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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0878.PDF
f/jyjCHT] to be much stronger, weight for weight, than those in which the planking forms butt joints. Cedar is the material used in the construction of the boats, and two bulkheads divide them into three water tight compartments, so that should one or both of the boats become swamped, the water will only be admitted to the central part, the watertight compartments in the ends being still sufficient to keep the machine afloat. Accommodation is provided for two people in each float, the seats being placed tandem fashion. The front seat in the right hand boat is occupied by the pilot, who "Flight" Copyright. Sketch showing arrangement of tall planes of Radley-England waterplane. has an excellent view in all directions. The controls consist of a central lever, the side-to-side movement of which operates the warp, while a to and fro motion works the elevator. A foot-bar actuates the rudder. Two pairs of struts connect each float with the lower main plane, whilst another pair of struts running from the prow of the boats to the engine bearers take the oblique stresses set up when the machine alights on the water. Mounted on very strong bearers is the engine, a 150 h.p. 8-cyl. Sunbeam of the V-type, driving through a two to one* reduction gear, a 4-bladed Lang propeller of AUGUST 16, 1913. 9 ft. 6 ins. diameter, 4 ft. 7 ins. pitch. Normally the engine runs at 2,200 r.p.m., at which speed it develops 150 h.p. Between the inner plane struts, and on the same bearers as the engine is a huge tank containing 82 gallons of petrol and 8 gallons of oil, which supply is enough for a 10 hours' flight. The main planes, which are of the same plan form as those on the experimental machine, but are of a modified monoplane section have a slightly greater span than the old machine. They are built up of hickory spars of I section, with ribs of spruce and poplar. Ten pairs of struts connect the main planes. Spruce is the material used for the struts, with the exception of the engine struts, which are three-ply Honduras mahogany, and all the struts are hollowed out for lightness. Lateral stability is maintained by means of ailerons on the top plane only. These are interconnected, Farman fashion, so that when one moves up the other moves down. The warp cables, as well as those operating the rudder, are carried round pulleys, and through copper fair leads down to the control levers in front of pilot's seat. "Flight ' Copyright. Sketch of one of the main floats of the Radley-England waterplane. Four tail booms carry at their rear end the tail planes, consisting of a fixed tail plane of rectangular plan form and of the non-lifting type, to the trailing edge of which is hinged the elevator. Underneath the tail plane are situated the twin rudders which, as can be seen in the scale drawing, are of exactly similar shape to those on the earlier machine. The planes are covered with brown Holland, which is rendered air-tight by being doped with British Emaillite. The weight of the machine in flying order, that is to say, with four passengers and sufficient fuel for a 10 hours' flight, is 2,500 lbs., and her flying speed is 60 m.p.h. The Radley-England waterplane as seen from behind 904 " Flight "C( pyright.
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