FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0829.PDF
JULY 25, 1918. layers of three-ply, each less than 1 mm. thick. The ply-wood is evidently manufactured in sheets, and before applying to the body is cut up into parallel strips of about 3 to 4 ins.the width apparently varying considerably throughout the body. The first layer of three-ply is then put on by bendingit diagonally around the body, attaching it by tacking to the various longerons, en route, and cutting each narrow strip atthe top and bottom longerons, which form the terminals so to speak of the three-ply covering, which is thus appliedin two halves. The second layer of strips is then laid on top of the first, but at a different angle, to which it is securedby glueing, and finally tacked to the longerons. The inside layer is reinforced, in the front portion of the body, byglueing tapes over the joint between adjoining strips of ply- wood. This and other details are shown in Fig. 5. In order to spread a joint in the ply-wood over as large an areaas possible the joint is made, as shown, in a sort of saw tooth or serrated butt joint style. This, in brief, is thefundamental construction of the Pfalz body, and differs considerably from other makes. As to its efficiency -wecannot speak. The weight at any rate, judging from the comparatively low total weight of the machine, can scarcelybe any greater than the girder type of body, but as regards strength we have no information. We have heard it saidthat the Pfalz machines have a habit of breaking their bodie9 just aft of the pilot's cockpit, but for the accuracy of thisstatement we cannot vouch. As a compromise between sheet three-ply covering and true monococque constructionthe Pfalz method would appear to have certain advantages. (To be continued.) " . v. • The Air Ministry.THE Secretary to the Air Ministry has issued the following communication :— " There appears to be some uncertainty as to the respectivefunctions of the Air Ministry and certain other departments of His Majesty's Government. The following is accordingly.circulated for general information : The Air Ministry was established to take over control of the Royal Air Force, whichwas formed on April 1st by the amalgamation of the R.N.A.S. and R.F.C. The Ministry supplies to the Admiralty andWar Office contingents of the Royal Air Force, which, for purposes of operations by sea and in the various theatres ofwar, are under the supreme naval or military command. There is also an Independent Air Force operating under theAir Ministry. The actual provision of aeroplanes is the responsibility of the Ministry of Munitions. A special groupin this Ministry has been set up to meet the needs of the Air Ministry. Departments dealing with technical development,supply, inspection (usually termed the A.J.D.), contracts, finance, &c, all come within this group. The various addressesare as follows :— " Supply, Contracts and Finance Departments.—YorkHouse, Kingsway. " Technical Department.—Central House, Kingsway." Inspection Department.—Clement's Inn, Strand. " Lighter-than-air craft remain under the Admiralty, theAir Ministry supplying the personnel from the Royal Air Force. The responsibility for the defence of London againstair raids rests with the War Office, the Air Ministry supplying aircraft and personnel for air service in connection with it.In connection with the Air Ministry the following main Committees perform the functions indicated :— "1. The Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, YorkHouse, Kingsway, W.C.2, is engaged on aeronautical research generally and the investigation of the fundamental problemsof flight and the subordinate questions to which it gives rise. "2. The Air Inventions Committee, 2, Clement's Inn,Strand, W.C.2, investigates all inventions submitted by the public on aeronautical subjects and submits to the TechnicalDepartment of the Directorate of Aircraft Production those considered worthy of development." 3. The Accidents Committee, Air Ministry, Strand, W.C.2, makes special investigation into any accidents which require "•" , • >o*- -...Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt Killed. THE hope that Lieut. Quentin Roosevelt, the youngestson of ex-President Roosevelt, was a prisoner has ProY~ .t0 be a vain one. A correspondent of the German OfficialAgency at the Army Main Headquarters states that an attempt by 12 battle airman to break through the Germanaerial defence over the Marne " culminated in a duel between Lieut. Roosevelt and a German non-commissioned officernamed Greper, who, after a short fight, succeeded in getting a good aim at his ' brave but inexperienced' opponent,whose machine fell, after a few shots, near the village of Chamery, about six miles north of the Marne. Lieut. QuentinRoosevelt had been killed by two shots through the head, and was buried by German airmen, with military honoursat the place where he fell." Lieut. Roosevelt was credited with having brought down a German machine on July 10thin the Chateau Thierry region. Another Double Fatality in Sweden.THE Stockholm correspondent of the Mornmg Post reports that two Swedish officers flying with a charge ofloaded bombs for practice were killed off Gothenburg recently owing to the bombs exploding. m For Winter Wear only.—A German biplane fitted with skids instead of wheels for starting from and landing on the snow. m m K K * X K -•«'•'. t butThe
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
