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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 1003.PDF
SEPTEMBER 16, 1920 mCUT S.S.T The S.S.T., fitted with two 75 h.p. Rolls-Royce " Hawk " engines, produced in 1918 Of the other early ships S.S. 7 is the only one that need be referred to, In this ship the air supply to the ballonnets proved unsatisfactory, and the metal shutters which acted as valves were discarded in place of the " crab-pot " fabric non-return valves which were thereafter standard and proved not the least successful of the many novelties in airship prac- tice introduced into the S.S. type from time to time. They are somewhat similar to the distributing valves fitted in the ballonnet system of the early Parseval airships. The "Maurice Farman" type referred to above, numbered 28 to 39, began to come along toward the end of the year 1915, the first ship being put through her trials at Kingsnorth in November. The envelopes were in all respects identical with the B.E. 2 C type, the cars being, as the name implies, "fitted with pusher in place of tractor engines. They were slightly slower than the others, and, though more comfort- able, were mainly used for training purposes. The cars, as already mentioned, were made by Messrs. Airships, Ltd. The Armstrong-Whitworth type Nos. 40 to 47 were pro- duced during 1916. Their chief importance perhaps lies in the fact that they caused the introduction of the 70,000 cubic foot envelope, in place of the 60,000 cubic foot.used in the earlier ships, which subsequently became standard. In these ships also the experiment was first tried of removing the petrol tanks from the car and slinging them from the envelope. One of this type, specially fitted with an 85,000 cubic foot envelope doped black, was detailed for work with the B.E.F. in France. She was capable of reaching-greater heights than the ordinary type—on one occasion 10,500 feet, which is pro- bably a non-rigid "record," was reached—and being fitted with exceptionally efficient silencers on three occasions crossed the lines and returned without being discovered, at a Height of about 4,500 feet. These flights were on "special service " of a similar nature to those described by M. Jacques Mortane in his recent book. These " A-W S.S." were fitted with 100 h.p. Green engines. In January^ 1916, approval was given for the building of six " S.S.P." of Kingsnorth-Pusher ships. These ships again, were fitted with 100 h.p. Green engines, and, though an improverftent on all the previous types, never achieved great popularity, and were overshadowed and supered by the " S.S. Zero," which was produced in the autumn of the same year. The latter ships, which did such wonderful work during 1917 and 1918, owed their inception to the inventive ability of the officers and men at Capel Airship Station. They were, in speed, endurance and comfort, a great advance on any pre- vious type ; a good deal of their success being due probably to the fact that they were fitted with 75 h.p. Rolls-Royce " Hawk " engines. They carried a crew of three, in place of two, and the car was capable of floating on the water as well as being specially strengthened for towing from surface craft. Their main details are now familiar, and hardly require a description. In all seventy-one of them were con- structed, of which fifty-three were in commission at the signing of the Armistice, in addition to four sold to foreign Governments. In 1918 a modification of the S.S. Z type was produced, known as the S.S. T. This ship was fitted with two 75 h.p. Rolls-Royce " Hawk " engines, mounted above the stem of a streamlined car and driving pusher screws. The envelope had a capacity of 100,000 cubic ft., and measured 165 ft. in length by 35 ft. 6 ins. diameter. A crew of four or five was carried. Its speed was in the neighbourhood of 57 m.p.h., and it had a disposal lift of one ton. It will be seen, therefore, that, with the exception of the nine Armstrong-Whitworth and the cars of the twelve Maurice Farman, all the S.S. Airships used on active service were of Service design. In all cases they were rigged at the various stations, as unfortunately there were no firms with experi- ence in rigging non-rigid airships in this country. The inevi- table result of this policy, which was probably unavoidable, was that we are in the position today of having no aircraft firm with any experience in the rigging of airships. vEducation in the U.S. RECENTLY there was held at Cleveland, O., what was termed an " Outdoor Educational Aeronautical Show," and a number of the mayors un the State met at a certain place and flew to Cleveland in a De H.9 machine, piloted by Lieut. Wade. The municipal visitors afterwards met and passed the following resolution, among others :— " We realise from actual experience in the air to-day that aviation is a quick, clean and convenient mode of transporta- tion. We realise the need of landing-fields in every municipality in Ohio, the birthplace of aviation: Therefore be it resolved that the undersigned mayors of Ohio municipalities do'urge that the executive heads of every state and town in Ohio provide and maintain municipal landing places in their localities ; and, be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to all other municipalities in the State.". The show was open for a week, and in addition to exhibition flights, the programme included a double wedding in the air. Crash in New York TEN thousand people watching the Tennis National Singles finals on September 6, at Forest Hills, Long Island, in which Mr. William T. Tilden, the hero of Wimbledon, wrested the honours from Mr. William M. Johnston, had their attention snatched away by the fall of an aeroplane, states the Daily Mail New York correspondent. The smash resulted in the deaths of Lieut. James Murray Grier, U.S.A., who had distinguished himself in the War, and of Sergt. Joseph Saxe, most expert photographer in the Army. They were photographing the champions from the aeroplane. Blimps for Whale Hunting A SCHEME for utilising " blimps " for hunting whales is to be tried by Capt. John D. Loop, of Long Beach, Cal., who has had some experience of whaling in the old style. Capt. Loop has invented a harpoon, which can be dropped from the airship, with a buoy attached to trace the whale after it is struck. When the whale comes up for air an attack will be made with bombs. The whales must be quite bucked at having so much scientific attention paid them ! Prohibition from the.Air '* .-•• ' rv., •;. THE facilities afforded by aircraft for propaganda work are being more and more recognised, and it is now stated that Dr. Aaron S. Watkins, prohibition candidate for the U.S. Presidency, will conduct his campaign by aeroplane. 1005
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