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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0263.PDF
MARCH 14, 1914. however, be provided with floats, for sea service, and various minor improvements have been recently incorporated in the design, notably in regard to the springing of the undercarriage and the floats, so that it will be worthy of close inspection. The fighting biplane is a land machine of the " pusher " type, and has been recently introduced. The observer, or gunner, is seated well in front of the machine so as to give a wide range of The 80 h.p. Avro biplane. vision for observation purposes, while sufficient fuel may be carried to last for 4J hours' continuous flight. The engine is encased in a streamline casing, as is also that on the former machine, and is supported in bearings fore and aft so as to obtain greater rigidity and avoid the use of an overhung engine. The "tabloid" single-seater scout, the latest production of Messrs. Roe, embodies several novel features, and is an excellent example of modern high-efficiency design, as is evident from the The 80 h.p. Avro tractor biplane. remarkably wide speed variation which is claimed for it. The wings are set back at the tips, so as to enhance the stability of the machine, while the unique system of bracing employed enables a number of wires (which are anchored in such a manner that no matter how the centre of pressure upon the wings may move, the loads are taken by both spars) to be dispensed with, thereby reducing the head resistance to some extent. This machine is fitted with air The 80 h.p. Avo seaplane. brakes, and, it is stated, may be dismantled and re-erected in a few minutes. The landing chassis is similar in construction to that on the 80 h.p. tractor land machine. The engine is an 80 h.p. " mono- soupape" Gnome. Each of the above machines will be fitted with the Avro safety belt, concerning which there is ample evidence of the fact that it has been designed by a practical man. Its notable features are, that the aviator gets into and out of the belt by means of the quick- release devices, which are in duplicate—one on each side—thereby ensuring that it is in working order, and the ample depth of the front section of the belt, which precludes any possibility of internal injury resulting should the pilot be suddenly thrown forward. Pemberton Billing. (49.) 1 AMONGST the new comers at the Show one of the most inter esting will be the flying boat exhibited by Mr. Pemberton Billing. The " Supermarine," as Mr. Billing calls his flying boat, represents radical changes from usual practice in flying boat construction and design. The boat itself, as will be seen from accompanying sketch, is cigar shaped, thus providing a perfect streamline. The con struction of the boat is unusual and will be fully described later. The Supermarine is of the tractor type, and it will be seen that the position and attitude of the engine and propeller is highly original The 50 h.p. Supermarine (Pemberton Billing). inasmuch as they are mounted above the boat and in front of the main planes. It will be interesting to see how this arrangement will work in practice, the theory, of course, being that setting the pro peller-shaft at an angle to the boat will facilitate getting off the water. In addition to the complete machine there will be exhibited on this stand a model of the next Supermarine to be built, which is to be known as the P.B. 2, whilst the present machine is called the P.B. 1. A three-bladed propeller of special construction, and a supermeter for determining the height above the ground or the sea, and described elsewhere in this issue, will complete the exhibit on this stand. Blackburn (Blackburn Aeroplane Co.). (63.) THB exhibit on this stand will consist of the 80 h.p. Gnome Blackburn monoplane, which has been specially built for high speed cross-country work. It will he of practically the same design of machine as was described in FLIGHT for December 27th last, when we noted that a similar machine had traversed a distance of 1,800 miles, and carried over 120 passengers during the preceding three months. The 80 h.p. Blackburn monoplane. Every endeavour has been made in the design of this machine to reduce head resistance to a minimum, and to give the greatest comfort and safety to the pilot and passenger. The front part of the fuselage is covered in with sheet aluminium, and the engine is encased for about five-eighths of its circumference in an aluminium cowl, which is continued to the rear so as to form a scuttle dash, so that the exhaust or oil from the engine is prevented from blowing back upon the pilot or passenger, who are well screened from the wind. It is stated that the factor of safety used in the design of cables is not less than ten. 263 D 2
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