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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0712.PDF
fjUGHf JLLV 3, I9I4- TESTING THE SPERRY-CURTISS STABILIZER. •SOME very interesting demonstrations are reported to have been made with the Sperry stabiliz-r fitted on a Curtiss flying boat, in The gyroscopic Installation on the Sperry-Curtiss machine. connection with the "Concours de la securite en aeroplane" on Friday week. The scene of the demonstrations was the Seine at Bezons, and the tests were carried out under the official observation of the judges of the competition. Piloted by Mr. Sperry, Jun., the son of the inventor of the gyroscopic stabilizer, the Curtiss flying boat left the water easily and rose to a height of about 400 ft. The mechanic was then seen to leave his seat and walk out along the lower plane, whilst the pilot held his hands above his head in order to show that the machine was controlled by the stabilizer only. This performance was repeated several times, and on another flight Mr. Sperry was accompanied by one of the judges—Commandant Barres—in order to make absolutely certain that the pilot did not use the controls. The Sperry gyroscopic stabilizer consists of a quadruple gyroscope actuating the ailerons and elevator, and driven by the engine at the rate of 12,000 r.p.m. The longitudinal attitude of the machine is regulated by means of a small wind vane (which is seen in our photograph at the top left, attached to one of the engine struts) actuating one of the gyroscopes. If the speed of the machine drops below a certain limit, the vane depresses the elevator through the intermediary of the gyroscope. If, on the other hand, the speed is increased owing to a dive, the elevator is pulled up so as to " flatten out" the path of the machine. A clutch is provided by means of which the gyroscopes can be brought into or put out of action at the will of the pilot. ® ® ® ® Manton at Malton. AT the annual fete in aid of the Malton Cottage Hospital on June 25th, Mr. Manton gave a fine exhibition, including 13 loops and one upside down flight. At 2.30 Mr. Manton took his seat in the SO h.p. Bleriot, started away giving a ten minutes' exhibition of fancy flying, banking, and switchbaoking, &c, and did not appear to be bothered by the somewhat tricky state of the atmosphere. On landing the machine came almost immediately to a standstill owing to the uphill nature of the ground, but this was rather a disadvantage for getting away, while over the crest of the hill the machine encountered one or two severe bumps. In the evening the conditions improved and, if anything, Mr. Manton gave an even better demon stration than in the afternoon. Mh«'wdS,E H""mES COMPETING IN THE - CONCOURS DE LA S4CURITE" EN^RO^LZ«L<U description of it.: K 712
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