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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0761.PDF
. JULY 15, I92O outer layers are spindled out in the usual %nanner to form,with the centre strip, an " I " section, but the difference is that thinner strips of wood are used, and that, therefore,all small flaws in the wood are more easily detected than is possible where the spars are spindled out of a solid piece ofwood. The attachment of the interplane struts and lift wires to the wing spars is also worthy of notice. The strutrests on a packing piece of duralumin which is held in place as shown in the sketch. The straps for the lift and anti-lift wires pass down the front and back of the spar and around the opposite side of the spar, the only piercing thus being forhorizontal bolts on the neutral axis, which does not in any way weaken the spar. The body construction of all the Martinsydes also followsstandard Martinsyde practice, which has stood the test of time and experience. As regards two of the machinesshown, the F4A and the " Semiquaver," the front portion of the body is covered with three-ply wood, whereas in the cabin "Flight" Copyrightdiagram of the engine mounting of the Handley Page W 8 machine the fabric covering extends forward right up to theengine housing. The upper part of the body of the latter machine, however, is finished in mahogany, with Triplexwindows, and the roof over the cabin is in the form of gauze to ensure thorough ventilation of the cabin.Perhaps from a popular point of view the most interesting of the Martinsyde machines shown is the little " Semi-quaver " racing machine, which will be piloted by Raynham in the forthcoming Aerial Derby. This machine is ofdiminutive size and, like all the Martinsyde machines, of the most beautiful outline imaginable. The wing span is only20 ft. and with a 300 h.p. engine, the speed is over 160 m.p.h. As the machine is very heavily loaded (over 13 lbs. per sq. ft.)the landing speed is necessarily somewhat high, round about 70 m.p.h. (In the table published last week, the figures ofloading per h.p. and per sq. ft. were transposed, and the area should bs 147 sq. ft.) That the machine will give a good account of itself in the Derby is clearly not to bedoubted. Generally speaking, the construction is similar to that of the other two ^machines, but the mounting of thetop plane is unusual. Instead of the usual centre section, the top plane, which is in one piece, is attached direct to thebody, which at this point has a small fin or hump swept upwards to meet the plane. The result of the absence ofcentre section struts and bracing is to give the machine a very neat and clean appearance. :'•. The Handley Page W 8This machine has already been described in FLIGHT, SO thatthere is little new to be said about it. Its main feature as a commercial machine is, of course, the large cabin spaceprovided, which affords room for 15 passengers, or, if the machine is fitted up as a cargo carrier, a space 22 ft. long by6 ft. high by 4 ft. 6 in. wide. The fuselage has been so designed that over this portion of it there is no internal bracing, theentire space being clear of obstructions. As the engines are mounted high up in the gap, the passengers obtain an excellentview, only obstructed to a comparatively small extent by the lower plane. There is a communication door between the cabin and thepilot's cockpit, the door carrying in front a hinged seat for the engineer, who is then seated at the side of the pilot. Asthe body is narrow and fairly shallow in front the pilot's view ON THE HANDLEY PAGE W 8 : Method of balancing the ailerons - • • • 1. • is exceptionally good, there being practically no blind spotnor any part of the machine which cannot be seen from his cockpit.The mounting of the engines is so designed that although they are actually supported inside the wing hinges the enginesproject outside the ends of the wing roots. When the wings are folded the engines are, therefore, very " get-at-able,"and can be fairly easily removed. As the petrol tanks are mounted behind the engines, with a fireproof bulkheadbetween, the whole forms a unit, and there are a minimum of connections to interfere with the removal of the engineunits. The under-carriage is of the four-wheeled type, each sidehaving its pair of independent •wheels mounted on a universally jointed structure of steel tubes which allows of independentmovement of each shock absorber. (To be Concluded) "'• , '' '' • . A RECORD BREAKER AT OLYMPIA "Flight" Copyright The Handley Page W 8 which reached an altitude of 14,000 ft. with a loadof 3,690 lbs.
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