FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0498.PDF
MAY 6, 1920 FUTURE OF THE AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE THE Secretary of the Air Ministry communicates the following information as to future arrangements for aeronautical research and education. The whole question was considered by the Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Richard Glaze- brook, K.C.B., F.R.S., appointed by the late Secretary of State for Air, Lord Weir of Eastwood. The report of this Committee has already been published. The Committee recommend, inter alia, that (1) the present Advisory Committee on Aeronautics should be replaced by an Aeronatuical .Research Committee in connection with the Air Ministry, performing functions different from those of the Advisory Committee, including certain executive functions, and (2) that a Department of Aeronautics should be established at the Imperial College of Science tinder the directorship of the Zaharoff Professor of Aviation for the provision of advanced instruction in aeronautics. The Aeronautical Research Committee has now been con- stituted with the following terms of reference :— (1) To advise on scientific and technical problems relating to the construction and navigation of aircraft. (2) To undertake and supervise such research or experi- mental work as is proposed to the Committee by the Air Ministry, and to invite any research work which the Com- mittee considers to be advisable ; to carry out such work itself or to recommend by whom the work should be carried out; (3) To take over complete responsibility for the Air In- ventions Committee and for the Accidents Committee. (4) To promote education in aeronautics by co-operating with the Governors of the Imperial College ; (5) To assist the aeronautical industry of the country by scientific advice and research, and to co-operate with any research association that may be established ; (6) To prepare for the approval of the Air Council a scheme of work and estimate of expenditure for the year, and to administer the funds placed at its disposal by the Air Council. (7) To make reports from time to time to the Air Council. The members of the Committee are as follows :— Chairman: Professor Sir Richard Glazebrook, K.C.B., F R.S., University of London, Zaharoff Professor and Director of Aviation in the Imperial College of Science and Technology; two representatives of the Department of Civil Aviation in the Air Ministry, namely, Wing-Commander W. D. Beatty, C.B.E., A.F.C., and Lieut.-Col. E. Gold, D.S.O., F.R.S. (the latter for Meteorology) ; two representatives of the Department of Supply and Research in the Air Ministry, namely, Air-Commodore H. R. M. Brooke-Popham, C.B., CM.G., D.S.O., A.F.C., Director of Research, and Wing- Commander T. R. Cave-Brown-Cave, C.B.E. (the latter for Airships; two representatives of the Imperial College of Science and Technology, namely, the Zaharaoff Professor (Chairman of the Committee) and Professor L. Bairstow, C.B.E., F.R.S., the Professor of Aerodynamics; Professor Sir J. E. Petavel, K.B.E., D.Sc, F.R.S., Director of the- National Physical Laboratory, representing the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Mr. Alec Ogilvie, C.B.E., representing the Royal Aeronautical Society; Mr H. White Smith, C.B.E., and Mr. J. D. Siddeley, C.B.E.\ representing the Society of British Aircraft Constructors. With the following scientific representatives :—Professor Horace Lamb, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., Professor of Mathematics in the University of Manchester ; Professor W. E. Dalby, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., Professor of Engineering in the City and Guilds Engineering College, Imperial College of Science and Technology ; Professor B. M. Jones, M.A., Francis Mond,. Professor of Aeronautical Engineering in the University of Cambridge; Mr. G. I. Taylor, M.A., F.R.S., Lecturer in Mathematics, Trinity College, Cambridge ; Mr. H. T. Tizard, M.A., Lecturer in Natural Science, Oriel College, Oxford ; with Mr. J. L. Naylor, National Physical Laboratory, as- Secretary,~and Mr. J. G. Gibson, Air Ministry, as Assistant Secretary. Sub-committees of the main Committee will be appointed for Accidents, Air Inventions, Aerodynamics, Engines, Meteorology, and Navigation, with further sub-committees as required. The sub-committees will consist both of members of the main Committee and of other members. Approval has been given for the provision of a grant from public funds, as recommended in the report of the above- mentioned Committee, towards the cost of the Department of Aeronautics at the Imperial College of Science, and the organi- sation and staffing of that Department under the direction of Sir Richard Glazebrook as Zaharoff Professor of Aviation, is proceeding. The respective responsibilities of the Air Ministry and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in respect of aeronautical research have been defined as follows :— (a) The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to be responsible for provision for independent research for the advancement of science, even though it may ultimately tend to the advancement of aeronautics. (b) The Air Ministry to be responsible for research, aiming- exclusively at the advancement of aeronautics, except as. regards work done at the National Physical Laboratory or by an Aircraft Industry Research Association, if and when established with the approval of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. (e) Pending the establishment of permanent machinery for general co-ordination of Government research, liaison between the two Departments at the initiation and during: the progress of research to be secured by confidence and by mutual representation on the Air Ministry Aeronautical Research Committee and the Research Association for the Aircraft Industry, if and when established with the approval of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. THE BLACKBURN FOR THE INDIA FLIGHT SOME further particulars are now available regarding the Blackburn " Kangaroo " which has been entered for the Daily Express ^10,000 prize for a flight to India and back. It has been built by the Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co., Ltd., who are making Mr. Kenworthy a gift of the machine, and it is of a type midway between the ordinary commercial " Kangaroos " and the special machine which started in the flight to Australia. The engines fitted are two Rolls-Royce Falcons, each of 250 h.p., and these have received the careful attention of Messrs. Rolls-Royce with a view to obtaining from them the best possible functioning under tropical conditions. Extra large radiators are also being fitted. The fuel supply system is non-standard, extra tankage being provided to allow of non-stop flights over long stages, but it is understood that Mr. Kenworthy will only employ full tankage when necessary. The whole of the piping in the fuel system is of the flexible metal type, thus guarding against leakage due to vibration or landing shock, and at the same time simplifying work in the event of running repairs being necessary. The considerable cargo demanded by the competition conditions will be borne largely, if not entirely, in the form of spare parts, thus rendering the flying party independent of outside help to a high degree. It might be argued that this is not a true commercial load, but, of course, any regular service along the route in question would necessitate a series- of stations supplied with spare parts, thus rendering the cargo capacity available for merchandise. This load will be carried partly in the holds normally allocated to cargo on the standard machine, and partly in new holds replacing some of the normal cockpit accommodation. Large-size tyres are fitted, suitable for landing on sandy country such as occurs at certain points in the route to India. It may be recalled that the " Kangaroo " type was originally developed during the War for submarine searching in the North Sea, and achieved considerable success. Long oversea journeys of this type, in all weathers, proved an excellent test of reliability and robust construction. The commercial " Kangaroos " have had a number of successes more recently. A gold medal was won at the Dutch Aero Show last autumn, and a large number of passengers wefe carried. Two " Kan- garoos " also did good work on the London to Glasgow mail route during the September railway strike. A machine of this type has been selected to accompany Mr. Cope's expedition to the South polar regions, and recently, the North Sea Aerial and General Transport, Ltd., have been successfully operating some " Kangaroos " between York- shire and Holland. On the flight to India,Mr. Kenworthy will be accompanied by Capt. Wilkins, A.I.F. as navigator. 498
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
