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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0844.PDF
mm JUNE 26, 1919, l^iflftJbjt ^^^£~ Hfti^&s^^^TTfc .••'•. ^H^^SE^ •BSP'I^MH^^P'K.I -*""",,pB";^ r™ Eli jfJBByF j* * !,& uu Jlll»DTt,..t, . IP •Flight" Copyright No. 8.—-The Airco 4, 375 h.p. Rolls-Royce " Eagle," flown by Mr. M. D. Manton. termination and perseverance in completing the course, and certainly was deserving of a more modern mount. No. 5.—The Grahame-White Bantam, 80 h.p. Le Rhone For this machine, see note dealing with No. 2. No. 7.—The Airco (de H.) 4 R., 450 h.p. Napier Lion In connection with racing it is customary to speak of " dark horses," and one of the dark horses of the Derby was the Airco 4 R., piloted by Capt, G. Gathergood. This machine was not, we believe, finished until the day before the race, and she was, therefore, somewhat of an unknown quantity. As will be seen from the accompanying illustrations, the machine is a de H. 4, with the bottom plane cut down to a minimum, with a consequent re-arrangement of the strutting. The large extensions of the top plane are supported by long sloping struts, while the fact that the greater part of the wing area is included in the top plane has rendered it necessary to get the thrust line placed higher than it is in the standard machine. This is accomplished by placing the Napier engine on the top of the nose of the fuselage, the radiator being placed below the engine, across the nose. Judging from the speed of the machine this arrangement seems to have been suc cessful ae regards performance, although the uncovered engine and the flat nose cannot be said to have improved the appear ance. The whole thing gave the impression of a compromise, hurriedly carried out, having for its object the obtainment of speed by piling on power and cutting down wing surface. In so far as winning the race is concerned, this object was attained, but the machine should be looked upon from that point of view only. No. 8.—The Airco (de H.) 4, 375 h.p. Rolls-Royce Eagle This machine, piloted by Mr. M. D. Manton, is a standard Airco (de H.) 4, with the passenger's seat covered in so as to reduce resistance. In its time this type was one of the most successful two-seater fighters of the War. It has been fully described in FLIGHT, and for particulars of it we would refer our readers to the Airco " Milestones " series in our issue of January 9, 1919, and to a detailed description published on June 20, 1918. In one form and another this type has already done much commercial work since the signing of the Armistice ; as, for instance, the Airco 4A (with enclosed cabin for the passenger) which has been regularly employed in carrying Peace Delegates to and from Paris. A later edition, the Airco 16, is very similar to the 4A, but carries four passengers. No. 9.—The Airco (de H.) 9, 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma Except for the fact that an extra seat has been fitted for passenger work since the War, the Airco 9, flown by Capt. H. J. Saint, is the standard Airco 9. It is a very pretty machine, and has a good performance for its power. Owing to the fact that a vertical engine is fitted, it has been possible- to keep the nose of the fuselage very narrow and pointed, which gives the machine a very graceful appearance. The radiator protrudes through the covering of the bottom of the body, and it can be raised or lowered to vary cooling. With the new seating arrangement the pilot occupies the middle seat, the passengers sitting in front and behind him respectively. As all the seats are placed well back, a'very good view is obtained, which is a great advantage forf a machine used for passenger carrying. 4C 1 " Flight " Copyright. No. 9.—The Airco 9, 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma, flown by Capt. H. J. Saint. 844
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