FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0425.PDF
MAY IS, i9l6- THE RANGE OF FLIGHT THE EFFECT OF THE WIND ONE of the chief reasons for the success of the aeroplane, whether for military or spcrting purposes, is its ability to travel over long distances at high speed ; but there is one important factor that, under some conditions, may militate strongly against extensive flights—namely, the wind. The effect of the wind may be due to its excessive gustiness or to its high velocity, the effect of the latter being sometimes due to the former, as generally the greater the velocity of the wind the greater are the varia tions in speed and direction which may occur. OF AIRCRAFT. AND RADIUS ACTION OF ON LONG DISTANCE FLIGHTS, having little bearing at the present day upon the matter under discussion. The velocity of the wind is also of little importance if it is not necessary to go in a particular direction, since flights have been made on frequent occasions in winds exceeding in velocity the speed of the machine—" F.ye- Witness," writing over a year ago, stated that an observer on a fast machine, travelling at full speed, found himself travelling backwards relative to the ground at the rate of 10 miles per hour. Even in landing 1 -.so -40 -?<l SPEFD •30 -40 O +iO OF WIND (M.P.H.) Diagram showing the range of flight and the radios of action of aircraft carrying sufficient fuel and oil for a 6-hour flight when Hying in a direction parallel to that of the wind. so As regards the former, the difficulties associated with gusty winds are mainly concerned with safety in flight, and these are being rapidly surmounted, as the direct result of the production of faster aeroplanes, but partly also because of the evolution of machines possessing better flying qualities, greater stability and embodying a stronger construction. Hence, except in so far as they limit the lowest speed at which it is safe to fly when such winds prevail, and that they increase the discomfort and mental strain on the pilot, which tend to limit the dura tion of flight, their influence may be disregarded as and alighting in high winds, the difficulties at one time experienced have been largely overcome, so that machines can now be brought to rest without running for any great distance along the ground. As a rule, however, the pilot will require to travel in a certain direction irrespective of the quarter from which the wind may be blowing. Knowledge of the speed and course of the winds at varying elevations and over different localities is very meagre; but balloonists are often enabled to follow a predetermined course by altering the altitude of the balloon so as to take advantage 4*5
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
