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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 1101.PDF
NOVEMSBR 6, 1914. l/EHTj THE RYLEY BIPLANE GLIDER. MR. L. G. RYLEY, of Coventry, sends us the following description and sketches of a biplane glider which he has built, and with which he hopes to make some interesting experiments shortly. Mr. Ryley informs us that although he is a member of the Coventry Aero Club, the glider is not built by the Club, but that he will be quite willing to allow members to indulge in flights on the machine : " Gliding is a side of flight that is a little apt to be neglected at the present time, but it is a useful side nevertheless, and for the of mastery over the element which has so long defied conquest, added to the joyous exhilaration of the rush through the air, the delight of which has been compaied to that of toUigganning. No doubt the chief problem in gliding is, to the town dweller especially, that of portability, and it was with a view to overcoming (to some extent) this obstacle that the writer constructed the machine shown in the accompanying scale drawings. The majority of model builders know how successful the ' canatd ' type of machine is, and as the Wtight glider was also successful, it was decided to adopt something similar (for the first machine, at any rate), rather than run the risk of constructing something which might ptove a failure. Bamboo is used for the main spars, outrigger, and ribs, whilst for the skids ash is employed. The stanchions between the planes as well as the compression struts connecting the front and rear spars, are of selected red deal, and to all appearances seem quite strong enough for the job. The strut lug was described in t LIGHT, <s: SOME CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS ON THE RYLEY GLIDER.-A. Sheet-steel fitting on which the el.vator pivots. B. Steel pegs. C Bamboo plugged and sawn down 3 Ins. D. One'Sixteenth Inch diameter steel pegs. E. Sheet steel. F. Bamboo bound with twine and glued. Right: A simple tube joint connecting elevator, outrigger and landing skid. G. Bamboo outrigger. H. Steel tube socket. I. Ash skid. J. Section of ash skid. advanced model builder and others similarly interested it should be very attractive. There are a great many individuals who cannot afford to run a motor-driven machine, and to whom the flying of models lacks that co-operation between man and machine which is really what they require ; to such therefore does the glider appeal. January 24th, 1914, whilst the remainder of the chief joints are shown in the diagrammatic sketches below. No doubt some readers will criticise the ' string and glue ' joints, but it is really the only practical method of joining bamboo, and, if properly carried out, is quite strong enough ; moreover, it enables several parts to ' give ' slightly under certain circumstances, which otherwise might end in a broken spar. In the scale drawings a seat is thown, but after a few flights on the latter, I intend fitting a board and trying the prone position similar to the famous Wright Bros, early machines • Some sheet steel and twine joints In the chassis. A. Strut connecting skids. On the right Is shown attachment of one of tS elector booms to upper front wing spar. B. Steel tuba socket. C. Front spar. D. Detachable elevator boom. E. Inter-plane strut. Tust consider for a moment the points in its favour—practically most of the fascination of the motor-driven flight with all the charm of controlling a man-carrying aeroplane, and there is also that sense Missing R.F.C. Officers. WORD has now been received that Capt. Ronert Boger, R.E., R.F.C.and Capt. Robin Grey are prisoners of war at Torgau. Lieut. T. Rawson-Shaw, R.F. A., R.F.C., has been notified as missing since October 27th. Fatal Accident at Upavon. IT is with the deepest regret that we have to record a fatality which occurred at Upavon early on Thursday morning last. Flight Sub Lieut. Murray, who was under going a course of instruction at the Central Flying School, was flying over Rushall Down, when the machine was wrecked apparently through the pilot, in the fog, mts- " This position will certainly cut down the resistance con siderably, and the author would be glad to hear from readers who have tried it." ® ® judging the distance when coming down. A shepherd, who saw the smash, hurried to the spot, but found the pilot was already dead. Fatality in Southampton Water. ON Sunday last Mr. Victor Mahl was engaged testing a new waterplane over Southampton Water, when the machine suddenly dived into the water. Several boats hastened to the spot and the pilot was rescued, he having been able to cling to one of the upturned floats of the machine. Mr. R. Austen, who was a passenger on the machine, disappeared, and his body had not been recovered up to the time of going to press. IIOI
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