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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0928.PDF
AUGUST 26, 1920 THE AIR MINISTRY COMPETITION AT MARTLESHAM Several Tests Still to be Made by Large Machines SLOW but sure might be the motto of the Air Ministrycompetition now in progress at Martlesham Heath aerodrome, near Woodbridge, Suffolk. Unfavourable weather during thewhole of the competition, with the exception of a few days here and there, has been the cause of delay in carrying outthe tests. The result is that the lay press is beginning to lose interest in the trials, and one fears that the generalpublic, not realising the nature of the competition, is inclined to form an unfavourable opinion of what is being done. Tothose who appreciate the character of the tests the delay does not come as a surprise. Several of the tests have tobe carried out in what practically amounts to a dead calm, and thus the days pass without the possibility of carryingout the tests. By the uninitiated this may be put down to inability on the part of the competing machines, whereas, asa matter of fact, it is nothing of the sort. While it is regrettable that an unfavourable impressionmay be created in this way, it is difficult to see how this could be avoided, and one wishes to point out here that, as regardsthe actual results obtained, the delay does not in any way detract from the merits of the competition. We think thatthose responsible for the drafting of the rules did quite right in insisting on calm weather for certain of the tests.Otherwise no fair comparison could have been made between the various competing machines. Even as it is, most ofthe machines in the small class have passed the majority of their tests, and a few days of reasonably good weathershould see the end of the competition in this class. As regards the larger machines, the matter is somewhat morecomplicated, as these are " all " twin-engined machines, for which special tests have been drafted with an object offinding out the capabilities of flying on one engine only. At the time of writing only the Vickers Vimy-Coromercial hassucceeded in doing this, and there still remains the getting- off test with one engine throttled down. This is a much moredifficult test than is generally realised, since it is one thing to be able to fly level on' one engine, but quite another tobe able to get off on one engine only. It may even be doubted whether any of the machines will succeed in passingthis test, although the fact that half-load is permitted will help materially in making a get-off possible. The Handley Page W.8, which has had several minormishaps during the early days of the competition, has now got going, and has since then done remarkably well. A weekago it was generally thought that the Vimy-Commercial would be the winner in the large class, but the performanceput up by the Handley Page during the last few days rather leads one to expect a very close race between Jhat and theVickers. Thus the high speed made by the W.8 is the highest attained by any machine in the competition, irrespective ofclass, while the figure for economy (weight of useful load divided by number of gallons of fuel consumed in rehability' test) is equally well ahead of anything else done at Martlesham so far. The landing and getting-off tests still have to be madeby the Handley Page, but as the power loading is fairly low, this machine should get good marks in the getting-ofi testat any rate, even if it does not manage to land within the prescribed 275 yards. In the small class the indications a.re that the WestlandLimousine may win first place. One cannot be absolutely certain of this, however, since it is not only performancethat will determine the results, but also general features. In judging these the personal equation comes in,, hence theuncertainty; but certainly there are a number of most com- mendable features about the Wes&and, such as separationof engine from cabin by fireproof bulkhead, placing of petrol tanks where they are away from the hot engine in case of acrash, and a number of other well thought-out details which should help materially in obtaining good marks in the generalfeatures section. It is of interest to note that the two machines having the best performance so far in both classes,the Westland and the Handley Page, are both fitted with Napier aero engines. In the accompanying table we have" compiled the resultsavailable up to the time of going to press. Where marks are given the + signs indicate marks awarded, — signsmarks forfeited. In the getting-off and landing test's it is stated that the marks are given and forfeited for every,complete foot and three yards respectively, while in the speed tests no such qualification is made. In the case of thelatter we have, therefore, used fractional marks. Whether this will be done by the judges we have no means of knowing.If not, the only alteration necessary will be the substitution of marks corresponding to the nearest complete mile perhour, remembering that the allowance is one mark per ra.p.h. for maximum speed, and two marks per m.p.h. forlow speed. The table is, it will be realised, not complete as yet, but we hope to be able to make it so as resultsbecome known and the final official decisions are made available. Machine Pilot Engine No. of pas- DATI rrpi*cBkCLJ.t'vl O SpanLength Area Weighed-inReliability ,. EconomyW G~ ~Uncontrolled flightGlide from 500 ft. High speed MarksLow speed .. MarksLanding MarksGetting-off .. Marks Austin M. D. Nafes 200 Beardmore 1 38' 6" 25' 6" 417 sq. ft. 4/8/20 • -i"' - 5/8/20 5/8/20 6/8/2O 109-96 m.p.h. +9 969/8/20 45-1 m.p.h. — '2 .. 16/8/20 3-8 ft.+3 TABLE SHOWING Avro H. A. Hamersley 240 " Puma " 4 37' 3" 29' 10" 498 sq. ft. 3/8/20 7/8/20 3'63 — 4/8/20 4/8/20 957 m.p.h. -43 - 12/8/20 51 5 m.p.h. -13 14/8/20 239 yds. — 21 12/8/20 118 ft. + 1 Beardmore G. Powell 200 Beardmore 1 46' 0* 26' 0" 540 sq. ft. 7/8/20 ,, • • • • • • • • PROGRESS Bristol C. F. Uwins 240 " Puma " 1 3/8/20 12/8/20 222 16/8/20 12/8/20 7/8/20 108-3 rn.p.h. + 8313/8/20 49-07 m.p.h. — 814 r6f8L/2o 1927 ft.+ 19 OF COMPETITION Sopwith H. G. Hawker 1 180 Hispano 2 46' 6" 30' 6" 550 sq. ft. 3/8/20 4/8/20 43 6/8/20 ~ 5/8/2O 6/8/20 110-35 m.p.h. + 1035 12/8/20 43 m.p.h. +414/8/20 187-7 yds. —4 12/8/20 23 ft. +23 . Westland A. S. Keep 450 Napier 5 5V 0* 33' 6" 726 sq. ft. 6/8/20 12/8/20 865 12/8/20 12/8/20 13/8/20 117-7 rn.p.h. + lT713/8/20 46-05 m.p.h. — 2-1 17/8/20 235 yds. — 20 12/8/20 2275 ft.+ 22 :.. -;.;•.--.--.'. Handley Page Major Brackley 2-450 Napier 15 75' 0" 60' 0* 18/8/20 9 3 • • 21/8/20 21/8/20 118-5 m.p.h. + i8'5 «• Vickers Capt. Cockerell Capt. Broom2-360 R.R. " Eagle " 10 67' 0" 42' 8" 1,330 sq. ft. 4/8/20 7/8/20 6-33 ' 11/8/20 11/8/26 11/8/20 10273 m.p.h. + 2-73 H/8/20 .;• 49-63 m.p.bu. — 9.26 -:14/8/20 • 308 yds. 7 — II ; 12/8/20 5 26-45 ft. •+26 •- 930
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