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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0076.PDF
[/ycSf Whatever model work in a true comprehensive sense may or may not consist of, it roost certainly does not consist solely in the making and flying of model aeroplanes; but in all useful and scientific work which can be carried out by the aid of such, no matter what the actual size of the particular apparatus in question may be. Model aeronautical work is so intimately wrapped up and inter woven with aeronautical inventions that it is quite impossible (even were it desirable) to separate the two. Practical inventors usually make or have made a working model of their invention. This is often done for two reasons—firstly, to fully satisfy themselves that the idea is absolutely workable in practice, secondly, for demon stration purposes re intending purchasers of patents, &c Closely connected with this is the question of "aeroplane accessories." The writer has no idea of how many firms are " kept going" at the present time solely in manufacturing motor car accessories, but it must be a very_ large one. That the same will ever be proportionally true in accessories for aeronautical vehicles may be doubtful—certainly for some time to come. But it is always found that as any industry grows and becomes popular—so do the " accessories "—faster in fact than the industry itself. Now a large number of such accessories would be of a distinct nventive character, and as such liable at any moment to become ncluded in " model work." Apart altogether from the question of accessories in general, there is plenty of scope at the present time for self-recording instruments of all kinds. What we want to know as soon and as quickly as we can is : everything that every part of the aeroplane does under every etreumtSam*, or at any rate as much about it as we can. Un doubtedly much can be learnt from careful and painstaking research work carriedout by means of "models." So far it cannot be said that the undertaking of research work has been viewed with much favour by aeromodellists in general. The reason of this probably is that there is not, or, to speak more correctly, there does not appear to be as much " sport" in this kind of work as in competition and record breaking flights. We do not know exactly how any particular person would define the term " sport." Undoubtedly it is something which affords "excitement" and very possibly "risk." Now some research work is undoubtedly almost, if not entirely, devoid of both these elements, but there is plenty which is not. There is plenty of experimental work in which the least carelessness or failure in any part of the mechanism means not only injury but even the certain death of the operator ; just as there is other research work which, whilst fairly safe so long as one exercises ordinary care, most certainly could not be classed as lacking in " excitement." Every art and science are so intimately bound up with one another at the present day that the worker in any one particular field, or even some especial portion of that field, not unfrequently finds his progress brought to a temporary check by his lack of knowledge of something in itself quite foreign to his own particular KITE AND MODEL AEROPLANE ASSOCIATION. Official Notices. Affiliation.—-Stony Stratford and District Kite and Model Aeroplane Club h»ve become affiliated to the Association. Club Stands «t Olympia.—Croydon and District Aero Club have reserved a club Hand, thus brincing the number of clubs to six. Other clubs please note and reserve a stand without delay, so as to save disappointment. Prize Distribution and Lecture. — On January 9th, the Modtl Engineer (Aviation Section) Prize Distribution was held at Caxton Hall, Westminster, before a large gathering of members and friends. The President, Sir John V; bh.ell,?y' Btt"•> Pr«'u«d. and was supported by Lady Shelley, Messrs. A. W. Marshall, representing Model Engineer; B. Cooper, A.F.Ae.S. (Sec. Aero- naiittcal society); T, Mandley-Page, A.F.Ae.S. ; V. E. Johnson, M.A., Model fcditor J1 LIGHT ; E. E. Chiozza Money and members of the Advisory Council. Lady Shelley presented the following prizes :-In Class 1 .—Power-driven mode s : D. Hiscox, Bronze Medal and 1st Class Diploma. Class 2.—Hydro- »** Mr- '•• H- Slatter, Silver Medal and 1st Class Diploma ; Mr. w. J. Wilhams, 1st Class Diploma; Mr. F. W. Jannaway, 2nd Class Diploma. Class 3.-Scale models- 1st, Mr. C. Desoutter, Silver Medal and 1st Class 1 iplorna; snd, Mr. I) Hiscox, Bronze Medal and 1st Class Diploma; Mr. E. mitnoiis, i« Llass Diploma; 3rd, Mr, C. J. Lane, 2nd Class Dipl oma. Diploma , r Wilkmson, Bronze Medal and 1st Class Diploma ; L. H. Slatter, \t °M "IT 'tf°m* : Si C- £°1d! and Class Diploma. Class S.-Aero. motors : !!' r. F-r*l*y,r> *••« Medal and 1st Class Diploma ; znd, Mr. C. Desoutter, Mr I rt5lPil°Sa' v^ ' '& ab°ve medals an* d'Ploma< were Presented by Mr. J. Pwdhral Marshall. The Leytonstone Ae. Club were presented with the t£2Z£ T^' P"Mntei^y Mr. F- K. McClean, for the team contest in conn.ct.on with the above. The team were : J. E. Louch, H. C. Bond, 5. C. Hersom, F E. (..rattan, F. H. Hawthorn and H. Bedford. After the presentation Sir John called upon Mr. F. Handle,- Paee, A.F.Ae.S., .0 lecture «.MvH.££P?e?£,of„Avlat,on on Experimental Model Work," which was raZL - N Z '.iVS. " &reSe?VWere. °n!