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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 1379.PDF
DECEMBER 27, 1917. THE GOTHA TWIN-ENGINED BOMBING BIPLANE. WE are able this week to give our readers some further particulars and illustrations of the Gotha bombing-type biplane. From the various samples that have fallen into the hands of the Allies, it would appear that the Gotha bomber has been altered in design, as regards certain details, from time to time. The accompanying scale drawings, therefore, should be looked on as being approximately correct as regards the general design of the Gotha machine. The total span of the top plane is 78 ft. and that of the lower plane 72 ft. It will be noticed that the top plane, which is in two sections, is given a sweep-back from centre to tips, whilst the lower plane is similarly swept back only from the engine na- celles to the tips, the central plane section between the nacelles being "straight." The amount of sweep-back appears to vary according to type, but 50 may be taken as being about correct. It will be further noticed that the ribs are at right angles to the spars, and the interplane struts are not, therefore, in line when viewed from the front as is general practice. The only advantage one can see in such an arrangement would be cheapness being connected by steel struts. The ailerons on the top plane are balanced by a small portion ex- tending beyond the wing tip as shown, and are hinged to the rear spars by strap hinges. They are built up of steel tubing, and are operated by a crank arm curving over the rear main spar with its end projecting in a slot formed in the plane—a practice common on German machines. Top and bottom planes are separated by three pairs of interplane struts a side. These are of steel tubing, streamlined by means of wood fairings and bound with fabric. The interplane struts are attached to semi-spherical fittings mounted on the main spars, and, as may be seen from one of the accom- panying sketches, the wire bracing attachment is somewhat novel. The bracing cable is passed through a hole in a cigar-shaped steel fitting and spliced: a bolt on the spar fitting screws into the end of the cigar-shaped fitting, which is locked by a piece of wire. Adjustment is apparently made by screwing the cigar-shaped fitting by means of a tommy bar inserted in another hole drilled at the pointed end of the fitting. Portions of the trailing THE GOTHA TWIN-ENGINED BOMBING BIPLANE.—Three-quarter front view. and ease in construction, but it is doubtful if this is really " worth the candle," when one considers the loss in efficiency that must arise therefrom, especially due to the resistance offered by the ribs should the fabric become a bit slack. The top plane sections are connected by steel tongues or plates on the inverted V cabanes supporting the plane above the fuselage—these tongues being inserted into clips on the wing spars. f.'The main spars of the top plane are of I section ash with three-ply glued over the spindled-out portions on each side and wrapped with fabric, giving the equivalent of a rectangular section. The ribs are built up of three-ply webs, cut out for lightness and pine flanges. At each pair of inter- plane struts, and also between each pair, are tubular steel compression struts. These are held in sockets bolted on the spars, and each bay—which is prac- tically square—is braced with single-strand cable. The spars of the lower plane are of similar construc- tion to the top ones, except that pine is employed instead of ash. C Some models are piovided with ailerons on both top and bottom planes, upper and lower ailerons edges of both top and bottom planes are cut away to giVe clearance for the propellers. All the tail planes, stabiliser, fin, elevators, and rudder, are constructed of steel tubing, the various members being welded together. No wire bracing is, however, employed. The rudder and elevators are, like the ailerons, hinged with strap hinges, and the two elevators are coupled together to work in unison. The stabilising plane is braced top and bottom by steel tubes. The Dep. type of control is employed, the wheel column being mounted on a tubular steel rocking shaft supported in bearings on the lower fuselage longerons. The elevator control cables are attached to quadrants mounted above and below the rocking shaft. The aileron control cables are attached to the ends of a chain on a sprocket wheel mounted on the control wheel shaft. The cables pass over pulleys at the bottom of the control column, through the rocking shaft, and inside the lower plane to the ailerons. The rudder is operated by a pressed steel bar fitted with neat stirrups for the pilot's feet. The engine control is situated at the pilot's left hand. The fuselage is of almost square section, tapering 136S
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