FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0298.PDF
[/ijGHf] APRIL 30, 1915. THE MAXIMILIAN SCHMITT MONOPLANE. cSchrrutt • Wonoplcsne IN the United States the monoplane has not been developed to anything like the same extent as the biplane. Indeed, what few monoplanes that have been manufactured have been mostly of the Bleriot type, and originality has only shown itself in one or two cases. One of these is to be found in the Maxi milian Schmitt mono plane, which made its first appearance at Paterson, N.J., last summer, when F. C. Hild did much suc cessful flying on it. As will be seen from the accompanying sketches, the con struction of the body of this machine is unusual. The for ward portion of it consists of a cogue of true streamline form, circular in section, tapering at the rear into an after portion rectangular in section and very flat and narrow, which carries the tail planes. Thus the forward portion is of ample proportions for housing the pilot, fuel tanks, and engine. The latter, which is a 50 h.p. Gnome, is mounted in the nose with a metal cowl over the top that deflects the greater part of the exhaust and oil away from the pilot's cockpit. The landing chassis is similar in appearance to that fitted on the British-built Deperdussin monoplane, con sisting of two U members built into the body. In the Deperdussin these members were of multi-ply wood, whereas those of the Schmitt are, we believe, of steel. The tubular axle carrying a pair of running wheels is attached to the lower ends of the U members by rubber bands, whilst radius rods hold the axle in correct align ment. Two cane skids attached to the body underneath the tail planes keep the latter clear from the ground. The main planes are flit.** The Maximilian Schmitt monoplane. built up on two main spars in the usual monoplane style in two units, being at tached to the body high up. The rear spar is situated some distance from the trailing edge, so that a very effective warp is provided. A por tion of the plane behind the rear spar on either side of and close to the body is cut away in order to provide an uninter rupted view below for the pilot. The wings are cable-braced top and bottom, in the former case from a pyramid of four steel tubes mounted on the body just in front of the pilot's cockpit,and in the latter case from the U members of the landing chassis. The tail planes consist of a triangular stabilising plane, to the trailing edge of which are hinged two elevator flaps and two triangular vertical fins above and below the stabilising plane, with a vertical rudder hinged to the rear edge. The principal dimensions of the Maximilian Schmitt monoplane are Span, 25 ft.; chord, 6 ft.; supporting area, 150 sq. ft. overall length, 18 ft.; weight in flying trim, 600 lbs. speed, 65 m.p.h.; climbing speed, 50 ft. per min. =TJT ® ® ® ® Parliament and the R.F.C. IN his speech on the Army Estimates in the House of Commons on Thursday of last week, Mr. Tennant, the Under Secretary for War, made the following reference to the R.F.C. and its work :— "Everything was going well with the Flying Corps. Very large additions had been made to its effective strength since the beginning of the war, in spite of the difficulties of training new men in thi§ most difficult arm of the Service and of manufacturing material, and it was hoped that when new formations of the new Army took the field they would be sufficiently provided with aero planes. Considerable strides had been made towards making the country self-supporting; and during the severe fighting which took place in March the Royal Flying Corps more than justified the reputation which he claimed for it on February 8th." Malaya Presents Aeroplanes. ACCORDING to information received from Penang, 15 aeroplanes are being presented to the British Army Council by the Federated Malay States, the cost being defrayed by voluntary subscriptions. The response to the appeal for funds has been enthusiastic, and all races and classes are co-operating in this most popular move ment. It is stated, for instance, that in the Chinese mining village of Kinta, one collector in a few days received promises of various sums of money totalling ^2,000. Fabric for Aeroplanes. THE following statement regarding the manufacture of fabric for aeroplane surfaces appeared in the Times of the 24th inst.:— " The Admiralty have recently taken steps, through the agency of an expert, to organise the production in Lancashire of the cotton fabric used for the ' wings' of aeroplanes. The fabric needed for this purpose must combine lightness with strength, and the greatest care must be taken to detect flaws, which might cost an airman his life. It is made from a yarn so fine and of such high quality that not more than half a dozen spinners can produce it; and it is believed that its production is confined to Lancashire, We are in formed on good authority that at least one large consignment for export which, it was thought, might have been destined ultimately for the enemy has been stopped within the last few weeks. Those who are urging the Government to declare cotton absolute contra band point to this as another illustration of the importance of cotton to A belligerent." 298
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
