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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0105.PDF
JANUARY 25, 1913. such a model, Canard type, but it can be applied to the tractor type model equally as well. Suitable cogwheels can be obtained 5 Messrs. J. Bonn and Co, Bu T , M*« C«.J- Temperley's Query. WMr. Temperley, in writing to thank those who have so kindly replied to his query says, " unfortunately, I have been unable to do much model-making lately, and have not thus made any experi ments in that direction myself. I have, however, a few measure ments of a biplane-P. 0.2.1. r.o.g. type. It does not, however, rise off (the) ground except with a little push, and only flies 50 yards, as the great quantity of rubber will hardly stand more than 300 turns, if that. It has a four-bladed home-made aluminium propeller (tractor) and a double ball-bearing bracket with two hooks tor the two skeins of rubber. The tail has a slight lift. Its chief dimensions are:— . u O d z a -s to J3^ 71 5 §"I 3 X 14 sq. ms. 880 I! j5/o £ ..a *S (A k- S d 5aw <; * sq. ms. 780 sq. ms. 100 ozs. 20 ozs. S (about) sq. ms. 156 0 JL sq. ins. 39 ss. ozs. 31 Span. Chord. 4 ft. upper plane \ <)\ ins. 3 ft. lower plane J 9 ins. Tail. 14 x 7 ins. Rudder and fin. 30 sq. ins. One of my great difficulties has been to make the planes light and yet strong enough (the frame and chassis are fairly simple). My present system is as below :— It is difficult to make and hard to keep straight, and, in fact, altogether not very satisfactory. I hope, however, to continue now that I am at home again. American Records. We have received the following from Mr. G. F. Forster (23, Euclid Avenue—Summit, New Jersey, U.S.A.):— " I see in your issue for December 15th you seem to doubt that we fly our models according to the rules [no not according to any rules—because so far as I know there is no rule that model flying must be carried out on (approx.) level ground V.E.J.]. We do not fly our models from hills, towers, or any such elevated places, although the names of the places might give that impression. Oakwood Heights is the flying ground on an island in New York Bay.—It is there than man-carrying machines are flown. It is a reclaimed saltmarsh, and when the tide is high the water from the bay comes up in the ditches which drain the fields. It takes its name from the name of the railroad station, which is on higher ground about two miles from the field. Summit is the highest point in the country around here. It is a town on the top of a mountain. We fly our models on level ground near the Passaic River, about two and a-half miles from the town. If possible, I will send you photographs of the fields [We shall be very pleased to receive them]. I have not been able to obtain any yet. I trust I have cleared up all doubts." Last year the proposed international competition fell through; we sincerely trust the same thing will not occur this year. It would be extremely interesting to see how some of the record- breaking American models would fly over here, where the meteoro logical conditions are decidedly different. The Coming Show at Olympla. The forthcoming model exhibition and competition at Olympia will now very soon be here, and it behoves all would-be exhibitors who have not as yet completed their machines to do so at the very earliest possible date ; at the very last moment there is almost sure to be something that is wrong and that requires altering, or some little suddenly-thought-of or suggested improvement, which if driven off too long may make the particular " last moment" referred to above arrive too late to carry out the desired improvement. There is already every promise of the Show being a record one, at any rate so far as models are concerned, and we are certain that many who have decided not to exhibit will much regret it afterwards, both individuals and clubs. We shall not be at all surprised to see some quite new reputations made as the result of this exhibition—and some of those who have already won laurels must above all not think that anything but their very best original work will stand any chance of success. At present we are not permitted to particularise any further (/QGHT just one point to which we would refer, i.e., the case in which competitors are making model hydro-aeroplanes and fitting them with both wheels and floats. The wheels should be so arranged that they can be drawn up out of the water, as on the Donnet-Leveque, Curtiss, &c Personally we do not advise the combined model—in a class where the model actually has to fly we think it would 1MS a mistake—a needless handicap. We make special mention of this because we recently heard that such models were actually being constructed. Query. Mr. P. Moss desires to know the best proportions for making rubber lubricants of (1) soft-soap and black-lead, (2) soft-soap and French chalk. Replies In Brief. FLYING FOX.—In reply to your first query, write to Mr. Stanger, 20, Brograve Road, Tottenham, N. Possibly he could devise something for you. Generally speaking, the flight is not, I am afraid, long enough to necessitate controlling. In reply to your second, presuming you mean a power-driven model about one-third distance from leading edge ; but you must not take this as anything more than a rough approx. R. L. B. STEELE.—Your statement is both interesting and curious, but, before expressing an opinion, we would like to know what happens when your model turns into the wind when flying. When launching it with the wind, do you launch it with sufficient velocity. J. H. MATKIN.—You will, no doubt, find much useful information in January nth issue (vide Mr. Temperley's query). There are, however, no hard and fast rules—so much depends on both the general design of the model and the workmanship—you do not state whether the model is to be hand-launched or to rise off the ground. L. THOMPSON.—Is desirous of building a hydro-aeroplane—a biplane, with two rear floats and one front one, twin propellers, and wants the model to weigh complete with floats not more than six ozs., what size should he make the floats ? The model alone he estimates should weigh about 4 ozs. This last statement clearly shows that our correspondent is not aware of what has been written in this section on the subject during last year. To have floats weighing one-third the total weight of the model is absurd, they should not weigh more than one-twelfth. To find out the size of floats required, their buoyancy should be sufficient to support at least one and a half times the weight of the model, if twice as much all the better, knowing the weight of a cubic ft. of water, 1,000 ozs., this is not difficult. They must be con structed of varnished silk stretched over a light skeleton framework of whitewood. The reason your former machine was unsuccessful was the floats were far too heavy. R. JAGO.—Write to Mr. W. H. Akehurst, 27, Victory Road, Wimbledon, S.W., and later write us again re the matter. R. J. BENSON.—The fabric is fastened on to the woodwork of the planes generally by means of good glue, &c.; sometimes it is sewn on as in the case of wire frames. Personally I always sew it on as it can easily be removed or re-tightened should it become slack. The successful covering of a wing, whichever method you adopt, requires both care, patience and practice. To tighten a fabric when slack you can of course use a dope, as advertised in these columns, which both tightens the fabric and renders it waterproof, &c. Care must be taken, however, to see that it is not put on an already taut fabric, or further tightening will almost certainly deform the wing. WINDE1R A very neat design for a geared winder by E. Warde-Fox. ® ® ® ® FREEHAND Artists (rapid sketchers) required on editorial staff of FLIGHT for sketching machines and parts. Address " The Editor," There is 44, St. Martin's Lane, W.C 105
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