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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0664.PDF
.lesl MAY 22, 1919 internal bracing, except that provided by the fuselage covering, the B.A.T. Bantam, and also the Basilisk, may be said to have as one of its most noteworthy features a. fuselage construction akin to the monocoque. In the B.A.T. Bantam the fuselage construction consists essentially of a light framework, comprising six longitudinal members and a number of transverse formers built up of three-ply wood, the whole covered by a three-ply skin put on in bands some 3 ft. wide, lap-jointed where they meet. The outer and inner layers of this three-ply skin run longitudinally, while the middle layer is placed at an angle to the other two. The longitudinal members are of ash, and are placed as follows : one at the top, one at the bottom, and the other four forming the corners of the rectangle inscribed in the elliptical cross section of the body. The top and bottom longerons are of T section, while occupied by a fixed portion of the tail plane. This will be clear from the plan view of the general arrange ment drawings. As in the old Dep. monoplane, the elevator crank levers are housed inside the ply-wood fin, giving a very neat and clean appearance to the tail plane. The rudder is fabric-covered, as is also the tail plane and elevator, and forms, at its lower corner, a housing for the shock-absorbing spring of the tail skid. This skid turns with the rudder, but is so designed that, although superficially appearing to do so it does not transmit shocks to the tubular leading edge of the rudder, but to the fixed rudder post. For steering at low speeds on the ground, this arrangement is excellent, as the skid is capable of turning the machine at speeds so low that the rudder has not yet become operative. At the same time it would be difficult to imagine anything simpler or Biafd/n ' THE B.A.T. BANTAM.- Sketch of the controls the other four are rectangular. Where the transverse formers are attached to the longerons the formers are reinforced for extra strength. The formers them selves are of L section, the ash base of the L lying against the fuselage covering. In section, the body of the Bantam changes from circular in front, through elliptical to narrow ellipse and vertical knife's edge at the stern. From a resistance point of view the shape would appear to be excellent. At the rear the three-ply body covering is extended upwards to form the fixed vertical tail fin, the internal framework of which is integral with the body formers in this locality. The fixed tail plane is in two halves bolted to short spar roots built integral with the formers. A peculiarity of this design, which is some what similar to that of the Dep. " Seagull," is that the elevators do not go right up to the sides of the body, the space between the inner ends of the elevator flaps and the sides of the fuselage being offering less resistance. As the angle of incidence of the tail plane of the Bantam is not made adjustable, the bracing of the tail consists simply of eight R.A.F. wires, four above and four below the tail plane. The pilot's cockpit is situated between two strong formers, serving as supports for the wing spars, and access to it is gained through a circular opening in the top plane. When the pilot is in his seat his eyes are about on a level with the spars of the top plane, and he therefore has a very good view in all directions except straight down, where the bottom plane obstructs the view to some extent, although no more so than on machines in which the pilot is less favour ably situated as regards the top plane. The controls are of more or less usual type, consisting of a central control column terminating at the top in the standard handle, and of a foot bar for the rudder. The manner in which the controls work will be clear from the accompanying sketches. Although the fuselage of 664,
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