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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0865.PDF
AUGUST 14, 1914. I/LICOTI Chassis and engine housing of Ponnier biplane. steel tubes of excellent streamline section, and cross bracing is effected by means of stout stranded cables, terminating in quick release devices, which greatly facilitate erecting and dismantling of the wings. The angle of incidence diminishes con siderably towards the tips, a fact to which the constructors attribute, in great part, the stability of the machine. The type of chassis employed in the Ponnier monoplane has been retained, and consists of two pairs of struts, each pair of which forms a V as seen from the side. The apices of the two V's are con nected by a tubular axle, working in slots in a plate which is welded into the angle between the front and rear tubular struts. Lateral stiffness of the chassis is pro vided by cables running from the upper end of one chassis strut to the lower end of the strut opposite, as will ® ® The Trans-Atlantic Flight. THE reasons which led to the postponement to October of the attempt to cross the Atlantic in the Curtiss flying boat " America " have now been published in the form of correspondence between Mr. Curtiss and Mr. Rodman Wanamaker's representative, Mr. Will Gash. Since then the outbreak of the war has probably closed down further effort for this year, and in this connection Lieut. Porte arrived in this country per the " Lusitania" on Wednesday last. The letter from Mr. Curtiss was in the following terms:— My dear Mr. Gash,—In view of the enforced delays, I think it best to advise you as the representative of Mr. Rodman Wanamaker that, in my opinion, we should dis continue our efforts to rush the " America " to completion for shipment on August rst. By making a hasty job of it, this might be possible, but I do not think it will be fair to Lieut. Porte or to the machine. During the last three weeks of experimental work, the hull has been subjected to much rough handling and has suffered to such an extent, I think the bottom should be entirely rebuilt. If we have time to do this properly we can incorporate improvements suggested be seen from the front view of the machine. Springing is by means of rubber shock- absorbers wound round the axle and anchored to a short length of steel tubing welded on to and projecting out from the apex of the chassis struts. From the pilot's seat an exceptionally good view for a machine of this type is obtained. It is stated by the constructors that the down ward angle of vision is 20°, or, in other words, that when the machine is flying at a height of 1,000 ft., the pilot is able to see the ground as far back as a point 400 ft. in advance of a point vertically below him. By cutting away the trailing edge of the centre portion of the upper plane, a good view is obtained in an upward direction, so that it is only in a for ward and upward direction that the view is obscured. Control is by means o( a foot-bar for the rudder, and a rotatable hand wheel for warp and elevator. The fixed^ tail plane, which is of the flat non-lifting type mounted on top of the fuselage, is constructed of a framework of steel tubes, as are also the elevator and rudder. A tail skid of the type shown in one Tail planes of the Ponnier biplane. of the accompanying sketches, protects the tail planes against contact with the ground. The weight of the machine empty is 570 lbs., and the maximum and mini mum speeds are 65 and 33 miles per hour respectively. With a 50 h.p. engine the machine climbs to an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,281 ft.) in 8 mins., with a load of 350 lbs. ® ® by the numerous hydroplane experiments, and greatly improve the craft in several important details. It seems to be foolhardy to jeopardise the success of the trans- Atlantic attempt by starting out with any less than the most nearly perfect machine we can turn out, and, in view of the fact that Lieut. Porte does not wish to start from Newfoundland between August 10th and October ist, I advise postponing the start until the latter date. G. H. CURTISS. To this Mr. Gash replied :— Dear Mr. Curtiss,—Replying to your letter of to-day, Lieut. Porte agrees with you that on account of the reasons mentioned in your letter the trans-Atlantic flight should be postponed until October. As you will remem ber, Mr. Wanamaker has always urged us not to start the flight until all preparations have been completed and every possible precaution has been taken against acci dent and danger. Acting for Mr. Wanamaker in his absence, I therefore agree with Lieut. Porte and yourself to postpone the flight until "October. WILL GASH. It is stated that to start between August 15th and the latter part of September would be against all warnings of the United States Weather Bureau on account of storms that are expected at that time. 865
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