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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0262.PDF
(/DCHT] «ur readers as the designer ot a Nieuport model, illustrated and described some time ago in FLIGHT. We cannot say that the principle is one which we can recommend, and it certainly found no favour with the judges. Maximum strength combined with minimum weight is the great aim in all matters aeronautical. What advantage to build a heavy non-sprung chassis, when a lighter sprung one answers the same purpose, not only as well but better? The simplest and probably the best model tractor chassis at the Exhibition was that of Mr. J. H. Dollittle, which was sprung both longitudinally (by the flexible nature of the skid) and literally ; moreover, the amount of the springing was well-proportioned to the weight, etc , of the model. Generally speaking, this did not appear to be the case. Another point in connection with this club exhibit was the large size of the COVered- in fuselage or body of the models exhibited. Comparing these with the graceful meuocoqtie body of Mr. Desoutter's power-driven model, one's sense of proportion must undoubtedly prefer the latter ; we are not referring here to any scale dimensions—merely to the general appearance and sense of the relative proportion and fitness of things, which is not without its weight in a competition exhibi tion of thU kind. After making the above remarks, which the club can think over and discuss at its leisure, we have nothing but praise for the machines, which showed excellent workmanship and some very good points in design. Unfortunately, generally speaking, we believe these models are not competing at Hendon on Saturday ; we should certainly like to see some exhibition flights by at any rate Messrs. Burghope's and Norton's r.o.g. models. W. Key exhibited a scale tractor monoplane. Length, 34 '5 ins. ; span, 36 ins. ; weight, IS oz*. ; area of main plane, 201 sq. ins; diam. of tractor, IO-5 ; telescopic springs on chassis ; cellon dope. Also a hand-launched canard-type monoplane, twin propellers. M. H. Wilson: A tractor monoplane. Length, 2 ft. 9 ins. ; span, 3 ft. ; weight, 10 ozs. ; area of main plane, 180 sq. ins. ; diam. of tractor, 11 ins. ; cellon dope. J. W. Burghope : Two models, one a scale tractor biplane, single propeller. Length, 42 ins. ; span, 40 ins. ; weight, 19 ozs. ; area of main plane, 350 sq. ins. ; tractor diam., 13 ins. The other, a tractor mononlane, of which we have not at present the particulars. W. H. Norton : Two models, one a scale Caudron monoplane. Length, 2 ft. 7 ins.; span, 3 ft. I"5 ins. ; weight, 20 ozs. ; area of main plane, 2I2"5 sq. ins. ; diam. of tractor, 12 ins. Differing from its original in the drift attitude of the chassis [this we are afraid has been overdone], spring shock absorbers, back and front drift wires for wing bracing. The front chassis struts are continued to form the pylon to support the wing bracing, the two being thus con'ained in one member. Cellon dope. Also a hand- launched monoplane, canard type ; the fuse/age is torpedo t) pe, the motor rod being contained within the fuselage in such a manner that the rubber torque has no twisting action on the fuselage. Here, again, the size of the fuselage struck us as unnecessarily large, or, to speak more correctly, "fat." NORTH-EAST LONDON CLUB. This club exhibited seven models, of which only two were self- rising, the other five" being hand-launched models. J. E. Louch exhibited a hand-launched tractor monoplane, one propeller twin- gear, steel skid curved upwards to centre of propeller boss, upturned wing tips for stability ; also a tail type monoplane with upturned wing tips. H. T. Carter, a cinard type hand-launched monoplane, twin propellers. A. S. R. Lewin.ahand-launched canard type monoplane, twin propellers, with turned up elevator tips. W. Gittus, a tail type self-rising monoplane, twin propellers, steel sprung chassis, vertical tin below tail plane, tail elevation screw, adjusted flexible rear edges to the main plane. B. H. Longstaffe, self-rising tractor, sinule propeller twin gear, covered-in fuselage, streamline body, hollow struts for main plane, depressing tail, large vertical triangular fin above the tail. The designer stated that by the use of twin gearing he found he could reduce the weight by 4 ozs., owing to the absence of torsional f.rces. H. G. Bond, a tail type hand- launched monoplane. The work of the club shows considerable promise, but cannot be said to be, as a whole, at present, equal to that of some of the other clubs. AERO MODELS ASSOCIATION—NORTHERN BRANCH. This club exhibited five models, of which three were tractors. All five models were of the rise-off-the-ground type. H. R. Weston exhibited a tractor monoplane, one propeller, twin gear, also what was apparently a weighted skid to ensure balance ; the model was fitted with very tiny wheels and a back skid, which appeared too weak. The model was, however, a good flyer, and won the first official K. and M.A.A. distance for hand-launched tractors—viz., 125yds., less 40 yds. windage, i.e., 85 yds. ; weight of ozs. H. E. Fletcher, a tw.n propeller canard-type biplane. F. G. Hindsley, a tractor monoplane, single propeller, twin gear, with enclosed body (unfinished), 39 ins. span, 39 ins. in length, too sq. ins. of lifting sjrface; weight, 11-5 ozs., loading, 9J ozs. per sq. ft. M. B. MARCH I, 1913. Ross a tractor biplane with staggered planes, a four-bladed propeller, twin