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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0718.PDF
under the very worst operating conditions, which wouldbe inexpensive in first cost and maintenance, and capable of being produced in large quantities. In May of this yearit was submitted to the authorities, fitted with an A.B.C. Motor of Wasp Mark II type developing 200 h.p. Testswere carried out at Martlesham Heath, and extraordinary results were obtained. Full details cannot be quoted yet,but an idea can be gained of its performance when it is stated that the speed at 10,000 ft. was 146 miles per hour and theclimb to 17,000 ft. effected in 16 minutes 18 seconds—both tests with full military load. One of the main unique features of this machine is the designand construction of the fuselage. The structure consists entirely of large sheets of three-ply birch fixed on oval sectionformers which are supported on four ash longitudinals. This system enables it to withstand practically unlimiteddamage from enemy fire, without collapsing, and, in addition, it is extremely easy to repair. The necessity for continual" trueing up " is also entirely dispensed with. Although the machine is a diminutive biplane, with anoverall span of only 25 ft. its wing bracing on either side of the body is of the " two-bay " type, providing a verystiff and strong structure and enabling the rubber-sprung landing chassis to be fitted under the wings at the innerstruts. This gives a track of no less than 7 ft., making it practically impossible to damage wing-tips, etc., in theevent of a bad landing. The planes are all attached directly JULY 8, 1920 risky performance of swinging the prop whilst standing on thefloats. In the design and construction of this machine, the outstanding characteristics are strength and simplicity, andfrom past experience of Mr. Fletcher's, the designer, work we feel confident that the new " Centaur" possesses these LPNOTH 27'-'" SPAN 39'-/" qualities in the most efficient form. The performance of thismachine, both on the water and in the air, is, we understand, remarkable for a machine of its size. Its speed range is 40-75 m.p.h. with pilot and two passengers, and its climb, simi- larly loaded, to 1,000 ft. is but 2 mins. 40 sees. It can belooped and rolled with absolute safety—the factor of safety being nowhere less than eight. The initial price of the" Centaur 4B " is moderate, whilst it is also cheap to run and L. The C.A.C. Centaur Seaplane to the fuselage, the absence of the usual centre plane strutsand bracing adding considerably to the cleanness of the design.Throughout the machine every part is of the simplest possible design. There are no forgings, and cast and machinedparts are practically absent. As a fighter the machine possesses unique qualities. The pilot is so" placed that byraising his head slightly through a hole in the top plane he has a clear view round in all directions, while the sides of thefuselage under the top wing are so cut away as to provide a perfect view downwards both in front and behind the bottomplane. The armament consists of two .Vickers' guns firing through the propeller by means of the C.C. gear, and 1,000rounds of ammunition; the guns being placed inside the fuselage on either side of the pilot, they are very accessibleand easily attended to in the air. Central Aircraft Co. (STAND 67)Palmerston Works, Kilburn, and Northolt. THE " C.A.C." exhibit consists of the " Centaur 4B " 100 h.p.three-seater seaplane. This machine, like the " Centaur 4 A " land 'bus, is a modification of the " Centaur 4," beingan improved and slightly enlarged edition of this machine. It is a small tractor seaplane of the twin-float type, fittedwith a 100 h.p. Anzani engine. The floats have been the subject of considerable thought and experiment. Theirco-ordination with the lifting power of the wings is excellent —they do not start to hydroplane before the latter are capableof supporting the weight of the machine, neither do they refuse to come " unstuck " when the right moment of taking offcomes. Steering when on the surface of the water is effected by means of a small water rudder attached to the stem of thetail float. A C.A.C. patent self-starting device for the engine, operated from the pilot's cockpit, is installed—an importantfeature in connection with seaplanes, obviating as it does the maintain—the fuel consumption being in the neighbourhoodof 7 gals, of petrol, and one gal. of oil per hour. Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd. (STAND 47) ' - - /Hayes, Middlesex. As the machine exhibited by this firm has been designed andbuilt to the order of the Air Ministry, we are not at liberty to publish any particulars of this machine other than thefollowing brief notes. The machine is a twin float -two-seater tractor seaplane of ISN6TH 3O '-O • SPA*/ a-o'-o' 40 feet span and 30 feet overall length, adapted to be foldedon the water. The engine is a Napier " Lion," 450 h.p., with electric self-starting gear operated from the seat. Itis equipped with the Fairey patent Variable Camber Wings which enables the use of loadings of from 115 to 12 lbs.to the square foot. This machine has a further new feature whereby the tail operating gear is interconnected with thecamber operating gear so as to give automatic self-adjust- ment for the shift of the centre of pressure when operatingthe camber flaps. A further feature of the machine is the 718
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