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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0871.PDF
AUGUST 5, rg2o MODEL AEROPLANES All communications to be addressed to the Model Editor. A stamp should be enclosed for a postal reply Discussion with the Handley Page Club ON Monday, the 19th ult., I paid a visit to the Handley- Page Club at Cricklewood, to deliver some notes on the Tunning of a model Aero Club. (I shall be pleased to visit any other Club in London or its environs if club secretaries will fix-up a convenient time). The main points I raised were the importance of running a club on some definite system. It is futile to even endeavour to hold interest when no definite programme has been prepared. In this respect I mentioned that no club run for the specific purpose of merely flying model aeroplanes can hope for more than an ephemeral existence. Research work with regard to aero- foils, airscrews, and the most efficient type of machine were necessary. It was necessary for the club secretary to arrange a lecture, either by himself, or a member of the club, or an -outside person, on some topic pertaining^to models, at least -once a month. Members who only attended when their motor-cycle was hors de combat should be excluded. Only the enthusiast, the man who is present at the club at every .available moment is the person to encourage. I learned that the Handley Page Club consists of about twenty-three members, yet only seven or eight were present. The Secre- tary informed me that it was difficult to get members to attend regularly. The same difficulty has been experienced by other clubs, but I would point out that it is better to have a club of seven or eight satisfactory members than twenty- five who do not attend five times out of six. Such members act as a drag upon the enthusiastic ones; when they do attend it is only to criticise what has been done. I here reiterate the importance of getting rid of such members. Again, I have found that clubs endeavour to run on too small a subscription ; as has been hereinbefore mentioned, the enthusiast does not mind a reasonable subscription— -and such eliminates the unsatisfactory element. While a man may belong to a club for a minimum expenditure, he is permitted to indulge his languid interest at the expense of the club's cohesion. I also pointed out the importance of building models .logically. It is not sufficient to build a model by thinking of a main plane with a nice plan-form, settling on the size, building a fuselage to suit and trying various screws and quantities of elastic in order to obtain flight. Certain well- defined proportions should be adhered to, and if a model does not achieve what it was originally designed to do, one should investigate cause and effect. The best possible results should be sought after. Too often one finds a model produced from a process of guess, overpowered to overcome faulty design. Such tactics as these are not going to place model aeroplanes on a par with model locomotives and model yachts ; until some decided effort is made to follow some decided line of reasoning, little elevation can take place with the model aeroplane movement. It is interesting to note that at least one London club has tackled modelling from the scientific aspect (the Finsbury Park Club), and the designs of their models show a distinct break-away from flying stick 'design. Moreover, their performances have in many cases exceeded those obtained from flying sticks. The Kite and Model Aeroplane Association I HAD an interview with Messrs. Lyche, Houlberg and Bragg Smith on Thursday, 29th ult., relating to the above Association, and ere these lines appear I shall have had a further meeting with the Advisory Committee. As previously announced, there had been a meeting of the Advisory Committee in the Caxton Hall, when it was decided to revive the Association. I found that, among the older modellists there was still that enthusiasm as in pre-War days, and the fact that things have appeared dull in the model aeroplane movement may have engendered the thought that the movement is obsolescent. Such, however, is far from being the case, and the fact that so much work is still being done is one more reason for the revival of the Association, 1 he men with the interest and enthusiasm are there; it only requires some parent body to guide their energies into fruitful channels. America, by the way, is literally "going off the deep end " where models are concerned, and the packs of photographs frequently sent me from various parts of that country bear testimony to this. England led the way in models before the War, but America and Holland have covered much ground. The sooner we. cast off this semi-torpor the better. A Club for Liverpool ? MR. F. A. LOWE writes as follows from Manchester :— " Will you kindly publish the following, as soon as space permits, in FLIGHT ? Before the War I belonged to the Liver- pool club, and am wondering if any of the old members intend to carry on. Should this letter catch the eye of either Messrs. Kilshaw, Bennet, or Tear, I wonder if they would com- municate with me, as I am anxious to know if they intend continuing in any branch of modelling. " Unfortunately, I am away on business at the moment, and unable to see them personally. As an incentive to those concerned, I would like to issue a friendly challenge, for any type of model (if it is a C. A. model, all the better) for duration, or average of three flights. The only rules I would like to suggest are that the whole of the machine, with the exception of wheels, propeller, and gears, be made by the competitor (if C.A. is used, we might include plant), unaided, and I would also prefer, personally, to have it a tractor competition only, and to make it more interesting still, of the biplane type. " If this challenge is accepted, I could arrange to go to Liverpool to discuss it further. < Is there a possibility of a club being reformed ? Inci- dentally, is there anyone interested in Manchester who would care to communicate with me ? " Is it possible to publish photos, histories and drawings of record-breaking machines again, such as those made by the members of the old days, i.e., Messrs. Slatter, Mayer, Coleman, Pavely, and Mr. Louch's fine models ? " [If the modellists in question will furnish particulars, we shall be pleased to publish them. Several requests for such information have already been made herein.—MODEL ED.] Model Club for Great Berkhampsted . MR. J. C. F. WHADCOCK, 65, High Street, Great Berk- hampsted, is desirous of meeting any readers living in the above vicinity with a view to forming a model club. Some Dutch Records (1 mile = 1.609 km. 1 yard = .92 metre) Dura- Dis- Hand-launched. tion. tance. Holder. Club. Sees. Metres. Twin pusher .. 93I 695 J. Lipjes .. H.P.V.C. Single tractor .. 41 307 J. H. W. v.d. ,, Muelen Single pusher .. 46I —p R.o.g. twin pusher i 64p 4 single tractor 40Hydroplane .. 420 ,, - ,, 360 ,, . '• ,, — " ., — A. de Vletter Rotterdam R.M.A.C.50 B. A. Sas .. H.P.V.C.Compressed air model 20 (tractor r.o.g.) The above records have been sent to me by Mr. Muelen. We should certainly be pleased to have further details of the machines and to publish them if of sufficient interest. Replies to Correspondents D. M. (Sheffield) and J. C. F. W. (Berkhampsted).—Wereplied direct. E. W. B. (WTalthamstow).—Sorry I cannot supply the particulars. Write to 51, Baker Street, London, W. J. K. (Nazeing).—I have duly placed your communication before the proper authorities J. C. (Oregon, U.S.A.).—I forwarded the book. Many thanks for your interesting letter. I should think there would be little difficulty in forming a club on your side. A. B. H. (c/o Messrs. Handley Page).—Sorry I could not attend the meeting, but your letter only reached me after it had been held. Perhaps another time ? 873
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