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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0594.PDF
1/liOHT) Projecting well out in front of the main planes is the nacelle, which carries on its nose the front elevator, and inside which are the pilot's and passenger's seats. From the front seat the pilot controls the machine by means of a hand-wheel mounted on the upper end of a tubular steel column, which in turn is secured to a transverse rocking-shaft. To the ends of this shafr, and outside the nacelle, are brazed two short levers, from which cables pass to the elevators. A to-and-fro motion operates the elevators, while the ailerons are worked by rotation of the hand-wheel. As the machine is comparatively short for its span, it has been found desirable to have the rudders turn through a great angle for a small movement of the foot bar operating them. This has been effected by making the levers on the rudders short, and having the foot bar itself long, so that the action is geared up. In front of the pilot are the instruments, altimeter, revolution indicator, compass, clock, Imap case, &c. Behind the pilot, and right ovir JUNE 7, 1913. passenger have an exception ally fine view of the country underneath. At the rear end of the nacelle, and mounted on channel steel bearers, is the 70-h.p. Gnome engine, which furnishes the power. Be tween the rear engine bearer and the engine is a propeller of 8 ft. 6 in. diameter. Petrol and oil is carried in a tank of streamline form, pported on tubular steel stanchions, which are attached ;::::::::::::.;: :;;;::::::;::::-• ;:;::::::-:::;:::;:l!il^i:::i!:::::::jj£:: '•™^* " Flight " Copyright. A wire attachment on the Short biplane. "Flight" Copyright. One of the tail skids of .the Short biplane, and, on the right, detail of the left side of the landing chassis. the leading edge of the lower plane is the passenger's seat. Owing to the positions of the seats both pilot and ® ® QUESTIONS IN ON the 29th ult., in the Howe of Commons, Mr. Sandys asked the Secretary for War the number of airships and aeroplanes respec tively at present in the possession of the War Department ; how many of the aeroplanes were biplanes and how many monoplanes ; how many of the monoplanes were being u ed lor practice or instructional purposes, and how many were lie ng reserved for use solely in time of war ; how many of the biplanes were being regularly used for instructional or practice purnoses ; the districts in which detachments of the Royal Flying Corps were at present stationed ; and how many biplanes and monoplanes were available for use at each of the stations. Col. Seely : The Royal Flying Corps is stationed at South Farn- Imrough, Salisbury 1'lain, and Montrose. It is not considered to be in the interests of the public service to publish the other information which the hon. member asks for. Further question* by Mr. Sandys drew from Col. Seely the information that there were 63 officers on the active list in possession of flying certificates granted at the Central Flying School, and 20 officers who had qualified before the school started. There were 17 of other ranks in possession of certificates. The first officer to graduate at the school after it was opened on August 17th, 1912, obtained his certificate on August 24th. The tests had not been altered since last August. The strength of the Royal Flying Corps Military Wing on May 1st amounted to 70 officers and 583 other ranks, and at the Central Flying School there were six military officers and 68 other ranks belonging to the Royal Flying Corps. 6i( The flying speed to the upper longerons of the nacelle. of the machine is 48 m.p.h. ® ® PARLIAMENT. There were no civil mechanics employed with the military wing or at the Central Flying School. ON Tuesday last, Mr. Sandys asked the Secretary for War whether in view of the official refusal to give any information whatever with reference to the numbers of aircraft in the possession of the War Department, it is now the policy of the Gnvernment to withhold all such information from the House of Commons ; and, if ?o, on what grounds this decision had been arrived at. Col. Seely : It is not the custom to publish detailed statistics ot the personnel or strength of the British Army. I hope to make a general statement on Thursday. Mr. Sandys : In view of the fact that it is the policy of the Government to withheld information as to the number of aircraft in the possession of the War Department are we to understand that the figures which the hon. gentleman gave on March 19 are not correct ? Col. Seely : It is not the policy of the Government to withhold from the House any information which can properly be given, and I may say we have given much more complete information than has been given to the Assemblies in any foreign countries. Mr. Lawson : Will the right hon. gentleman before he makes his statement issue a return giving the aircraft in their different classes ? Col. Seely : Yes. I am glad the question has been asked, because I propose to issue a paper giving the fullest information possible and such information as we have in other directions in regard to aeronautics.
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