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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1292.PDF
for the belief, but biplanes of over 10 ft. chord appear to have a landing speed corresponding to a Kymax 5 or 10 per cent. in excess of monoplane test figures. So that large aeroplanes seem to have a double advantage where high loading is con cerned. It is only fair to point out that many of the past difficulties of working have been due to War conditions. Design was done hurriedly, and the designer's experience of working machines stopped at the door of the erecting shed. True, he received reports of trials, but these only checked his work as the designer of something that would fly ; they gave him little indication of the working troubles of the vehicle he had produced. The accusation of unhandiness on the ground is largely due to the military instinct to use man-power and avoid the use of machinery wherever possible. Mechanical de velopment in warfare on land has been greatly hindered owing to this tradition. The writer does not criticise the attitude here; he merely comments on it as an explanation of a most serious ' argument brought forward against large aircraft. Conditions of commercial work where machines are SEPTEMBER 25, 1919 operating from fixed bases over fixed routes allow full ad vantage to be taken of the possibilities of mechanical handling, the most valuable one being the unit system of engine in stallation. Under present working conditions an aeroplane can be available for flight 12 hours out of the 24, four days a week. Unit organisation with suitable plant should enable her to be available 18 hours out of the 24 for six days of a seven-day week: 108 hours compared with 48 with no appreciable increase in working cost. Detail questions have been left aside from these few notes. Apart from repetition production machinery and large power plants, the study of economy in operational labour is com paratively new to engineering. In aviation it is for all practical purposes unknown. Development has taken place under the utterly artificial conditions imposed by war, where cost considerations can be neglected. As a result, the expense of using aircraft is prohibitive. To secure its reduction the fundamental need is a motor having a reason able working life. This concerns the engine designer. The second is greater economy in the working of the machines themselves, and it is hoped that the lines here indicated may prove of some value in this direction. COMMERCIAL AIR-TRA BRIGHTON One of the Avros took some visitors to a garden party at Reigate on Saturday—another example of the way in which the small aeroplane adds to the amenities of life. Flying was only possible on six days. The machines went over to Chichester on Thursday as usual, and took up passengers there. CAMBRIDGE During the week the Cambridge School of Flying gave their sixth exhibition show at Hardwick Aerodrome on Sep tember 20. Numerous passengers were carried on Avros and Airco 6's, .and in the evening a lady flew to Skegness on an Avro. Lt. Ortweiler gave an excellent exhibition of stunt flying, the particular features of which were his suc cessive loops and an exceptionally clever side-slip landing. Passenger flights were carried on by Capt. Birkbeck, D.F.C., and Lieut. Fresson, the latter of whom flew to Skegness in the evening to carry on passenger flying there. HOUNSLOW The variable weather of the past week seems to have affected the number of Avro flights at Hounslow. In course of time, no doubt, Londoners will realise that autumn flying can be just as enjoyable as going aloft in an August heat wave. In fact, a clear morning, with a touch of frost, may give a far finer view than one gets when a summer haze hangs over the earth—while as for a bright snowy morning, few things can equal the delights of flying on such a day. But the holiday spirit seems to wane with the passing of summer, and, in consequence, only 120 Londoners made flights during the week. Two cross-country journeys were made, to Stow-on-Wold and to Cambridge, both returns. AVRO SEAPLANES AT BOWNESS, WINDERMERE: The pilot in charge is Capt. Howard Pixton, who won the Jacques Schneider Trophy at Monte Carlo in 1914. I294 Three aeroplanes arrived by air from Manchester during the week. One of these was taken on by Capt. Bradley to Lausanne. He left Hounslow on Wednesday, 17th inst., at 2.15 p.m., and arrived safely on the shores of Lake Geneva on Saturday. 20th. No attempt was made to break records, the Alps were safely crossed, and the journey was uneventfully suc cessful. The Avro will give demonstrations at Lausanne and take up passengers under an arrangement with M. Pethoud. WINDERMERE This week has been a record one for passengers at Bowness. The Avro seaplanes have carried out 32 flights, totalling nine hours of flying. Several people have had half-hour flights. Excellent views were obtained of Scawfell, Langdale Pikes, Helvelyn, Kirkstone Pass, Thirlmere, etc. In particular one lady and gentleman engaged a machine for a half-hour flight over Ulverston and Morecambe Bay, and from a height of between 3,000 and 4,000 ft. they enjoyed some especially splendid views of cloud effects. BBSS A Canadian Airship Prize BY way of commemorating the visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada and to encourage the development of a new industry in the Dominion, as well as promoting better feeling between Canada and Japan, Mr. Norman Yarrow, head of Yarrow's, Ltd., Esquimalt, son of Sir Alfred Yarrow, has offered ^10,000 for the first non-stop flight across the Pacific from Vancouver Island to Japan by an airship made in Canada and manned by Canadians. The flight must be made before December 31, 1921. Any parts and materials which are not being made in Canada at the time the airship is con structed may be imported. Only lighter-than-air craft can compete. New Height Record ON September 18, at New York, Mr. Roland Rohlfs claims to have reached a height of 34,610 ft. in a 400-h.p. Curtiss triplane in 78 mm., thus bettering his previous figure. This flight was observed by officials of the Aero Club, who sealed M. Rohlf's instruments when he landed and sent them to Washington for verification. The pilot reported that he experienced trouble in breathing at 20,000 ft., being obliged to use his oxygen bottle. At the top of the climb the thermometer registered 43 deg. below zero. At 31,000 ft. the machine dropped 600 ft. verti cally, as recorded by the barograph. Swedish Aviator's Record Flight THE Swedish Army aviator, Rodehn, on September 21 established a Scandinavian record by flying the whole length of Sweden from Ystad to Haparanda and thence to Boden, a distance of 1,420 kilometres, in 7J hours, without landing- He used a 260 h.p. Swedish aeroplane.
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