth." 9. That during all this time the motor was whirling at its highest speed. Now, we will take up these points in the order given above, and show how each and every one of them assist in proving the correct ness of my theory. 1. The danger point in gyroscopic force is only reached when the deviating force is sudden, and the upward toss of the front end of the machine was so slight and so quick that it could not have possibly been noticed from the earth one thousand feet below. 2. The "hesitating," "trembling," or "shuddering" that is always noticed and remarked just before the machine plunges down ward is simply a phase of gyroscopic action. It is produced by the translational motion due to the sudden shifting of the centre of mass in the rotating body, and causes three distinct forces to combat each other for supremacy. ..... . . • 3. If, as is shown in the action of the machine, the disturbing force was in an upward direction, the gyroscopic twist would have forced the nose of the machine to the left and downward and caused the fuselage to move to the right and upward. The poition of the rudder, or even the contrary action of the rudder and elevator combined, could have no appreciable effect on the direction of the machine when once in the clutches of this force. This was clearly demonstrated in the recent Paul Peck accident. 4. The tremendous force with which Willard was thrown out of the machine fully disproves Mr. Ovington's claim that the upsetting was due to a fouled rudder cable. The passenger seat occupied by Willard was but a few feet to the rear of the lateral axis of the machine, and had the downward dip been caused any force applied to the extreme rear the machine would have turned on its lateral axis. I believe that all competent engineers will agree with me when I state under such conditions the angular velocity at the point occupied by Willard could not have been great enough to have dislodged him, to s.xy nothing of hurling him the distance stated. On the other hand, if the dip was caused by gyroscopic action in the motor, the turning moment would have been about a lateral axis situated in the centre of mass of the motor. This would have provided a leverage three or four times greater than the first condition, and amply sufficient to have thrown Willard as described. 5. Had Mr. Ovington scoffed less at my theory and read more carefully what I have had to say about gyroscopic action, written, by the way, some time before Mr. Ovington became an " expert aviator," he would have been spared his time and expense in pro curing affidavits to prove that " the machine twisted to the left as it fell," for he would have known that I positively stated that under such condition the machine always turns to the left as it falls ! 6. The natural gyrating action of the machine when under the influence of this force, especially after being relieved of the dampen ing effect of Willard's weight, would be to continue its spiralling motion and in its first drop of perhaps one hundred feet would appear to right itself. 7. As the nose of the machine wa; again twisted downward in its natural spiralling course, the angular velocity of Ihc fuselage now being greater, by having been relieved of Willard's weight, Mi-s Quimby was thrown out. 8. From this point the machine, being weighted only at its nose, and robbed of its gyrational axis, should have shot straight to the earth. 9. Little or no mention was given the fact that the motor was running, yet, had Miss Quimby been fully aware of this terrific force lurking in her revolving motor and had she instantly cut out her spark, she could undoubtedly have succeeded in righting the machine and would be alive to-day to tell of it. Does it not seem absurd that anyone should lay so much stress on having found a fouled control-cable in a wrecked aeroplane that had fallen one thousand feet? There were, no doubt, many other parts either fouled or broken by the impact with the water, why did not someone select others of these on which to lay the blame? My guess is that it is all attributable to general ignorance of the principles of gyroscopic action and the immense power that it is capable of exerting under certain conditions. When I discovered this danger, now nearly six years ago, I stood absolutely alone, as far as I can learn, but I am happy to say that during the past two years a number of scientists and engineers throughout the world have found the same thing, and have declared themselves in positive terms. I know that the first scientist who claimed that the earth was round, against the general belief that it was fiat, barely escaped being crucified, and that a scant hundred years ago the world threatened to burn at the stake others of our scientific innovators, but I did not for a moment anticipate that in this enlightened age it would require the sacrifice of so many human lives before the truth would be recognised. THOMAS PRESTON BROOKS. Chicago, U.S.A., Oct. 18th. [Other Correspondence held over.—ED.] ® ® ® ® 5,000 francs from French President. WITH a view to stimulating subscriptions for the French National Fund, the President of the Republic, M. Fallieres, has sent a subscription of 5,000 francs. A New Prize for Aviettes. WITH a view to encouraging inventors of humanly propelled flying apparatus to persevere with their work, M. Robert Peugeot has supplemented his prize of £400 for the first to cover 10 metres, by one of ,£80, for the first aviette which shall succeed in covering five metres, under the same conditions as for the larger prize. IO67
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