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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1208.PDF
CORRESPONDENCE. Inclinometers. [1604] Looking through my back numbers of FLIGHT I noticed in the issue for December 2nd, 1911, J. F. v. d. Westhuijzen's letter re nngleometers, requesting your readers to give him informa tion relating to reliable instruments designed to indicate the angle of inclination to the horizontal of an aeroplane when in flight, that is, off an even keel. In reply to his request I forwarded to you at that time a blue print and a description of my aerial clinometer when you asked me for a photo for the purpose of publication, but owing to being from home I was unable to comply with your desire. However, I am home again and hurrying up to forwaid you the required photograph. You will notice I have improved on my former design, in lightness (14 ozs.) and simplicity, the instrument occu pies no more space than an ordinaiy thermometer, and if J. F, v. d. West- huijzen has not been successful in his effort for information on angleometers, I trust, though rather late in the day, to be of some service to him and other of your many readers. My clinometer, whether designed for aerial or marine purposes, is a thoroughly reliable apparatus, and, as there is no mechanism about it, cannot get out of order; it is simply a bent gla<s tube, the lower portion, or bulbs, being of a larger area than that of the stent tubes which contain the lighter fluid (specially prepared). The bulbs are connected, and con tain mercury which flows from either to the other in obedience to the slightest deviation from the horizontal. The ratio of areas of stem and bulb is sufficiently wide that the angle in degrees is indicated on a larger and clear scale, rising to an angle not exceeding 50°(I consider anything over 30" unsafe when "bank ing "), and being so sensitive, it appears to anticipate the slightest alteration some time before the aviator is aware of it. When chief engineer of mail and passenger steamers I had this apparatus hanging on my cabin bulkhead, and its accurate action enabled me to work bunkers and ballast tank in such a way that I was able to maintain the ship on her most efficient trim, fore and aft. I also found it most useful when working the engines entering and leaving harbour ; it would indicate immediately the engines moved, whether they were going ahead or astern, and continued to register for some considerable time before the ship gained any way on her. Bostal Heath. PETER MCPHAIL. [Other Correspondence held over.—ED.] ® ® ® ® Gnome Engines Spir£ Parts. THE Gnome Engine Co. informs us that their fitters in England in nearly every aeroplane centre come across spare parts for the Gnome engine which are not made by the Gnome Engine Co., and they ask us to warn those who are employing or are interested in Gnome engines to be extremely careful in seeing that all spare parts really emanate from the Gnome factory. " It is quite evident," they write, " that it is highly dangerous to employ spare parts made by other people, as the Gnome Co.'s knowledge of the requisite strength, temp;r, &c, of the metal employed must necessarily be unique. An accident also with a gudgeon pin, or any part which his to take a certain strain, may easily happen with imi'ation spare parts, and a very serious accident may be the result. It may be that people in this country are purchasing imitation spare parts without knowing it, as it hardly seems possible that anyone interested in aviation would venture to use an imitation spare part in a Gnome aviation engine." Another Machine for French Museum. THE Conservatoire Nationale des Atts et Metiers has received another notable exhibit in the shape of the Breguet Avion, with Salmson motor, on which Bregi made the first flights in Morocco; AIRSHIP ME The British Naval Parseval. CONSIDERABLE "newspaper" irritation appears to have been aroused by the British purchase of one of the Parseval airship, but it is hardly likely that any preventive official action will be taken The German airship industry is very greatly in need oi orders beyond what the German Government can give out m order to keep it going, and, as a matter of fact, several Parsevals have already been shipped abroad to America, Russia, Austria and Japan, &c, some of these being for military work and others for passenger carrying. Mishap to "Beta." , , WHILE cruising in the neighbourhood of farnborougn on Tuesday, the airship " Beta " was in difficulties owing to the car burettor freezing up. Near Farnborough Hill, Capt. Waterlow who was in command, decided to land, and in order to avoid some trees the envelope was quickly deflated. Subsequently the airship was packed up on a lorry and taken back to Farnborough where what little damage was sustained will be quickly put right. A German Naval Aircraft Station. IT has now become known that instead of being intended for a rifle lange, as was originally announced, the piece of land secured by the German Naval authorities in the neighbourhood of Cuxhaven is to be the site of the first naval aircraft station. ^80,000 is to be spent upon the installation, while a revolving hall for Zeppelin air.-hips is to be built at a cost of ^85,000. Bitterfeld to Johannistbal by Parseval. ON the 10th inst., the Parseval IX, in charge of Engineer Hackstaedter started from Bitterfeld and cruised to Johannisthal, a voyage of 75 miles. ® ® ® ® Royal Appointment for Gamages. MESSRS. A. W. GAM AGE, LTD., are to be congratulated on their latest honour in obtaining a Royal warrant of appointment as sports and athletic outfitters to H.M. the Queen. Warren Helmets Down. AEROS LTD., of 39, St. James's Street, inform us that the demand for Warren safety helmets has increased to such an extent that, manufacturing them in large quantities, they have found it possible to reduce the price from 45^. to 40^. ® ® ® ® PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Sparking Plugs: their Design, Choice and Use.—By Alec M. Lodge. Birmingham : Lodge Brothers and Co. 20,000 Kilometer im Luftmeer. By Hellmuth Hirth. Berlin W. 35 : Vetlag Gustav Braunbeck G.m.b.H. Price 5 marks (5.?.). Rides of Golf, Liverpool: The Royal Insurance Co., Ltd. "White Horse" Diary for 1913. Mackie and Co., Distillers, Ltd., 217, West George Street, Glasgow. ® ® ® ® Aeronautical Patents Published. Applied for In 1911. Published December igl/i, IQ12. 25,399. C. TUCKPIELD AND W. G. DB F. GARLAND. Flying machine. 26,855. G. VOIGT. Flying machines. Applied ror In l»l'*. Published December lgi/t, igiz. 18,675. HAYOT. Automatic stabilising apparatus. FLIGHT, 44. ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Telegraphic address : Truditur, London. Telephone ; 1828 Gerrard. SUBSCRIPTldin?ATES. FLIGHT will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates:— UNITED KINGDOM. ABROAD. 3 Months, Post Free ... 6 » ,, 12 .. „ s. d. 3 9 7 6 15 0 3 Months, Post Free ... 12 s. d. 5 o 10 o 20 o T208 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, otheiwise no responsibility will be accepted. Should any difficulty be experienced tn 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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