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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0219.PDF
FEBRUARY 22, 1913. (flJOHT " Flight " Copyright. The Vickers biplane tail-skid, which rotates with the rudder, allowing the machine to be steered when running along the ground. of the planes, stranded steel cable is employed in this machine. As a matter of fact, all the bracing throughout is of stranded cable, excepting in the body, where >tout wire ts used. The planes are so designed that in a very little time they may be dismantled, 1< only a centre section that is no wider than the body itself. Close examination of this central section of the top plane will reveal that in its interior there is a small petrol tank from which luel is fed to the motor by gravity. It is supplied from a main tank in the body, under pressure, and the tubes leading to and from it are neatly tucked away behind the wooden tilling pieces that are used to " streamline" the tubular cellule spars. By the way, the machine does not carry an oil tank, for sufficient oil is stoicd in the base- chamber of the motor to last for a six hours' flight. The landing chassis is, at first sight, very much like that of the monoplane. Its flexible suspension, however, will be found to be altogether different. A central hollow skid of ash is joined to the body by 2 V's of steel tubing. Two other V's of tubing extend downwards and outwards from the side of the body, and, in crutches at their lower extremities, the axles of the landing wheels travel against the tension the strong rubber springs. (See sketch.) Altogether, the chassis is exceptionally light and compact, and, more over, looks strong enough to brar any ordinary landing strain that it is likely to he subject to. Differing from the monoplane, loo, there is no backward extension of the central landing skid. The weight of the tail is carried by a small steel spoon-shaped tail ddd, so fixed that it pivots with the rudder and enables the machine to be steered more or less accurately over the grourd at slow speeds. The tail, level with the top main plane in flight, is attached to the top of the tubular steel tail outriggers. In plan form it is approximately rectangular, and its interior construction is of steel " Flight" Copyright. DETAILS OF THE VICKRRS BI°LANE.—On the left, quick detachable strut fitting. In the centre, the details of the flexible suspension. The sketch on the right shows how the tail controlling cables are guided round one of the plane struts. They are " staggered," as will be seen from one of our illustrations. Contrary to the more usual plan of using piano wire for the bracing throughout, tubing being used for its outline, while the cambered ribs are of channel section, acetylene-welded in position. J. SAMUEL On their stand, to the left of the main entrance, this firm is showing a high-powered hydro-biplane. Unfortunately, through a lack of sufficient space, it was found impossible to assemble the whole machine. However, although the outer sections of the planes are not fitted, quite a good idea of the machine as it appears when in flying trim, can be gathered from wash drawings that are shown on the stand. This hydro-biplane has been built to the designs of Mr. Howard T. Wright, who, as most people interested in aviation know, is in charge of the aeronautical department of the above well-known firm of naval Government contractors. He has devised and constructed a machine which he claims will have a speed range of from 30 to 70 miles an hour, which will be capable of alighting on and starting off from rough water, and which will be easy to fly. Wing construction.—The most notable point regarding the wing construction is the original cross-section that is employed. On the under-surface of the planes there is a single camber, but on the top surface two distinct cambers are noticeable. Mr. Howard T. Wright has taken out patents on this pirticmar aerofoil cross-section, and, it having been tested by Eiffel in Paris, it has been found to give an exceptionally wide speed range. Futther, it has the property that the location of its centre of pressure travels but little for wide WHITE AND CO. variations in the angle of incidence. At its maximum speed, the planes are designed and adjusted so that they will fly at a slight negative angle. At the lowest speed, 30 miles an hour, they fly " Flight" Copyright. The 180-h.p. Samuel White Navyplane. positively incident to the wind at 150. The planes are built about two main spars, which arc of box crosvsection and which have spruce sides and elm strips top and bottom. Where struts are 225
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