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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0720.PDF
The right-hand bottom wing is left uncovered by fabric, and shows in more detail some of the outstanding features of Martinsyde construction. The wing spars are built up of three laminations, thus eliminating the possibility of fracture through an undetected flaw in the timber. The fittings which take the flying wires and struts are so constructed as to go round the whole spar, the spar only being pierced through its neutral axis. Interplane struts, of which there are one pair each side, arc fitted by means of metal shoes dropped over a Duralumin block on the main spar fitting. In this machine the top plane is of slightly larger span and chord than the lower. As in the other model the engine is a 300 h.p. Hispano-Suiza, mounted in the nose of the fuselage behind the radiator. The Martinsyde " Semi-Quaver" is a small single-seater racing aeroplane designed to compete in the sporting events of the current year. During the first trials in March, 1920, the speed of 161-434 m.p.h. was obtained for a distance of 1 kilometre, and this performance was passed as a British record by the Royal Aero Club. Full details of this little machine are not, at the moment, available, but a fair idea of the general lay-out of the 'bus may be obtained from the accompanying illustrations. As will be seen, it is of the short-span single-pair strut type. The top plane, which is of larger span and chord than the lower one, is mounted on a narrow, streamlined " fairing," or keel, on the top of the fuselage, so that it is brought close to the latter almost level with the pilot's eyes. It is fitted with a 300 h.p. Hispano-Suiza, as in the other types. In addition to the foregoing, five examples of Martinsyde propellers are exhibited. Four of these are Resigned along JULY 8, 1920 of the centrifugal pull on the blades to the axis of rotation. The advantages of this method of construction are many and important. The absence of bending stresses in the blades allowing of the use of more efficient sections than are possible in propellers constructed in the ordinary way, where the section, especially in the inner two-thirds of the blade, are governed more by considerations of strength than aero- dynamic qualities. Apart from the advantages of this construction over ordinary propellers, regarded as a step in the direction of the solution of the problem of the feathering propeller, it is a great advance, since it gets over the most difficult part of the problem, namely, the attachment of the feathering blades to the hub containing the actuating mechanism. As exhibited the propeller is not to be regarded as a finished product, but rather as Messrs. Martinsyde'-i first attempt at the solution of the difficult problem of the feathering propeller. Handley Page, Ltd. (STAND 49) * Cricklewood, London, N.W. 2. THE Handley Page Co. are exhibiting the " W.8 "—the same type of machine as shown at the Paris Salon last year, and which recently put up a British record for height, duration and weight carrying. The machine is a medium size twin-engined biplane, specially designed for commercial use, having an exceptionally large carrying capacity and reserve of power. The particular machine shown has two Napier-Lion engines, but these may be replaced by either the Liberty engine or Rolls-Royce " Eagle " VIII. The fuselage provides one large saloon or cargo space, which is entirely free from wires, tubes or internal structure of any description. The planes are arranged to fold, thus allowing the storage of the machine in a very small space, and owing to the special design of the wings, the overall height of the machine is kept smaller than usual. The weight of the machine fully loaded is 12,000 lbs.—which includes fuel for 6b hours' flying and a useful load, in addition to the crew, of 3,200 lbs. The planes follow the same general arrangement as pre- viously employed on the large four-engine machines. The spans of the top and bottom planes are equal and a dihedral angle is given to the bottom plane only. The ailerons are constructed on the firm's patented system of balance which was first fitted to the large four-engine machine, with the result that this large machine ca,n easily be controlled by one pilot without the use of servo motors or other contrivance. The The Martinsyde " Semi-Quaver " high-speed single-seater scout m m m orthodox lines, and serve to show the high finish and excellence of design which is a feature of Martinsyde products. Three types of finish are shown, viz. : brass tipping for seaplane work, fabric covering for general purposes, and ordinary varnish. The fifth example consists of a composite wood and steel propeller having the blades articulated at the hub, and allowing sufficient freedom for the blades to take such an attitude that the stress in the material is practically one of pure tension. The blades are constructed so that the centres of mass of the cross sections all along the radius are in a straight line. The principle of action is that in working the blades set out at a slight angle .to the plane of rotation, the couple formed by the centrifugal pull and the off-set of the centre of pull from the plane of rotation exactly balances the couple formed by the thrust and the distance of the centre of thrust from the axis. The torque couple is likewise balanced by the couple formed by the centrifugal pull and the off-set from a line joining the centres of action overall span of the planes is 75 ft., and there is no stagger. It is proposed in a short time to fit the new plane system which has been evolved by this firm. Experiments along these lines are proceeding. The fuselage is devoted entirely to carrying the crew, passengers and/or cargo. The pilot and engineer are seated on the extreme nose of the machine in a comfortable cock-pit, in which all engine controls, instruments and other apparatus necessary for the working of the machine are arranged within easy reach of the pilot or engineer, as required. The dashboard carries a full set of instruments, and provision is made for Marconi wireless gear to be fitted if required. Both pilot's and engineer's seats are comfortably upholstered, and the rudder bar is adjustable both as to height and distance from the pilot. A partition immediately to the rear of the pilot divides the forward cock-pit from the main fuselage saloon or cargo space. This saloon occupies three complete bays of the fuselage and measures 4 ft. 6 ins. wide by 6 ft. high by 720
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