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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0781.PDF
JULY 19, 1913- adopted to prevent errors, especially cumulative ones. The mean of some score of separate nights, i.e. 60 in all, should be taken ; as such would give a far more reliable result than merely a few flights. We give also two drawings of a novel design sent us by Mr. G, H. Kilshaw. " It was designed," says our correspondent, " for the proposed ' Liverpool Flying Corps' stand at the local Inter national Exhibition. The design lends itself admirably for a military type ; it has a span of 5 ft. 8 ins. with a 10 in. chord. The chief points in its favour are : Short body, enabling a short driving shaft for the propeller ; freeness from propeller blast working on the tail or main plane or body, which, apart from other reasons, should be a gain in efficiency. Free range for gun-fire, and absence of propeller-draught to annoy pilot or passenger. I trust the above will prove of some interest, and will send further particulars when tests are complete." The above model should prove of interest to anyone possessing a power plant and desiring to test it on "something new." The design is one which at first sight does not appear to adapt itself at all for a rubber motor, but by running a skein down each fuselage or " leg " from the nose of the machine, and using three gear wheels, one (the middle one) fixed on the propeller-shaft, which must, of course, have a length about equal to that of the middle body ; such could undoubtedly be used with success, and a flight of at least half a minute obtained—quite sufficient for observation purposes. We would like to see some of our readers (besides Mr. Kilshaw) try such a design in practice—we are quite sure the results would be both interesting and not without value. Experiments are much needed with uncommon types. We propose next week to deal with some simple experiments that can be carried out in a small wind tunnel, together with some directions on the construction of the same. The Scientific Side of Model Aviation. Mr. O. Hamilton (hon. sec. Stony Stratford Model Club) sends us a letter relative to the above. As already stated in a previous issue, we much prefer practical results from both parties, the con troversial side of the question having, we think, received due attention. The following is his communication :—" I have come to the couclusion that this controversy is mainly caused by : (1) the successful man whose machines fly with a more or less reputed clockwork regularity ; (2) those who fear the sarcasm of the crowd over possibly inefficient machines (this latter being a generalisation only, and does not apply to actual correspondents). The idea that has prompted this letter is the unfortunate result thai such arguments bring to current clubs, and the discouraging and crushing effect they have upon any wavering members. I think it is quite [/OCHf] reasonable for any club to allow of the introduction ot a ' research section. Further, if the ' scientifics,' instead of rushing with their moans to the columns of the Press, were to join one of the various clubs and drag them from the morass of the ' flying-stick,' more practical results would emanate ; instead of this, at the present time, the cry simply seems to be for a collected building of a powered scale model on co-operative lines. I agree the present model has only the appearance of a flying-stick, but with respect to those who are so free with their remarks about children and toys amongst the lay public, I would challenge them to produce such a toy and get a reasonable result at the first attempt. I know from personal ex perience that those who came to scoff at the attempts of others began to do something very different when they tried themselves. To draw the attention of the public to model aviation, you must be pre pared to have something spectacular, something of a concrete nature to show them. First of all get their interest and activity, and then draw them to the more scientific and interesting side of the subject. In conclusion, our club is definitely prepared to accept those who are interested that way." Model Club for Victoria (British Columbia). Mr. G. T. Fleming (c/o Willow Park P.O.) will be pleased to hear from anyone in the neighbourhood of Victoria who may be interested in model aviation, with a view to forming a practical model club in that district. Mr. L. H. Setter's Weight Carrying Model. We give in this issue a photo of the above model and the following particulars kindly supplied us by Mr. Slatter : — " It is the first of its kind that I have ever made—in fact, I have never even made a single-propeller machine before. The very large Mr. L. H. Slatter's weight carrying model. amount of wiring is due to its being built of small-section wood— the only kind I had by me—for the length, viz., 3 ft. 6ins. " The planes were rigidly fixed and braced to 'cabanes.' Twin- gearing was used, but the gear-wheels were not reliable ; con sequently, when I had the machine tuned up—i.e., when it made its io-4 sees, flight in the competition and I had no turns on the motor—the gears were badly worn. The propeller used had a diameter of 12 ins. and a pitch of 18 ins., span of main plane 40 ins., chord of same 8 ins. Total area, 350 sq. ins. ; weight, unloaded, i2-5 ozs. I intend constructing a stronger machine ofthe same type, and I will let you know with what success. The machine had never been tested before the competition, only being finished about noon on Saturday." [Gear-wheels should be of steel, not brass, and should be specially cut.] The Economic Electric Co.'s Catalogue. We have received from the above (E.E.C., Twickenham, London, S.W.) a copy of their profusely illustrated catalogue, now in its seventeenth edition. Every conceivable form of model electric accessory is listed and illustrated, as well as many of a larger type. In addition to these a very large number of useful tools are treated in a similar manner, and the possessor can see both the nature and the price of the tool at a glance. A limited number of aeroplane materials are also listed, as well as some aero electric motors. With regard to these, the vendors state, in reply to a query of ours, that these latter are for scale models and purposes of research ; not for flying models, owing to accumulator difficulties. Every branch of model mechanical work is more or less dependent on certain other branches, and the reader will find the catalogue, which contains no pages and costs id., well worth possessing ; an adequate index greatly adds to its value. As every page is profusely illustrated, the total number of illustrations, as can be seen, is very large.
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