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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0052.PDF
With regard to Messrs. F. Robinson and Kellers' (1685) opinion of a battleship's bow, we must take into consideration that water is a denser element than air, and in this case is required to follow the line of the bow, as the air follows the line of the cone in Fig. I, the difference being that the battleship's element, water, is on the bottom side only, and by being made to follow the line of the bow, gives stability to the ship when in motion. The pin is another instance of the density of elements ; it is designed to enter a denser element than water. It remains with the density of, roughly, the three elements, and may be formulated as follows :— Solids. Liquids. Air. Bodies enter ... ... easy easier easiest Heads to give least resistance very pointed medium pointed blunt If the theory ot the point is correct, why not right-about-face the stream-line body and have a good long point ? Red Hill. W. H. NORTON. "Stability." £1707] May I ask your permission to make a few remarks on your editorial notes in this week's issue ? I read your comments on the trend of research into the question of " stability" with very great interest, and the chief impression I gained was that it was taken for granted that all experiment must have for its basis the present principle of construction, by which I mean that the accumu lated knowledge gleaned from results obtained by actual flying on the present types of mono- and biplanes must be the direction in which we must look for perfection towards safety; and that this research will have to demonstrate which is the correct construction of wing; that is, whether these should be straight, arched, turned up or turned down, &c, &c, and having proved which is the best method of construction for all general purposes, to improve steadily along that line. If I have interpreted your meaning correctly, I would like to point out what seems to me to be an impression that is taken too much for granted, and that is, that the present general principle of construction is the correct one, and that the correctness of following the bird-wing method of construction cannot be gainsaid. Well, Sir, I am inclined to dispute that, and I hold that opinion not as the result of mathematical theorising, but on account of results obtained in another direction by actual experiment. I claim no technical knowledge of the science, but, be the source of my knowledge what it will, I think I may legitimately claim this : That I have a model of an aeroplane that is constructed upon a totally different principle to any I have ever heard of, and is certainly totally unlike any that are at present in general use. Theoretically lateral tilt is foreign to its construction, and without, I believe, holding any cranky notions on the matter, I feel con vinced that lateral tilt is impossible (balance is automatic). Now, the model is a very crude one. As regards workmanship, it is made of metal throughout, with the exception of elastic and pro pellers; weighing n 02s., with 12 yds. of J-in. strip, driving two 8-in. propellers ; it has flown about 20 yds. on a superficial lifting area of approximately 60 sq. ins. (certainly much less than \ a sq. ft.) Now, Sir, this is no gyroscopic or helicoptic arrangement, but just a very simple method of construction, based on an idea I held long before flying was considered a practical possibility. As regards strength of construction, I should imagine that its possibili ties are far in advance of any of the, shall we say, comparatively flimsy machines in present use, and when I discussed the matter with one of the first authorities in this country, he, without com mitting himself, said it certainly should be tried. My model was built without any mathematical calculations, other than by the eye, of discovering its centre of gravity, and it flew without rudders or guides. The flight was of course short, but, considering weight versus power, size of propellers and its very small lifting surfaces, I believe it is exceptional. Now, it seems to me, here is a case for your National Physical Laboratory, and I agree with you when you say, "After con sidering every elementary situation in which many factors complicat ing the issue in respect to a practical machine are ignored," and I opine, if that were done, one of the first of these factors to be ignored will be the trivial detail in the construction of the wing, but we want a N.P.L. that is a National P.L., and one that is prepared in confidence to give advice free to people with ideas. I cannot afford to protect (as it should be protected) my idea, and until it is properly protected, I do not see how it can be thoroughly tested, unless there be some such institution that can treat confidentially with a man who expects to get something tangible out of his ideas. If my idea be sound, the present method is absolutely unsound. There can be very little doubt of that. Thames Ditton. A. R. PEARSON. "Venus or the Moon?" 1708] In the last issue of FLIGHT, I see under a very fine photo of Mr. Pixton, flying in Italy at sunset, the remark that in the left-hand corner the rising full moon could be seen. The sun at the present time sets about W.S.W., and in Italy would be a few points more west, and as the light spot supposed to represent the moon rising is approximately S.W., it cannot really be the moon, which rises usually in the east, and not in the west. It is much more nrobable that it is Venus, which at present is a very bright evening star, and is visible in the south-west at sunset, and although not quite the size of the dot in the photo, it would appear so through slight halation, in the photo. Believe me, with best wishes for the continued success of your paper, Wembley. DENIS S. WRIGHT. ® ® ® ® Another Mystery Aircraft. YET again the throb of an aerial motor and the whirr of a pro peller has been heard during the hours when most worthy citizens are abed. This time the mysterious aircraft was heard at Dover at 5 a.m. on the 5th inst., but it was not unlikely an aviator from a flying ground, not a hundred miles from Dover, out for a very early spin. No doubt if aviation progresses as rapidly in the future as it has done in the past it will not be long before episodes such as this will be deemed just in the day's or night's events. Capt. Penfold's Balloon Trip. WITH regard to the balloon trip across London and descent by parachute by Capt. Penfold, referred to in our last issue, we learn from Messrs. Aeros, Ltd., in whose hands Messrs. Sandow left the whole of the organisation, that they completed the arrangements for the trip within two days of the receipt of order. The cinemato graph film obtained by Messrs. Gaumont is now being shown in various places in London. A New Wire Strainer. IN the accompanying sketch is illustrated a strong and compact wire strainer, which, under the name " Dwarf," is now being sold in this country by Mr. Aug. E. Menuge, of Victoria Works, Englefield Green, Surrey. These strainers are exceptionally well made, and we understand that after lengthy tests by the leading French manufacturers they have been found eminently satisfactory. It is claimed that they will stand a greater strain than any other similar fitting upon the market. A New Telephone Number. MESSRS. BURROUGHS WELLCOME and Co., of Tabloid fame, announce a simplification in their telephone number, which will be, in future, Six Thousand City. ® ® ® ® PUBLICATION RECEIVED. Catalogue. Aviation Accessories and General Trade Requirements, 1913. Aeros, Ltd., 39, St. James's Street, Piccadilly, W. ® ® ® ® Aeronautical Patents Published. Applied for In loll. Published January gth, 1913. 28,266. J. STEPHEN. Flying machines. 28,704. C. D. BURKEV AND BRITISH AND COLONIAL AEROPLANE CO., LTD. Aeronautical apparatus. Applied for In IMS. Published January qth, 1913. 8,656. W. SKERRY. Self-acting descending flap tor aeroplanes. FLIGHT. 44, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Telegraphic address: Truditur, London. Telephone: i828Gerrard. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. FLIGHT will be forwarded, post jree, at the following- rates:— UNITED KINGDOM. ABROAD. J. d. s. d. 3 Months, Post Free ... 39 3 Months, Post Free ... 5 o 6 „ „ ... 76 6 „ „ ... 10 o 12 „ „ ... 15 o 12 „ „ ... 20 o 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. 52
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