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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 1011.PDF
SEPTEMBER 23, 1920 THE AIR MINISTRY SEAPLANE (AMPHIBIAN) COMPETITION THE MACHINES DESCRIBED PROGRESS is now being made in the Air Ministry Competitionfor amphibian machines at Martlesham, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, and at Felixtowe. Three of the five machines ori-ginally entered for this competition have now arrived at Martlesham. Of the other two, ttie Beardmore W.B. IX-all-metal flying boat has had to be scratched, as it has not been found possible to complete the machine in time. A descrip-tion of this machine was published in our issue of September 2, 1920. The Saunders " Kittiwake," two 200 h.p. A.B.C." Wasp II " engines, which was described in our issue of September 9, 1920, has been finished, but during a recenttrial flight over the Solent it became necessary to alight in order to make certain adjustments, and in so doing the boathull struck a submerged rock and was punctured. The damage is not, however, extensive, and it is hoped that the machinewill be at Marthlesham by the end of this week. The three machines now at Martlesham are : The Fairey IIIamphibian float seaplane, 450 h.p. Napier " Lion " engine ; the Supermarine Amphibian, 360 h.p. Rolls-Royce " Eagle "engine; and the Vickers "Viking" amphibian flying boat, 450 h.p. Napier " Lion " engine. The Vickers " Viking " was.the only machine to arrive at Martlesham by the time specified, and has already passed several of its tests. Thus the reliabilityand economy test was passed some time ago, the corrected ngure for - as issued by the Judges' Committee being 9-75- This was originally announced as 10.4, but even the final . figure is excellent for a seaplane. On September 17 the Farrey seaplane did its economy and reliability test, obtaining a value of ^ = 8.5. In the getting-ofi ' tests" the Vickers used the small circle of 275 yards diameter, owing to the fact that her climb is such that the photographic height-recording apparatus could not have been used if the larger circle had been employed, as the machine would have been outside the field of the cameras. Her actual take-off was in 133 yards, and the height at which she cleared was 94 feet in the 275 yards circle, which is equivalent to 177 feet in the 400 yards circle. This machine has now also passed her slow-speed test, with a speed of 45.25 knots. The Supermarine has not, at the time of writing, had an opportunity of doing-any but trial flights. On Thursday of last week advantage was taken of a couple of hours of sunshine following upon a rainy spell to try the machine with full load. -It was thought that her own propeller might not be quite suitable, and so the kind and thoroughly sporting offer of the Vickers contingent of the loan of a spare propeller for the " Viking " was accepted. It was soon found, however, that this propeller did not suit the Supermarine at all, as was to be expected from the difference in power of the two engines and the much greater speed of the " Viking." After a short flight the old propeller was put back, and the machine got off very well with full load, although requiring a somewhat long run, which may be against her in the actual competition, but which is to be expected from her rather heavy loading. We rather think that in the sea-going part of the competition the Supermarine will do relatively better. The Machines ReferenceJhas already been made to descriptions of the W.B. IX and Saunders " Kittiwake." The description of the latter is supplemented this week by a diagram showing the lines of the hull. The boat terminates, it will be seen, in a horizontal plane, along-which is attached the cabin portion of the fuselage. The sides of the boat-hull proper slope inwards, tumble-home sides as our friends the Americans term them, and the bottom is of decided vee formation. The two steps are placed unusually close together, but we understand that in the model tests in the Froude tank no tendency to " por- poise " was noticed. As to how the hull will behave in a sea, this is a matter which full-size tests only can prove. It is not expected that any difficulty will be experienced on this score, and pilot and passengers are well protected against any spray. But for the unfortunate mishap in the Solent the other day, the " Kittiwake " would have been at Martlesham by now, and we sincerely hope that the damage is not of such a nature as to make repairs a very lengthy operation. The machine is of such extraordinary design in several ways that one looks forward to practical trials with more than ordinary interest. During the test flights she is said to have behaved very well, and her behaviour on land is expected to be equally good. Personally we are inclined to think that the wheel track is none too wide (6 ft. for a span of about 68 ft.), but as the lower plane is set at a large dihedral angle the track may prove sufficient. In any case the landing of an amphibian machine is a matter 1013
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