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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1148.PDF
AUGUST 28, 1919 BRITISH AIRCRAFT COMPETITION THE Air Ministry makes the following announcement:— A Committee composed of members of the Air Ministry and of the Aviation Industry has been sitting for the past two months under the chairmanship of the Under-Secretary of State for Air to consider the question of encouraging the future development of aviation on the lines of increased safety. A large number of witnesses has been called, including constructors and designers and representatives of the public who are interested in aviation. It has been decided, as stated in Parliament, to institute a competition open to the British Empire. Prizes to the value of £64,000 will be awarded by the Government under the conditions which are set out below. RULES FOR A COMPETITION FOR AIRCRAFT TO FURTHER THE ATTAINMENT OF SAFETY OF AIR TRAVEL Notes on the Competition a) The aim of these competitions is to obtain a real advance in the efficiency and design of aeroplanes and sea planes, more especially with the view of increasing the safety of air travel. The rules drawn up are intended to secure this object. b) As regards the rules for aeroplanes it is recognised that the conditions are, generally speaking, easier for the small machine than for the large. The object in this is to attract a large number of competitors from amongst designers of small machines. (P) The present competitions are not directly aimed at engine reliability nor at economy in fuel and oil consumption, although these are of the first importance, but,chiefly at the attainment of efficiency in the machine itself. A much longer time is required to produce radical improvements in engines than in machines, and since it is intended that the present competitions should be held early next year, it has been decided to concentrate attention on the machine on this occasion. RULES Aeroplanes 1. A competition will be held commencing on March 1, 1920, with the object of ascertaining the best types of aeroplanes which will be safe to travel in, and in particular be capable of alighting in and rising from a small space. 2. Two types of aeroplanes will be entered for the com petition . (a) Small type with a total carrying capacity of two persons (including pilot). (b) Large type with seating accommodation for 15 persons (exclusive of crew). 3. Machines and engines must have been designed and constructed within the British Empire. This rule will not, however, apply in the case of such secondary equipment as ignition system, carburettors and instruments. 4. Machines are to fulfil all conditions required for a cer tificate of airworthiness, and are to carry parachutes for all persons for whom accommodation is provided, including crew. 5. Each machine must be capable of flying level at or above the following speeds with full load at ground level : Small type. Large type. 100 m.p.h. 90 m.p.h. and must also be capable of flying level at or below the following speeds with full load at ground level : Small type. Large type. 40 m.p.h. 45 m.p.h Each machine must also be capable of climbing not less than : Small type. Large type. 500 ft. in the first minute, 350 ft. in the first minute, starting from ground level. starting from ground level. 6. Landing and Getting-Off Test. a) A circle will be marked out on open ground to represent a field surrounded by obstacles. This circle will be of the following diameter :-— Small machines ..' .. .. 175 yds. Large machines . . . . 275 yds. The obstacles will be represented by a continuous string or tape with streamers attached, 50 ft. from the ground, of such a nature as to be easily broken by an aeroplane. (6) The landing to be made in still air. Still air includes any wind not exceeding five miles per hour at ground level. (s) During landing the machine is not to side-slip nor to turn, after reaching the obstacles, until it is on the ground. Once it has touched the ground the machine may turn in any direction. (d) The machine to come to a standstill before reaching the marks representing the boundary of the field. (e) After landing, the machine to get out of the same field over the 50 ft. obstacle in still air (as defined in sub-para. (M, no turn to be allowed until clear of the obstacle on the far side. (/) No breaking device operated by the engine may be used during landing. (g) Any landing or taking-off gear used, must be integral with the machine. (h) No landing apparatus may be used that in the opinion of the judges would be liable to cause undue damages to an aerodrome—e.g., a claw attached to the machine as used on certain types of German machines would not be allowed, but the ordinary knife edge on a tail skid would be allowed. (j) Both landing and taking-off to be with full load. (k) Each machine will be allowed two trial attempts (which are definitely not to be counted as tests), and thereafter will be allowed four attempts, of which two must be successful. 7. Reliability Tests (a) In the case of the small type, each machine must carry out a series of two flights of 3^ hours each at a speed, through the air, of not less than 80 m.p.h., starting with full load. Between flights machines will be left untouched, and under seal if necessary, a period of not more than 30 minutes being allowed before the second flight, for the purpose of filling up and normal examination. No parts of the machine to be adjusted or changed without permission from the judges. (b) In the case of the large type, each machine must carry- out one flight of 7 hours' duration at a speed through the air of not less than 75 m.p.h., starting with full load. Pilots may be changed during these flights. 8. Machines must be capable of landing from a height of 500 ft., with their engines switched off or completely throttled down. 9. In a machine having two or more engines, the stoppage or retardation of any one engine must not prevent the machine from flying level nor cause it to get out of control. 10. Machines must be capable of being started from the cockpit or cabin without undue muscular exertion on the part of the pilot. n. Machines to be capable of flying at cruising speed for 5 minutes without the use of any controls or stabilising devices. Controls may be locked during this test. 12. Machines to be capable of standing unattended and not fastened down in a wind of 10 m.p.h., blowing in any direction with reference to the machine. 13. The design of the machines to be such that the risk of the machines turning over on a rough ground is reduced to a minimum. 14. Each machine to be provided with a complete outfit for pegging it out in the open. This outfit will not be carried as part of the load during tests. 15. In order to be eligible for prizes, machines must fulfil the conditions and tests laid down in Rules 3 to 14 inclusive Marks will be awarded for soundness and quality of con struction, for general features and for exceeding the specified requirements in Rules 5 and 6. 16. " Soundness and quality of construction " will include :— Ci (a) Fire protection, including use of self-sealing tanks, position of tanks (from the point of view of safety from fire in event of a crash) : fire-fighting appliances and accessibility of same. (6) Reliability of petrol, oil, and water systems, and facilities for seeing if all tanks are full. (e) Durability of machine including propeller (any ad vantages due to metal construction may be taken into account). (d) Simplicity of design and accessibility of parts. (e) Absence of vibration in the machine. 17. " General features " will include :— (a) Efficiency and ease of control. (b) Unrestricted field of view to the front for the pilot. (c) Silence, as effecting occupants of the machine including crew. (d) Comfort generally, including warmth. (e) Self-starting devices. (/) Method of wind screening adopted. II50
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