gear, enclosed torpedo-shaped body, tail-fin adjustable rudder. R L. Rogers, a tractor monoplane, twin propellers, vertical rudder behind the tail, built up motor rod. It is certainly a healthy s ign of progress when all the models exhibited by a club are of the self rising type, and the exhibits were decidedly good as a whole ; it was unfortunate that the full number of model, could not be shown. BATH AND SOMERSET MODEL AERO CLUBS. The exhibits of this club were decidedly lacking in finish, and, from "the point of view of workmanship, we are afraid not very much praise could be bestowed. There appears to be, however, considerable ingenuity amongst some of the club members, which should certainly be cultivated for all it is worth and not allowed to run to seed. Their exhibits included a power-driven model and a power plant, which is more than could be said of any of the others—save, of course, the K. and M.A.A. L.S.Smith exhibited a power-driven tractor biplane; the motor was a petrol one, on decidedly ingenious lines, which so far, we understand, has not worked very well. The size and diam. of the propeller were much too small. All the same, we trust the designer will continue his experiments until he has met with some success. It is just such experiments as this that are so much wanted. G. M. Hick, a tail-type monoplane, twin-propellers, bird-shape win!*5; also a spirit-motor on somewhat the same lines as was once tried by the Hon. C. A. Parsons, of turbine fame, and described in one of the earliest numbers of FLIGHT. The main idea appears to be the doing away with a separate heating apparatus. Methylated spirits is drawn (by working the engine) into the boiler, which is fitted with a vapourising coil; the boiler is warmed up and the engine started, the exhaust from the engine is carried back by means of a pipe to the warming up lamp flame, where it is ignited, and thereby itself tends to still further heat and vapourise the spirit in the boiler, the apparatus is evidently now self-working, and only a small flame is necessary to ignite the exhaust; under such circum stances the pressure in the boiler can obviously go on increasing, and the power as well. The plant is stated to give a 4-oz. thrust. The weight of the plant is not given. Silver soldering is employed. From an exhibition point of view the idea is quite spoilt from the design and workmanship exhibited in the apparatus. The weight of the plant could undoubtedly be cut down by nearly if not quite one half, especially where the engine is concerned. A descriptive printed or type-written card could also with advantage have accompanied the exhibit. G. E. Page, an unfinished monoplane tractor, self-rising, no propeller, very large tail, rough construction. R. E. Bush, a monoplane tractor, fitted with dummy engine, and a propeller having no pitch. R. C. Cross, a tail-type monoplane, twin-propellers, small fin in front, very roughly-constructed wheels. Two of the machines exhibited afforded a striking contrast in the matter of " tails." ® ® ® ® KITE AND MODEL AEROPLANE ASSOCIATION Official Notices. British Model Records, f Distance ... A. E. Woollard ... 477 yards. ' X Duration ... A. F. Houlberg ... 89 sees. f Distance ... G.Rowlands 332 yards. ' (.Duration ... A. F. Houlberg .. 51 sees. Hydro, off water ... Duration ... G. P. Bragg-Smith... 25 sees. Single-tractor screw, f Distance ... F. G. Hindsley ... 173 yards. hand-launched ...(.Duration ... F. G. Hindsley ... 36 sees. Do., off ground ... Duration ... H.R.Weston ... 21 sees. Membership.—All members who have induced their friends to join the Association during the Aero Exhibition are asked to send in the forms to the Hon. Secretary at once so that they can be elected members. Competitions for Year.—The Council will be pleased to receive any sug gestions from members as regards the competitions, so that they can consider them when drawing up the season's programme. Lecture.—Mr. A. P. Thurston will lecture before the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain at the United Service Institution on Wednesday, March 12th, at 8.30 p.m. His subject will be "Aeronautical Research Work in the Home." He will describe fully the method of construction and use of apparatus which can be erected cheaply and used in the home, also a series of researches made with such an apparatus will be published. There is a large field of most useful work open to anyone willing to work, and it is hoped that many of the members of the Association will be induced to take an interest in this much neglected but very fruitful field. Tickets can be had on application to the Hon. Secretary. Affiliation.—Application for affiliation has been received from the Paddington and District Aero Club, and same has been granted. Aero Exhibition Competitions.—The flying trials take place to-day, Satur day, March 1st, at the London Aerodrome, Hendon, at 9 a.m. sharp, and the hydro competition at Welsh Harp, Hendon. 27, Victory Road, Wimbledon, S.W. W. H. AKEHURST, Hon. Sec. ® ® ® ® MODEL CLUB DIARY AND REPORTS. CLUB reports of chief work done will be published monthly for the future. Secretaries' reports, to be included, must reach the Editor On the last Monday in each month. E.GrlnsteadaQdDlst!,ict(RosENEATH,WESTHiLL,E.GRiNSTEAD). FLVING on Mount Noddy and the Forest every Wednesday and Saturday, 2.30. Competition fixture list to be announced at early date. Hand-launched Off ground ... 268
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