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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 1141.PDF
OCTOBER 25, 1913. splitting. In the present machine wing warping is employed for maintenance of lateral stability, but the next machine will be fitted with ailerons, which has the advantage of doing away with the constant twisting of the wing spars, which may in time cause fatigue. A hickory skid secured to the keel of the fuselage and running parallel to it is supported in front by a pair of V struts sloping down from the upper longerons of the fuselage. Anchored to the keel are the two portions of the divided axle, which carries on its extreme ends the two landing wheels. The method of springing these is shown in one of the accompanying sketches, which is, we think, self-explanatory. It will be noticed that the whole landing chassis is extremely simple, and offers a minimum of head resistance, while at the same time it is quite efficient. Owing to the proximity of the lower plane to the ground there is a certain cushioning effect in landing which greatly facilitates that operation. Mounted on the rear of the fuselage are the tail planes which are of the same type as those characteristic of the l/UGHT service tank by means of a pressure pump. On a dasb in front of the pilot are mounted the revolution indicator, oil pressure gauge, petrol pressure gauge, tell-tale oil glass, air-speed indicator, clock and compass, while on top of the fuse/age is mounted an altimeter. Secured to the nose of the fuse/age is the overhung engine, a 60 h.p. Isaacson radial stationary motor, driving directly a Lang propeller of 8 ft. 6 ins. diameter, 5 ft. 6 ins. pitch. After having been overhauled at the Isaacson works at Leeds, this engine is now giving entire satisfaction, having apparently been cured of all the little troubles always experienced in a new engine, and judging from the way it takes the biplane off the ground after a very short run it develops at least all its rated horse power. Certainly, as fitted to the Flanders biplane, it is entirely satisfactory, and it is to be hoped that it will soon gain the popularity that it certainly deserves. In the hands of Mr. A. Dukinfield Jones, the Flanders biplane is now flying extremely well, getting off in a " Flight " Copyright " F''Sh' " Copyright. THE ISAACSON ENGINED FLANDERS BIPLANE.-View showing Sketch showing method of carryiog warping the chassis and engine mounting. cables through one of the plane struts. Flanders monoplane and consisting of a fixed tail plane of semi-circular shape to the trailing edge of which are hinged the elevator planes, and of a rudder composed of, roughly speaking, two semi-circular surfaces of which the upper and smaller one is in front of the pivoting point. Double stranded cables pass from the crank levers on the rudder and elevators to the control levers in front of the pilot's seat. A tail skid of very simple construction prevents the tail planes from coming in contact with the ground. Inside the very deep fuselage are the pilot's and passenger's seats, arranged tandem fashion, the passenger occupying the front seat, from where he has an exceptionally fine view of the ground below, situated as he is well out in front of the lower plane. In front of him is a petrol service tank with a capacity of 7 gallons, or sufficient for a flight of an hour and a half. Under the passenger's seat is another tank with a capacity of 15 gallons, petrol being transferred from this to the remarkably short space and climbing at a very steep angle, while her flying speed must be in the neighbour hood'of 60 miles per hour. The weight of the machine empty is 1,000 lbs. An interesting point in connection with the warping of the wings is the fact that the warping cable passes right through from wing to wing, a branch cable being joined to the main cable outside the fuselage and terminating in short lengths of chain which pass round sprockets on the control wheel, operating the warp, so that should these branch cables break, the main cable will still be carrying its load, and the pilot would have a chance of being able to glide down safely, although he would not, of course, be able to use his warp. Duralumin has been used in the construction of the machine for radius rods, wing-spar clips, rudder and elevator crank levers, and most of the strut joints. The planes are covered with Hewittson's fabric and doped with Cellon. 1167
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