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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0514.PDF
THE BRISTOL MONOPLANE, THE HJ5TOL MONOPLANE SEEN FMJM ABOVt THE scale drawing and constructional sketches published this week represent the latest Bristol monoplane as exhibited at the Olympia Show. It is a development of the design by M. Coanda which was entered for the Military Trials, and differs principally from its prototype in respect to a larger wing area, which now spreads 280 sq. ft. The chord is 7 ft. 3 ins., and is notable for the extent of the trailing portion aft of the main spar. The weight of the machine, notwithstanding its larger area, is appreci ably less than that of the machine entered in the Military Trials; in con sequence, it has an in creased flexibility of maiKfuvring power, is able to ascend more quickly in confined spaces, and in general to respond with greater certainty to the pilot's control when a delicate touch is needed during, say, the course of alighting. The fuselage of the machine is rectangular in section, and is built up of four ash booms with strut cross members of spruce. Diagonal steel wire bracing is employed in the usual way to make a rigid girder of the whole structure. In order to prevent the compression stress on the wing spars being taken by the sides of the body of the machine, the spars themselves, which are of tubular steel, are carried through the body and abut against the centre of gravity of the machine. His presence or absence does not, therefore, affect the balance. The pilot's seat is situated behind the second mast, and his outlook on either side of the body is facilitated by the cutting away of the wing surfaces. Both seats are of the bucket type, and are independently sprung upon bent malacca cane so as to ease the shock of a rough landing. For the same reason they are upholstered round the edges with leather. A further range of vision is sought by fitting glass windows in the sides and bottom of the fuselage ; the glass is of the kind that has wire netting em bedded in it to prevent it from flying to pieces when broken. The front edges of the wings are also cut away slightly, it will be noticed, to facilitate the passenger's outlook to ward the ground. Speaking of balance, an interesting detail is the disposition of the fuel and oil tanks relatively to the centre of gravity. The oil tank is placed at a distance behind the C.G., that is three times as great as the distance of the petrol tank forward of that point. The ratio of the consumption of fuel to oil is three to one in units of weight, so that the two tanks are in balance at the start and at all times during flight so long as this ratio of consumption is maintained. . , '*Flight" Copyright. !Ki£^rJ?^CtT$F ??IAIL*TT,h! tav °a tht leIj ls.,a standardised Bait, It being identical on both the monoplane and the biplane. The sketch on the right shows the flexible suspension of one of the main landings wheels, with its band-brake and torque-rod. masts that carry the guy wires from overhead. These masts are very neatly streamlined, and have somewhat the appearance of short funnels, which gives to the machine in flight an appearance that lends an appropriateness to its being described as a sort of torpedo boat of the air. The passenger sits immediately behind the forward mast, and the passenger's seat corresponds with the Dual control forms a standard fitting on this design, and incorporated therewith is an unlocking device by which the pilot can throw the passenger's control gear out of action at will; the control movements themselves are of the orthodox type. A to and fro motion of the lever operates the elevator, turning the hand wheel on top of the lever actuates the warp through cables, and the pivoted bar under the pilot's seat controls the rudder. 536
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