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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1454.PDF
theory was that when the pressure reached a certain amount, the sides of the envelope would be forced apart to a sufficient extent to produce a pull in the cord, causing the valves each to open and to remain open until the pressure fell sufficiently to allow them to close. The system works very well, but is difficult to keep in adjustment. Present valves depend entirely upon internal pressure for their operation, and open outward like a pop safety valve. All valves may also be operated manually. The present approved arrangement of valves is to have one at about the mid-length of each side and one at the tail of the envelope clear of the fins. The two side valves act as safety valves, and are used for manoeuvring only when both engines are stopped and a free balloon landing is necessary. The tail valve is the manoeuvring valve for use under ordinary cir cumstances, so that the escaping hydrogen is well clear of fire from the engines. [In addition to these B class airships, a few others of similar design, but with such modifications as the fitting of a " pusher" power plant in place of the tractor type, were apparently put into service, and we give illustrations of two types of these craft, the F i and the A 4 or E type. The latter was designed completely by the Goodyear Co., and the following brief particulars of this ship may be of interest.—ED.]. The length of the envelope is 162 ft., the maximum diameter 33 ft. 6 ins., and the capacity 95,000 cub. ft. The car is 18 ft. long, and is equipped with a 150 h.p. Thomas engine. Seating capacity for six is provided, but the regular crew generally consists of three or four. The ship was designed to have a cruising radius of approximately 12 hours at full throttle, or longer at lower engine speed. The speed with full load is 56 m.p.h. Parachutes are mounted on the under side of the car. The pontoon gear, which can be seen in the illustration, provides a cushioning effect in landing, and also permits a landing to be made on water. For over-water flying an ingenious arrangement is provided whereby the necessity of releasing gas as the weight of fuel decreases is avoided. This is accomplished by bringing the ship down to about 50 to 100 ft. of the surface of the water and lowering a hose, at the end of which is fitted a water- ballast pump. This is allowed to pass over the surface of the water which causes the pump to rotate and thus force water up the hose into the ballast tank until equilibrium is maintained. Longitudinal balance of the airship is controlled by shifting air in the ballonets. The blower arrangement for forcing the air into the bal lonets consists of a small Sturtivant fan driven by an electric motor, for emergency, and by slipstream air scoop under normal conditions. Finger-patch type suspension is em ployed. (2*o be continued.) <s> • Handley Page Machine in Athens A HANDLEY PAGE machine, piloted by Capt. W. Shake speare, arrived at Athens on October 30, after a journey by stages from London. The machine is visiting Greece, for the Aviation Exhibition in Athens. Bad weather delayed the progress of the machine, and during its flight down the Italian coast from Pisa to Rome, it encountered a severe wind storm which threatened to divert its course over the Mediterranean. The stages of the journey were London- Paris-Lyons-Gulf of Genoa-Pisa-Rome-Benevento-Taranto- Athens. The Effects of Altitude AT the next meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society to be held at the Royal Society of Arts on Wednesday, November 12, at 8 p.m., Dr. Chas. Atkin Swan, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., M.B., Ch.M., will give a lecture on " Some Physical and Psychical Effects of Altitude." The chair will be taken by Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane, Bart., C.B., F.R.C.S. War Risks Office Closed THE War Risks Insurance office at 53, Cornhill, E.C., has been closed, and all correspondence relating to the busi ness of the office, including any business connected with the Air Raid Compensation Scheme, should now be addressed to the War Insurance Accounts Branch, Board of Trade, Gwydyr House Annexe, Whitehall, S.W. 1. Avros at Windermere IT has been decided to keep the Avro seaplane station at Bowness open during the winter. In addition to taking up passengers, Capt. Howard Pixton is prepared to train a limited number of pupils during the winter. It would be NOVEMBER 6, 1919 Another " pusher " modification of the B-Class, the A-4, with detail views of the tail and car a distinction for any pupil to learn to fly from such an instructor, as Capt. Pixton is probably the doyen of all pilots now regularly flying. His own flying ticket dates from 1910, in which year he joined Mr. A. V. Roe and went with him to America. Those were the days of early experiment, before the Avro had earned the reputation for reliability which it now enjoys. Capt. Pixton won the Schneider Cup in 1914, and has also won many other prizes for flying contests. London-Paris 'Plane Mishap WHILE piloting a relief machine from Paris on the after noon of October 29, Lieut. H. Shaw was compelled, owing to the adverse weather, to come down in mid-Channel. He alighted alongside the small coasting steamer Harlech, which took him and his passenger, Mr. Oelrichs, on board and also salved the express parcels which were in the cabin of the machine. The flotation gear, as fitted to all Airco machines, which had its first practical test, proved reliable in a very rough sea, but owing to the darkness it was found impossible to salve the machine. Lieut. Shaw's parcels were duly passed by the Customs at Weymouth, and forwarded to London immediately by train. The Customs and Aviation AN interesting sign of the times is to be found in the London Customs Bill of Entry, which now contains in its import columns details concerning goods brought into Great Britain by air. A recent issue announces the fact that the Handley Page Transport Co., Ltd., have imported from France quantities of silk, fancy goods, ladies' hats and em broidery. These commodities were carried from Paris to Hounslow by the two-engined Handley Page aeroplanes engaged on the cross channel service. 1456
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