>" to° sorr5- ^°en over, but a full "^JL. . * f , ° Mr- i°^nT s PaBe- Special votes of thanks were accorded to the lecturer moved by the hon. sec, seconded by Mr. B. Cooper ; loWin m Mr M\rShfc°Ved 3 Mr h ln«ram- se™nded by Mr.TE if?Tl„ Wh ofV.^^ ean' r,Td "*Jfc F' E- Grattan- and seconded by Mr. lowers, both of Leytonsion.Club ; to Sir John and Lady Shelley, by the hon. secretary, seconded by Mr. A. F. Houlberg. The meeting was tneVc* JANUARY 17, 1914. subject Probably to no other subject does this fact apply so much or so often as it does to aeronautics. Not only does the student of aeronautics require a first-class knowledge of all mechanical subjects (to say nothing of mathematics) as well as motors, but he is bound ere long to find that he must add a knowledge of electricity as well. . Electrical energy, when it comes to a question of n.p. per given weight, is at present not in the running as a motive power for actually driving our flying machines—but we cannot drive our aero motors without its assistance, and if it at any time refuse its kindly aid our motor at once becomes useless. Again, there is the question of " Wireless." It is extremely difficult to keep abreast of the latest wave in the ocean of knowledge but we believe that up to the present, although wireless messages have been sent by an aeroplane in flight, they have not yet actually been received by the same. In the case of airships an allowance of a pound weight per mile is usually allowed— i.e., to send out mes sages to a station and receive them from the same at a distance of 100 miles necessitates an apparatus about 100 lbs. in weight, viz., about 70 lbs. for the transmitting: and 30 for the receiving parts. Of course, nowadays, even so large a weight as ioo lbs. is not in any way prohibitive even in the case of an aeroplane, but supposing the apparatus so improved that the same results could be obtained with an apparatus of only one-half the weight, then this means one of two things: either for the same weight an apparatus having a much greater range ; or the same range, but the ability to carry 50 lbs. more in the way of fuel, i.e., a greater range of operations. When one endeavours, however feebly, to take a broader and more extended view of what model work should or at any rate could be, one cannot help feeling some regrets that such fine mechanical ability and skill, to say nothing of technical and scientific knowledge correctly applied, should be devoted to the mere sporting side of the question, and so little to the research side. Without in any way going into such a vexed question of how much or how little use may be made of airships and aeroplanes in the next great international struggle, it is universally agreed that use will be made of them, and that the first, and in all probability the decisive, battle will take place in the air. Even assuming this not to be the case—their value as detectors of enemies either in the air or on the sea (fog alone excepted) can scarcely be overestimated. Once detected, the knowledge of the exact whereabouts of the enemy at headquarters might be priceless. To fly with the news would be absurd ; bow can a speed of even, say, 140 miles per hour, compare with a speed of some 186,000 miles per second, or, in other words, the, to us, instantaneous transmission that " wireless " gives us? We thus see that the future of " wireless " and of aeronautical work, some of it undoubtedly model, are intimately bound up together. In fact, the more deeply one probes the subject, the more difficult it becomes to say what art or science is not more or less intimately bound up with aeronautics. ® ® ® ® 76 interesting and instructive one that has been held, and it is hoped that other full- size designers and makers will come forward and give lectures, for it is by model experiments that money and time can be saved. 27, Victory Road, Wimbledon. W. H. AKEHURST, Hon. Sec. AFFILIATED MODEL CLUBS DIARY. CLUB reports of chief work done will be published monthly for the future. Secretaries' reports, to be included, must reach the Editor on the last Monday in each month. Leytonstone and District Aero Club (64, LEYSPRING ROAD). JAN. I8TH, at 10 a.m , flying, Wanstead Flats, as usual. If wet meet at club room. Paddington and Districts (77. SWINDKRBY ROAD, WEMBLEY). JAN. 17TH, flying at Sudbury. Sheffield Ae.C. (50, SPRINGHOUSE RD., WALKLEY, SHEFFIELD). JAN. IJTH, at 2.30 p.m., general meeting at club room to decide whether the workshop is to be continued or not, also other business. Every member should make an effort to be present. Jan. 24th, at Standhouse Aerodrome, Intake, at 2.30 p.m., the tractor biplane contest for Mr. Manton's medal (weather permitting). Wimbledon and District (165, HOLLAND ROAD, W.). JAN. 17TH and iSth, flying as usual. UNAFFILIATED CLUBS. Edinburgh Aeronautical Society (41, DRUMSHEUGH GARDENS). CM " •R".W'n • Ew5? Wl11 R,ve two cinematograuh lectures on " Learning to t ly in the Princes Cinema, Princes Street, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.. on Tuesday, Jan. 20th. Members, on showing their membership card, will be admitted free. 5. Eastern Model Ae.C. (I, RAILWAY APPROACH, BROCKLEY). JAN. I7TH, Woolwich Common, 3.30 p.m. until dusk, Jan. 18th, Black- heath, 7jo to 10 a.m. ; Lee Aerodrome, .0.30 a.m. to 12.45 P m. Members are requested to accelerate the construction of models intended for the club's first ErSISb,n.°n',t? be held at the Central Hall, High Street, Peckham, on the last Thursday in this month, 7 to to p.m. Admittance free. Every member is expected to exhibit.
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