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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0235.PDF
A NEW BRITISH DOPE. FREE OF TETRACHLORETHANE AND ALL HEAVY SPIRITS. IN view of the strenuous conditions to which aircraft is being subjected during the present war, being frequently left out in the open for long periods at a time without any protective covering being available, the question of a good dope assumes even greater importance than is the case in time of peace. It is therefore not surprising that enterprising firms should turn their attention to the manufacture of dopes which would fulfil the military requirements for a non-inflammable, petrol and oil-resist ing composition for the fabric covering of wings and fuselage. As we mentioned last week, among the new comers into this industry are the British Aeroplane Varnish Co., Ltd., whose head office is at Milburn House, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and whose London office is at 57, Fenchurch Street, E.C. This firm are now marketing a new dope which will be known under the name Titanine. This dope was originally manufactured by Messrs. Holzapfels, Ltd., of Newcastle, at their Felling works, where they have for a very great number of years been carrying on business as manufacturers of anti- corrosive paints and varnishes for marine purposes, a line in which they are in all probability one of the largest firms in existence. Messrs. Holzapfels, Ltd., have now transferred their interests in the new dope to the British Aeroplane Varnish Co., Ltd., of which, however, Mr. T. \V. Holzapfel is the Managing Director, and which will still be manufactured at the works at Felling-on-Tyne. The chief advantage claimed for Titanine is that neither tetrachlorether, or any spirit derivative of chlorine, nor amyl acetate is employed in its composition. The recent cases of poisoning to workmen applying the dope were attributed to the use of tetrachlorether in dope. If for no other reason, this claim that the new dope con tains no ingredients having any ill effects on the workers, should in itself be sufficient reason for giving Titanine a trial, as thereby, according to the manufacturers, the ordinary system of ventilation found in workshops will suffice. In addition to its non-poisonous qualities, Titanine is claimed to conform to the R.A.F. specification, and from an examination of various samples of this dope it certainly seems to possess a remarkable degree of flexibility. It also sinks into the pores of the fabric as well as the majority of other dopes, and its contractility is stated to be about the usual, so that manufacturers who intend to give it a trial can attach the fabric at the ordinary tightness, knowing that after treatment the dope will tighten it up to the desired degree. It is almost superfluous to say that Titanine is petrol- and oil-resisting, and we are assured that it will also withstand the action of sea-water for long periods. Our representative witnessed a demonstration of its non-inflammability, a burning wax vesta being laid on a sample of fabric treated with Titanine, the only result being the charring of the fabric around the match. As to the effect that the air will have on this dope after long exposure, this is a matter which will have to be proved by the test of time under actual service conditions, although from samples of ten months old submitted to us there is no reason to doubt the manufacturers' con fidence in this direction. The new dope, we might add, is furnished in one grade only, which is used for every fresh coating. %> (V) &> ® AIRCRAFT AND THE WAR. Writing to the Daily Telegraph regarding the Suez Canal Campaign on March 15th, Mr. W. J. Massey said:— " When, after the stubborn fight on February 3rd, the main body of the enemy retired towards the line of hills which form the eastern horizon, there were still several hundred lurks dug in about the hummocks and scrub near the Canal bank opposite Toussoun. They were sniping all night, and, for all the defenders, knew, they might be holding the ground for a fre»h bridging attempt to be made before dawn. The pontoons on the bank had been riddled •with jhell and rifle fire, but aerial reconnaissance had disclosed other pontoons with the main body, a couple of miles from the Canal." Writing to the Daily Telegraph from Bale on the 22nd ult., Mr. A. Beaumont said :— " The operations on the Alsatian side are becoming more serious every day. For the last three days the intensity of the artillery fire on both sides has been on the crescendo scale, and last night a number of balloons and aeroplanes joined in the general fray " Whilst the cannonade was at its height yesterday afternoon, a thrilling aerial fight was witnessed, the result of which remained in doubt. Three or four French aeroplanes had come over the Sundgau, and were reconnoitring, when half a dozen German machines suddenly appeared from the other side of the Rhine. They flew over the snow-capped peaks of the mountains of the Black Forest, and headed at full speed for the French aeroplanes. Both aerial squadrons met at a height of at least 6,000 ft. over the Rhine, and their evolutions were followed with intense interest by thoustnds of spectators on bath sides of the frontier. The French, though less numerous, pluckily dashed hither and thither, circling about gracefully, and escaping the attacks of their enemies. Finally, they retreated over the Sundgau in the direction of Belfort, still pursued by the German aviators, none of whom had returned by dusk." The following further particulars were given in a despatch sent on the following day :— " The aerial battle of last Sunday which is mentioned in yesterday's message, was, according to German reports now to hand, even more important than we could have imagined on this side of the border. It appears that full twenty aeroplanes were engaged on both sides, and thai it is considered to have been the greatest aerial fight since the beginning of the war. It took place in the triangle comprised between the Swiss frontier point at Lorrach and Mill- hausen and Altkirch. The French aerial squadron came fromilhe Vosges, and probably some also from the fortress of Belfort, whilst the Germans met them coming from the mountains of the Black Forest. The fortress of Istein opened fire on the advancing French squadron, and soon the batteries of Altkirch joined in, whilst from the aeroplanes themselves little puffs of white smoke darted out, showing thai high up in the air the plucky aviators were defending themselves with machine guns and rifles. They circled round each other, watching every movement, and ready to dash one another to death like huge birds of prey. They finally disappeared in the direction of Altkirch, whilst long afterwards the pounding of the batteries could still be heard. One of the aviators succeeded in making a dash over Freiburg, where he dropped tome bombs. Another reached Miillheim, and dropped several bombs between the barracks and the Lutheran church. The bomb, it appears, caused some casualties among the soldiers. Two more French aviator! appeared over the same town, and the battelies of the Schlossberg and the Loretto heights opened fire on all three. It was reported that one of the French aviators was finally disabled, and that ht landed, and was taken prisoner near Colmar. But the German version of the aerial fight does not mention this fact, which it would surely have done were it true, so that it may be taken for granted that it was a false report. All the French aviators probably returned safely to their quarters. " List night four French aviators again appeared over St. Ludwig, and flew up the Rhine valley in the direction of Miilhausen without being overtaken by the German planes. At Miilhausen, moreover, it is said that the whole station is occupied by troops and trains full of soldiers, waiting to be transported at the first sign of alarm to any of the critical points on theVosge*. I proceeded to one of the summits on the frontier yesterday, where one has a view of twenty- five miles and more, but no such great movement of troops could be 235
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