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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0395.PDF
APRIL 8, 1920 engine—a distance of nearly 4 ft.—is braced with a sctiemeof triangulated channel-section strips, which are riveted to the inside of the fuselage skin. The side view of themachine given in the scale drawings shows quite clearly the system employed. The cross strains here are takenby the wing spars, the tube supporting the front of the pilot's seat, and the wind-screen support. This last is of L-sectionsteel, of fairly heavy gauge. The foundation of the construction forward of the cockpitis provided by the centre section wing spars. The middle of the three upper spars forms the bottom of the first crossformer, drawn in Fig. 8 (A), and in Fig. 9 is shown, dia- grammaticaUy, the system of tubular bracing which supportsthe engine bearers. All the joints are made on the same principle. A steel collar is riveted round the duralumin : • : Fig. 11 tube to which other tuf>es are to be attached, and lugs weldedon wherever these tubes finish ; their extremities are flattened and riveted directly to the lugs. Most of the tubes are of18 S.W.G., and of 20 mm. outside diameter. The Bulkheads.—Fig. 8 (A) is a diagram of the bulkheadbehind the engine. It also figures in Fig. 9. The various cross-sections and gauges are marked. Fig. 8 (B) is a diagram of the former immediately behindthe pilot. The flat-sided oval which constitutes the outside framework is of channel-section duralumin, with flanges forriveting, and is in four portions. The top part extends to the line just below the upper cross-bar, and is of 16 S.W.G.as marked. The figures placed near the various sides of the cross-section represent the lengths of those sides in centi-metres. The two straight side pieces are of similar cross section, but of 20 S.W.G. metal, while the lower portion isof 24 S.W.G. metal, with the cross-section indicated. Across the middle a 4 cm. o.d. duralumin tube passes, and is rivetedat the ends to the side pieces. Above and below this tube, and parallel to it, two strips are riveted in position ; therespective sections are shown. The lower half is braced by a Vee as indicated, and this is the normal bracing for eachhalf in other bulkheads. The bracing is modified, how- ever, in the upper half, and takes the form of a letter M,the reason being that the peculiar inverted U seen on the top of the fuselage, just to the rear of the pilot, is attachedto the two upper points of the M. It will be noticed that the side limbs of the M are each composed of two similarstrips. The next bulkhead is 50 cm. behind, and is shown dia-grammatically in Fig. 8 (c). It has no central cross tube, but has the usual diamond of bracing strips. Sections,sizes and gauges are shown. Between these two are found the two waved section stripsmentioned above. The next three bulkheads (Nos. 4, 5 and 6) do not differ from this one except in dimensions, and eachpair is separated by two waved strips. The seventh former is the last one of the fuselage bulkhead, and is modified toaccommodate the four points of attachment of tail portion to body. Fig. 10 is a photograph of this bulkhead, andincidentally shows many of the points already described. The rear detachable portion of the body is dealt withunder the head " Tail Unit." Fuselage Covering.—The pitch of the corrugations is aboutii ins., and the depth about -33 in. The thickness is -015 in. (about 28 S.W.G.), except the engine cowls, which are -oi in.thick. Five sheets are employed, each without joint from froBtto rear— (1) One sheet coveringjjhe bottom of the body.(2) and (3) Two symmetrical side sheets. . (4) and (5) Two symmetrical top sheets. " In addition, two smaller sheets serve as port and starboardengine cowls. The lines of junction are shown in the scale drawings. External and Internal Fuselage Fittings.—The corrugatedcovering is continuous from the rear to the front of the body, except that hinged cowls cover the engine on each side. Fig. 12 Over the front portion of the wings may be seen (in severalphotographs) rectangular holes which were originally covered by sheet duralumin doors. They are intended, of course,to allow access to the engine sump, etc. Examination of Fig. 5 will reveal a stirrup to facilitate entry into the cock-pit. This is found on the port side only, and is constructed of stout duralumin tube, riveted to the side by means of twobent strips of duralumin. Directly behind the pilot may be seen a kind of pylon, which is clearly visible in several illus-trations. This is very strongly constructed of stout steel tubes, welded together. Its function cannot be named withcertainty, but it is highly probable that it is intended to save the pilot in the event of the machine overturning.It is possible that a certain amount of reluctance to fly all- metal machines was evinced by pilots, and this is probablya concession to them. A little to the rear of the black cross painted on the fuselage, and in line with its horizontal com-ponent, there is on each side of the body a small rectangular door. These doors give access to the swinging support of theelevator control tube described later. Handles for lifting the tail of the machine while on theground are fitted at the rear of the body at either side. Their Fig. 13.—(A. B. and C.) - " construction is exactly similar to that of the step, and theirexact position is revealed in the photographs. The pilot's seat is constructed of corrugated duraluminriveted to a channel-section framework, and clipped to the 395
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