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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1110.PDF
AUGUST 21, I9IQ ELlfl. SHOW Owing to the unprecedented cable and postal delays the following notes arrived too late for inclusion in last week's issue of FLIGHT.—ED.] FROM the popular point of view the Eerste Luchtverkeer Tentoonstelling Amsterdam (First Air-Traffic Exhibition), or E.L.T.A., as it is called from the initial letters of its title, looks like becoming a great success. By ferries, steamers, barges towed by tugs, motor boats and craft of all descriptions, the populace of Amsterdam, and of all Holland, for that matter, flows in a daily stream across the Ij from the various piers in de Ruyterkade. Already on the way to the landing wharf one sees the first signs of the exhibition in the form of a couple of Avros, a B.A.T. " Bantam," and a machine which at first one fails to identify, but which later is discovered to be an L.V.G., disporting themselves over the canals and harbours of Amsterdam. Nor is the interest confined to those actually on their way to or from the exhibition. In the town itself there is an epidemic of crick in the neck, caused by constant watching of the sky, and although at the time of writing, the exhibition has only been open for a little over a week, it has had already great educational value, and the Dutch version of the man in the street is quite familiar with the various types, and may be heard to call out—correctly— the names of the machines as they appear between the house tops of a straat or gracht. Even in the train, on the way up from the coast, people are asking one another whether they have been, or are going, to the tentoonstelling. It cannot be denied that the popular interest in the show is caused to a very great extent by the fact that there is an aerodrome adjoining the exhibition, to both of which the price of admis sion gives access. If, as already pointed out, the exhibition is of great popular interest, which is undoubtedly the case, the same can scarcely be said of it when regarded from a technical point of view. This is, of course, chiefly due to the short time that has elapsed since the signing of the Armistice, which has pre vented most manufacturers from finishing their post-War designs in time for the exhibition. Also, at the moment of writing, many of the stands are in a state of unpreparedness, owing to the fact that many of the exhibits have not yet arrived, or are in the process of being unpacked or erected. For this, strikes, transport difficulties and other forms of peace-time frightfulness are mainly responsible, the task of getting the exhibits to the grounds having been, in the case of many of the crews, of herculean magnitude. Thus, to take the case of getting a fairly large machine erected, there are no special derrick facilities, and it is mainly a matter of manpower to get the fuselage lifted on to trestles and the undercarriage and wings fitted. To add to the diffi culties, most of this work has had to be done with the aid of a great percentage of unskilled labour, to whom, in the case of all but native exhibitors, the giving of orders has had to be done in a curious mixture of English, French, Dutch and a form of Pidgin English invented for the occasion, plus gesticulation according to the requirements of the imme diate operation in progress. The situation has been some what relieved, however, by the fact that there is a great number of Dutch people connected with the exhibition, in various capacities, who speak English, French, and German fluently, and who are ever ready and willing to render assist ance. With their aid the work progresses, and by degrees each stand gradually emerges complete. As regards the difficulties that attended the bringing into the exhibition of very large machines, these will be referred to later. Although forming parts of the same show, the exhibition proper and the flying ground are best dealt with under separate headings. THE AIRCRAFT EXHIBITION The building containing the aircraft and accessories is a large two-span structure, built entirely of wood, as structural steel parts could not be obtained. Its two main doors face towards a large open space, surrounded on the other three sides by the various offices of the direction and management of the exhibition. It might be mentioned that the main building was constructed in two months, which is something of an achievement in a country that is generally thought to take things -easily and not to let itself be hustled. As Germany is excluded, by the terms of the Peace Treaty, from exhibiting—to our mind, a mistaken policy—the aircraft show is represented, at the time of writing at any rate, by four countries :—England, France, Italy, and Holland. As it forms a large percentage of the show, The British Section will be dealt with first. In connection with the machines it is worthy of note, and rather significant, that they have, almost without exception, been flown across to the exhibition. In this way very considerable time has been saved, amounting in many instances to days, or even weeks. THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING CO. (AIRCO), owing to lack of space, has not been able to show a complete machine, but this is to a great extent made up for by the astounding variety of exhibits displayed on this stand. The centre of attraction is formed by an Airco (D.H.) 16, which is minus its wings but otherwise complete. It is fitted with a Rolls-Royce engine which has seen a great amount of active service, although the casual onlooker would scarcely guess it, as the engine has been cleaned up and painted until it looks like new. The whole machine is very highly finished, what with polished aluminium, glossy enamel and plated fittings and exhaust pipes. The luxuriously finished cabin has seating accommodation for four passengers, the seats being arranged in pairs, of which the seats of each are facing, and staggered in relation to, one another. This feature of the Airco 16 was shown in a photograph published in FLIGHT recently. For communication with the pilot there is a small door in the front wall of the cabin, through which the fore most passenger can give his orders to the pilot. For flying at night the machine is provided with a generator which furnishes current for the navigation lights as well as for the bulbs illuminating the cabin. In addition to the Airco (D.H.) 16, there is shown on this stand a number of Airco metal fittings and other parts, and the rear portion of a. fuselage, showing the detail construction. A Napier " Lion " attracts a great deal of attention, as the " broad arrow " type of aero engine evidently is not a familiar sight in Holland. Another exhibit on the Airco stand which is greatly appre ciated is a large glass case containing an excellent model of the Hendon Aerodrome, and a number of small-scale models of Airco machines and of a kite balloon. There is even a neat little scale model of a Hucks starter. A number of large coloured photographs of Airco machines completes the exhibits of this firm. On the aerodrome, however, there are III2
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