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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0025.PDF
JANUARY 4, 1913. requently been out with his rise-off-groutd twin-propeller monoplane, and also with a r.o.g. tractor biplane which has " staggered " planes with flexible trailing edges. Mr. G. H. Westwood has been flying his very original twin-screw self, rising monoplane, which exhibits remarkable speed. Mr. Westwocd's tractor mono, (r.o.g., two-bladed screw) has also made some good flights, and Mr. C. H. Morgan has been testing a triple-propeller monoplane and a tractor mono, with four-bladed screw. The former still requires adjustment, but the tractor is now capable of making splendid flights. Mr. A. F. Chinnery has been very active during the month, making excellent flights with a gull's-wing tractor mono, (two-bladed screw), and later with a tractor biplane which has been considerably improved by the addition of extensions to the upper plane. These extensions have a dihedral angle of about i in TO, and greatly enhance lateral stability. Mr F. Plummer has made some splendid flights at Kidbrooke and Mitcham with his numerous mode's, which include two tractor monoplanes and a large "racing" machine which covers an enormous distance. The stability and general flying of Mr. Hummer's 4J-0Z. tractor are excellent. Mr. C. A. Rippon has been conducting many experiments with tractor monoplanes, one of which was fitted with a single screw and twin-motors, and others with the more con ventional single skein of rubber. The latter appear to be more reliable and as efficient as the former. At Mitcham Common, l»r McMunn has made some huge flights with his 4-ft. " racing " mono. Mr. F. Peter's tractor, which is now fitted with a four-bladed screw, has also been flying well at Blackheath and Kidbrooke, and Mr. E. Hoch at Crofton Park has been using his usual types of small models. Mr. R. Prance and Mr. E. Campbell with their r.o.g. mono planes have done gocd work at various grounds, and at Blackheath Mr. Prance's " Deperdussin " type has been flying exceedingly well on several occasions. Mr. G. Brown and Mr. W. R. Hainan with " racing " models, and Mr. L. Brough with a twin-propeller biplane (upper plane staggered backwards) has made long and high flights at Blackheath and Peckham. Members of the Chislehurst and District Aero Club have been particularly active with tractors lately, and some line flights have been made by Messrs. R. Dcdd, F. Packham, S. Dodd, and A. Kemsley, and flights of about 100 yds. are frequently made. This club— which is the local branch of the S.E.M.Ae.C.—propose holding a competition for r.o.g. tractors at an early date, so considerable progress is likely to be made with this type of model, which is now the most popular type in S.E. London. The secretary has been flying his well-known tractor monoplane, "A.B.C. 76," and also his tractor hydro-biplane, which is now converted into a r.o.g. type. These are fitted with four-bladed screws, and the biplane, which weighs 8 ozs., promises to rival the mono, with a little further tuning-up. The four-bladed screws are catching on owing to the remarkable steadying effect they have on tractor models. There is plenty of room for new members, and the sec. would like _ to get into communication with anyone interested in model aviation— particularly the scientific aspect—with a view to forming branches in the various districts. 1/llGHT • The Windsor Model Club glider which has now been fitted with extensions. Sheffield Model Aero Club (35, PENRHVN ROAD, SHEFFIELD). HAND-LAUNCHED " duration " contest for month ; winner, 2.c. 6rf. or bronze medal. Total entrance fees at month end of irf. received each week for l»est added duration flights as second piize. The first contest commences on Saturday, January 4th, at 3 p.m. prompt, and continues every Saturday at " The Standhouse Aerodrome " Intake, opposite Manor Culle, second field. Stony Stratford and District Aero Club (OLD STRATFORD). Monthly Report.—An Annual General Meeting and Exhibition of Models was held in the Public Hall, on December 18th last. The balance sheet and annual report were presented and unanimously adopted. Mr. J.J. Atkinson, C.C., was again elected president ; Mr. (). Hamilton, junior, secretary and treasurer ; Mr. R. W. Elmes, assistant and ground secretary ; Mr. T. A. Moore, chairman. The following were elected as members of the committee, Messrs. Brown, Benbow, Haseldine and Lawson. Meetings have been arranged for once a month, and members will be advised of day, date, etc., by postcard. All sub scriptions are now due. The secretary would be obliged if members would remit as soon as possible. ® ® ® ® CORRESPONDENCE. * * The name and address of the writer (not mcessarily for publication) MUST in all cases accompany letters 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. Wing Sections. [1696] I would be pleased if you would publish the following. I have read in several books that on a wing section as in Fig. I on 2. The lift depends on the angle of incidence and velocity, and is determined hy experiment for any given section. 3. The loading is determined by the angle and the speed desired for flight. 4. The C.G. is usually calculated, but some idea of its approxi mate position in a model can be obtained by balancing it on a thread. 5. When the model flies in balance, the C.P. is in a vertical line with the C.G. 6. Slip is the difference between the real rate of advance of the aeroplane and the virtual rate of advance corresponding to the pitch multiplied by the revolutions of the propeller. 7. The best camber and distance of maximum camber need to be determined by experiment for various wing sections.—ED.] appei curve on rear pait of plane there is a partial vacuum. If this is so, why do not constructors increase the vacuum because it is stated to give additional lift as in Fig. II, because the concave front edge would reflect the air with more violence than in Fig. I. As in Figs. Ill and IV, this ought to (according to books on aero dynamics) increase the lift of plane. If so, why is it not used on aeroplanes now ? Folkestone. A. M. O'NEIL. Some Questions and Answers. [1697] Can you give me some information on the following points ?:— 1. How to find the area of a cambered surface ? 2. How to find lifting capacity relative to area? 3. How to determine loading ? 4. How to find the centre of gravity ? 5. How to find the centre of pressure ? 6. What is slip ? 7. What is the best camber and distance of highest point back from leading edge ? Cricklewood, N.W. C. D. [1. The area is usually taken as the span multiplied by the chord. Ammonia (ias for Dirigibles. [1698] This idea comes from Charles Tellier. You are probably acquainted with ammonia gas. Its density is 597/1,000, the air being 1. Its ascensional power is 530 grammes per I cubic metre. It is incombustible, and is liquified at a pressure of 64 atmospheres. Charles Tellier proposed to employ his gas instead of hydrogen. Two difficulties: the gas destroys textures and its smell is suffocating. But we have special materials (such as Kmaillite) which protect the texture, and the gas cannot penetrate with the same facility as hydrogen. The dirigible can ascend without losing ballast, and descend without losing gas. We know the absorption of gas ammonia by water (600 litres gas by 1 L. water 15° C). If the dirigible ascends we can absorb by water ammonia, and the diminution of ascensional power stop the movement. If we descend we can with a little fuel heat the water, and the absorbed gas is evolved. The dirigible can remain in the air as long as required, ascend or descend, profit by favourable wind at any altitude, in order to economise its motive power. The gas is incombustible. Ballast being suppressed and replaced by machinery, the airship is as rapid as the hydrogen airship. But it can more easily be supplied with ammonia, and it is cheaper. The ammonia gas is liquified easily, and can be carried by the airship itself, in steel recipients (not very heavy). If the dirigible is torn or damaged it can receive a fresh charge of gas, and continue its way. ANDRE MAS. 25
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