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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 1063.PDF
NOVEMBER 30, 1916. [/EIGHT mm™ wmmm If in doubt about anything aviatic, write to " FLIGHT " about it. H. B. (Bedford Park). We have been unable to discover the exact date on which the first Clerget engine was brought out, but at any rate so far back as in October, 1910, there were exhibited at the Paris Aero Salon two Clerget engines, one a four-cylinder vertical water-cooled, rated, we believe at 50 h.p., and another, an 8-cylinder Vee water-cooled engine, rated at 200 h.p., which was at that date probably the most powerful engine yet produced for use on aeroplanes. Whether Clerget had brought out any aero engine previous to that time we do not know. H. H. W. (Barrow-in-Furness). We regret that we cannot find the particulars of the Weiss man-carrying glider for which you ask. The usual method of finding the lift coefficient of a wing section is to test a small scale model in a wind tunnel, measuring the forces acting on it at certain speeds. If, as your question appears to imply, it is desired to estimate the lift coefficient of an actual machine, this can be done if the speed, weight and area of the machine are known, but the result will not then represent the actual lift coefficient as generally understood to be monoplane values, but a value corresponding to the particular aspect ratio, gap, and stagger of the machine in question. When it is desired to determine the lift per square ft. of a certain wing section frcm model experiments, use is made of the formula Lifl/sq. ft. = Cpv", where C «. the lift coefficient found by model experiment, p = density of the air, and v = the velocity of the machine. When v is in m.p.h. the value of p is 0-0051, and the equation becomes Lift/sq. ft. =C x 0-0051 x v'2. If a given machine is known to fly at 60 m.p.h., and the loading is known to be 4 Ibs./sq. ft., we can obviously substitute in the formula, so thatwehaveC - Uit *** "* *• -_ 4 „ - 0-22. o•0051 x v - o•0051 x oo» T. N. (Westminster). The lift of a Zeppelin airship is always considerably in excess of the total weight when starting out on a journey, and when released by the crew that handle her, she would undoubtedly rise without any assistance from her engines provided there were no obstacles which had to be avoided in rising. A heavier-than-air machine is one which depends for its support on lifting surfaces moving at a certain velocity and deriving their lift from the motion through the air. Thus, for instance, an aeroplane is a heavier-than-air machine, since if the speed drops below a certain point it must inevitably come down. An airship, on the other hand, is a lighter- than-air machine, as it does not depend on its speed for lift, but can remain stationary without necessarily descending. R. P. (MuswellHill). The letters L.V.G., A.E.G. and D.F.W., under which the respective German aeroplanes are known, are in each instance taken from the initial letters of the title of the firm that builds them. These are respectively : Luft-Verkehrs- Gesellschaft, Allgemeine-Elektricitats-Gesellschaft, and Deutsche-Flugzeug-Werke. The object marked with a cross in the illustration of the L.V.G. which you enclosed, is the exhaust collector, which is designed to carry the exhaust gases up above the top wing, out of the way of the occupants. The number of revolutions of the engine are regulated by the throttle, which regulates the amount of gas drawn into the cylinders. The term " Tabloid " is sometimes applied to a very small machine, such as a Sopwith, Bristol, or Martinsyde scouting biplane. *'.W. (Acton). The name " Spad " of the French machine is derived from the initial letters of the firm " Societe Pour l'Aviation et Derives, and the *' D " has not, as far as we are aware, any connection with Deperdussin. The full title of the firm is the Societe Anonyme Spad pour l'Aviation et ses Derives. W. W. (Eaton Square). You would probably be able to get information from the High Commissioner. Most of the officers in the South African Flying Corps transferred to the R.F.C. and R.N.A.S. There are a great many difficulties in the way of flying in South Africa. A. H. B. (Southwold). You could not do better than study " The Aeroplane," by A. Fage, 6s. 6d. ; " Aero Engines," by G. A. Burls, 8s. \od. ; " Learning to Fly," by C. Grahame-White, 2s. iod. ; and " Aeroplane Design," by F. S. Barnwell, 2s. torf. They can be obtained from " FLIGHT " office at the prices stated. A. N. W. (Southampton). Flying Officer is a grading in the Royal Flying Corps, while Flight Sub-Lieutenant is a rank in the Royal Naval Air Service. While on probation and learning to fly an R.N.A.S. officer is known as a Probationary Flight Officer. A. C. C. (West Bridgford). The possession of a R.Ae.C. certificate does not entitle you to a commission. Fees are about ^125. It is impossible to say how long the training would take ; it depends on the weather and the pupils' temperament. It might be rushed through in three weeks, or it might take three months. J. P. R. Apply to the Inventions Bureau of the Ministry of Muni tions, 10, Princes Street, Westminster, S.W. " Rolls-Royce " (Birkenhead). Yes. Apply to Adastral House, E.C., for particulars. There would probably be no need for you to attest, as you would no doubt be simply transferred, if accepted. "Marine Engineer." Apply to the Admiralty for the necessary forms, and, having filled them up, send them to the Director of Air Services, Admiralty, S.W. Age limits, 18 to 23. No. The Admiralty will arrange for your training. R. A. B. (Rock Ferry). 1. As arranged. 2. You should apply to Adastral House for these particulars. 3. The pay of officers in the R.F.C. was set out on p. J. J. (Brooklands). See reply to " Marine Engineer." . C. E. F. (Ashford). You should write to the officer in charge R.F.C. Dep6t. Farnborough. Shall be pleased to receive the photograph of the model. R. F. W. (Leatherhead). We can only suggest that you should inquire of the officer in charge R.F.C. Depdt, Farnborough. There is a good deal of drilling and marching to do. J. C. B. (Woodford Green). If you are accepted for a commission in the R.F.C. or the R.N.A.S., you will probably have the ^75 refunded under certain conditions. N. B. (Sale). A Probationary Flight Officer receives 10s. a day plus 4s. a day for flying risk. When confirmed in rank as a Flight Sub- Lieutenant he will receive a further 4s. a day. Ml R.N.A.S. officers wear the eagle badge. Seventeen (Forest Gate). See reply to A. H. B. above. Whenever an opportunity offers, you should make a close study of the constructional details of any aeroplane which you can get near. W. W. (Stratford-on-Avon). The German airship brought down at Cuffley was the "L.21," a large rigid airship of the Schutte-Lanz type. " L. 20 " was wrecked off the Norwegian coast near Stavanger on May 3rd, 1916, while "L. 19" was lost in the North Sea on February 3rd, 1916. I055
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