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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0231.PDF
APKIL 2, 1915. The service feed tank must have a capacity of at least one half hour's flight. Before installation one motor is to be selected from each bidder, and put through the following complete set of tests, and the remaining motors belonging to the same contract will have to pass test D. Test A, one half hour run on the test bench to deter mine the maximum brake horse power and the revolu tions necessary to develop the rated horse power; to be followed by the calibration run for determining the b.h.p., r.p.m. curve. Test B, motor and propeller to run for half an hour at full power while inclined upward at an angle of ten degrees. Test C, motor and propeller to run one half hour at low speed while inclined at an angle of ten degrees downward. The low speed should not exceed 25 per cent, of the speed for full power. Test D, four hours' run of the motor with calibrated moulinet at full power. After the four hours' run the motor shall be disassembled, and the motor and auxiliary parts shall be weighed. It will then be carefully examined and the conditions within noted, particular attention being paid to the amount of wear and of carbon deposit. If the above tests and inspections prove satis factory, the motor will be reassembled and given an additional four hours' run without any adjustments or replacements during same. The various weights allowed for outfit and equipment are as follows :—Machine gun and mounting, 30 lbs. ; box of ammunition, 60 lbs.; instrument board, 20 lbs. ; armour protection for engine and crew, 40 lbs.; for com pass, drift indicator, sextant, chart holder, and incidence indicator is allowed 12 lbs.; emergency rations, including drinking water, 20 lbs.; tool kit, 10 lbs.; fire extin guisher, 8 lbs.; sea anchor and line, 6 lbs.; and first aid kit, 8 lbs. Before being allowed to enter the acceptance trials, ® ® EDI FOLLOWING on the news regarding Noel and Verrier given in " Eddies " last week comes another letter from the front with the information that Noel has just been ap pointed to the Russian Order of St. George, having been selected to represent Aviation in the 6th French Army. Congratulations, Noel, and to the time when we all see you back amongst us. XXX That the great deeds in connection with aviation are not necessarily actual work in the air is evidenced by a recent episode in which the salvage of a French Avion was concerned. The pilot of the crippled machine was forced to abandon this between the French and German lines. Capitaine Bellenger having heard of its fate, he made for the French trenches to ascertain what chances there might be of retrieving it. Upon learning that the machine would, if repaired, still be serviceable, he decided to bring it in, if at all possible. In the twilight, therefore, he set out with a small party of mechanics, and managed to reach the lame duck. It was then found, however, that as the chassis had been damaged, the machine could not be wheeled, therefore carrying was the only way of shifting it. This was a task the nature of which may be realised when remembering that the party was a small one, and the distance from the German trenches very short. By carrying it short each machine must be flown by a representative of the manufacturer in order to demonstrate to the satisfaction of a Government inspector that it is capable of meeting the requirements. If the weather affords an opportunity, the machine must ride at anchor or adrift in a 25-mile wind in open water for four hours without danger of capsizing. When adrift it should normally head into the wind. The machine must be capable of getting away with full load on board in a calm and on smooth water in a distance of not over 1,500 ft. (from a start with the engine throttled down to one-quarter of the full speed revolutions at the starting mark). It should also be capable of getting away and of alighting in a 25-mile wind in rough water in the open sea, and of landing at high speed before the wind without danger of nosing under. The hull should begin planing at or below 20 miles an hour in rough water, and have a sufficiently easy bow to allow of ploughing through a moderate sea without undue pounding or wetness. As regards air-worthiness any machine proposed shall have initial or natural lateral, longitudinal, and directional stability in flight, such that moderate variations from the neutral attitude shall produce positive righting moments. Automatic stabilisers if used must be of demonstrated efficiency and reliability, and should be capable of being instantly thrown into or out of action as required. They should not interfere with the directional control of the machine. The maximum and minimum speeds will be ascertained by not less than five runs over a measured course exceed ing two miles in length. A glide of at least 1 in 6 is to be made in still air with the engine dead. Before any machine is admitted to the acceptance trials the following data must be furnished by the manufacturers :—General arrangement drawings, motor particulars, wing section with characteristics, and stress diagrams (a) maximum, (b) minimum and (c) upside down. ® ® IES. stretches at a time, and with the utmost care, as the least noise would have revealed their presence to the enemy, the French lines were at last reached after what must have seemed an eternity to the plucky ones who took part in it. They only got back just in time, for hardly were they safe within their own lines before illuminating rockets were sent up from the German trenches, throwing a brilliant light on the scene where a few moments previously the little procession had been toiling under their awkward burden. XXX Almost with the same regularity, although generally at a different time of the year, as the discovery of the sea- serpent, comes the rumour that the balloon has been found in which the Swedish explorer Andree left Spitz- bergen in 1897, in an attempt to reach the North Pole by air. The latest report hails from the Swedish Legation at Petrograd, and is to the effect that remnants of a balloon, believed to be Andree's, have been found at Yockquik, in Siberia. Until further proof is to hand it would be as well not to place too much reliance on this latest report. XXX Owing to a clerical slip on the part of the Northern Aircraft Co., the initials of Mr. Pashley, who has now joined up as an instructor at the Windermere Flying. 1
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