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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1203.PDF
DECEMBER 21, 1912. end of this ground to the other—the ground there was about a mile long and had an undulating surface- keeping a foot off the ground." He was a minute before he could see the force of her innocent reply : " Well, what would you be doing with the other foot." • • . Louis Bleriot has again been experimenting with a mnard type of monoplane. This one, ;however, is a good deal different from the one he was testing at Hardelot some months ago. It is larger, for one thing, being built as a two-seater, and is fitted with a 70-h.p. Gnome motor, The fuselage is perhaps the most curious part of the machine. For about three-quarters of (AJCHT the total length of the./usclagc it is a pure box-girder ; the other quarter is formed by a pole, either of steel tubing or of the composite cork paper and linen construction that he used for the fuselage of this new machine at the Paris Show. This pole supports the forward " tail," which in design is similar to those with which the old "Cross- channel " type of monoplane were fitted. In the chassis, Bleriot has discarded his transverse leaf-spring idea in favour of his usual system of swivelling wheels mounted on deformable triangular supports. On this new canard, too, he has taken the rudder from the front of the machine and supported it on outriggers behind the propeller. " Oisi w BLEU." ® ® ® © BRITISH MACHINES IN ITALY. GREAT success has been met with by that well-known pilot, Mr. Howard Pixton, who has lately been demonstrating the 80-h.p. Coanda-type Bristol monoplane to the Italian military authorities at Mirafiori, Turin. This monoplane is undoubtedly the finest specimen of service aeroplane that the British and Colonial Aeroplane Co., under the able direction of Sir George White, have yet turned out. That it may take its place as one of the leading machines of the day is evident from the fact that so many foreign Governments have added machines of this type to their air service equipment. On December 7th, Mr. Pixton continued the tests of one of these machines in the presence of Col. Moris, Commander General of the Italian Military Air Corps, Major Douhet Commander of the Aviation Batlalion, which has its headquarters at Turin, together with a large number of Italian military pilots. There were also present, representing the Bristol firm's interests, Mr. H. White Smith and Capt. Bertram Dickson. During the test ® ® A NOVEL AN interesting biplane has made its appearance at Hawkinge, near Folkestone, where Mr. W. B. Megone has been experimenting for some time past. His present machine is the outcome of several different types of heavier-than-air craft that he has constructed and discarded in reaching the type that he has at present arrived at. It will be seen from the accompanying photograph that while the engine is in front of the passenger, the propeller is driven by means of a shaft behind, and for this reason the machine has consider able interest from the military point of view, for it would be possible to mount an automatic gun in front of the passenger which would have an unhindered range in all directions forward. The machine has not yet been flown, but we understand it is to be put through its tests as soon as its constructor returns from abroad after the holidays. As a biplane its construction is rather different from what is regarded as conventional in this type of craft. Each plane is braced as a monoplane wing, and there are no compression struts between them. flights Mr. Pixton carried a passenger and a load of fuel sufficient for a 4j-hrs. flight. His best performance on that day was a straight ahead climb, fully loaded, to a height of 3,300 ft. in 13 mins. Tie thus established an Italian record. Descending, Mr. Pixton executed a spectacular spiral glide with highly banked turns, which earned for him the applause of all present and personal congratulation! on his ability and the excellent handling of the machine from Col. Moris. Two days after, accompanied by Capt. Bertram Dickson, as pas senger, he put the machine through a s-peed test, cnirying sufficient fuel for 5^ hours, a total weight, in addition to the pilot, cf 350 lbs. The official speed given was 72 m.p.h. He gave passenger flight to various Italian military pilots on the following day, and they all, without exception, pronounced that they had never mounted a steadier and generally a more taking michine than the So-h.p. Bristol monoplane. ® ® BIPLANE. The upper plane, it will be noticed, is stiffened by king-post bracing. The machine has an area of 440 sq. ft., not reckoning the tail, which is slightly lifting and which has an area of 54 sq. ft. The tail is supported by a fuselage, triangular in section, over the top member of which revolves the propeller. The two lower members continue forward below the machine to form landing skids. Propulsion is derived from a 60-h.p. Green motor mounted in front of, and on a lower level than, the pilot. It transmits its power through a steel shaft and a Hele-Shaw clutch to the i<>-ft. propeller at the rear. The passenger, in this particular machine, sits behind the pilot, and his seat is such that he may raise it at will during flight, so that he may be able, if he needs it, to obtain a letter view from the machine. He is able to get a good view of what is passing below him through Cellon windows let into the lower plane on either side. It is a curious feature that the control wires to the tail pass through the propeller boss. Mr. W. B. Megone's interesting biplane photographed outside Its hangar at Hawkinge, Folkestone 1203
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