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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0295.PDF
APRIL 28, 1921 fuselage ; each unit has a pair of wheels, and the weight of the two units complete is 385 lbs. Two 12-cylindered Liberty engines, each developing 435 h.p. at 1,800 r.p.m., are installed, with Delco ignition, and H H Zenith carburettors ; they drive direct four-bladed propellersof special design. The radiators, mounted in the nose of each nacelle, are fitted with shutters. There is a short exhaust.pipe for each cylinder. PEKING-SHANGHAI AIR-MAIL FROM time to time we have given particulars of the arrange-ments maturing in connection with the air service which is being inaugurated between Peking and Shanghai. ThePeking correspondent of The Times last week summarises the present position of this very promising undertaking.The Service is to be opened on June 1, under plans prepared with the advice of Group-Capt. F. V. Holt, R.A.F., a highly-experienced aviation officer seconded from the British Service, the Aeronautical Department. The route selected offers special facilities which make itmore suitable than any other for a beginning. Landing- places are easily arranged throughout ; the absence of hillssimplifies flying ; there are meteorological stations at each end whence pilots may inform themselves of the weatherconditions, while there is the railway as a stand-by in case of accident. Incidentally, the telegraph along the railwaymakes it possible to dispense with wireless on the aeroplanes. The route, in fact, is the easiest and therefore the best fromthe point of view of speedily establishing confidence. The whole distance is 785 miles, divided into three stages—to Tsinanfu, 245 miles ; to Nanking, 360 miles ; and Shanghai, 180 miles. Besides the points mentioned therewill be places of call at Tientsin and Hsuchowfu. It is planned to cover the whole distance, including stops, innine hours. In addition to regular aerodromes at the stations, there will be eight emergency landing-places, where petroland oil can be obtained and pilots can telegraph for assistance. The total capital expenditure on buildings is put at $165,000and the monthly cost for a daily service at $40,000. Revenue for full loads all the time would be more than double the running expenses, but the Department, for a commencement,will be ver - satisfied to make the service pay its way. As Chinese pilots are not yet available, a number of capableforeign airmen have been engaged in Europe and America. Earlier flights will be restricted to the transport of mails,and passengers will not be carried until the safety of the service has been amply demonstrated. Naturally thegreatest care will be taken to avoid accident, for any smash involving life would prejudice aviation for years to come. With the finest aeroplanes known, proved pilots in charge,easy going all the way, and ample funds for expenses, there is every prospect of a successful inauguration of the servicethis summer. Only one thing can kill it, and that is a renewal of the fatuous and criminal strife between the militaristswho are at present masters of the country. It should be noted that this is a country wherein com-munications are either highly primitive or painfully deficient. With an area and population nearly as great as all Europe,China has only 6,500 miles of railway, and almost no road system suitable for wheeled traffic. She has magnificentwaterways, but they are deteriorating rather than improving. Journeys into the interior that under present conditionsoccupy anything from a week to three months might be accomplished in a few hours by aeroplane. The Chinese are becoming alive to this possibility, and, asany serious improvement in the facilities for travel by other means is out of the question for years to come, they intend togive the aeroplane a trial Let there be established a sense of security in flying, and there can be no doubt of the brilliantprospects of aviation in this country. THE NEW HANDLEY PAGE MONOPLANE First Machine Designed for Slotted Wing SINCE the first mention of the Handley Page slotted aerofoil was made in the Press, aeronautical circles have been much occupied with the subject, and Mr. Handley Page's lecture was looked forward to with the keenest anticipation. When the H.P. slotted wing was first demonstrated on a D.H. 9 at Cricklewood, there were many who were inclined to be a little sceptical regarding the valueof the new wing, forgetting that the slot itself was not of the best shape, while the alteration to the standard D.H. 9 wing section was necessarily of a somewhat crude nature. Even that comparatively " harrytated " affair showed a most extraordinary alteration in the climbing and gliding angles of the machine, as well as in the getting-off and alighting speeds. Tests of the wing with slots closed could not be carried out on that machine, as the auxiliary aerofoil was rigidly connected to the leading edge of the main planes. In the new machine, which has been designed especially for the wing, the slot will be capable-of being opened and closed at will. As the machine is necessarily to be regarded as an experi-mental one, we cannot say very much about it at present. It may, however, be stated that it will be a monoplane withthree-ply covered wings. The engine is to be of 350 h.p., probably a Rolls-Royce " Eagle " low-compression engine,and according to wind-tunnel tests and estimated figures of weights, etc., the speed should be considerably above 100m.p.h., while the cabin will seat 10-12 passengers. When it is realised that on the majority of modern machinesthe power expenditure is between 50 and 60 h.p. for each passenger carried, while the H.P. monoplane is to carry apassenger for each 30 h.p. or so, it will be seen that if the new machine comes up to expectations it will mark a real stepforward in the economy of commercial flying. As regards details of the wing construction and slot operat-ing gear, we are not at present permitted to say anything, but the gear is of quite a pimple nature and promises to workvery well in practice, so that there is no reason to anticipate any trouble on that score. The test flights of the new machinewill be awaited with more than ordinary interest. An Aeromarine Flying School IT is proposed to open an elaborately equipped flying school at Keyport, New Jersey, some time this spring, where tuition on both land and water 'planes will be given, in addition to instructional courses in the theory of flight, construction, rigging, engines, etc. The plant of the Aero- marine Plane and Motor Co., who are establishing this school, includes 66 acres with 16 buildings, a club house, restaurant, engine plant, assembly building, a seaplane station, and a flying field for land machines, and is thus well suited for such a venture. Aircraft Insurance in the U.S.A. ACCORDING to the American Press, the following American companies are writing aircraft insurance in connection with (!) fire ; (2) theft ; (3) collision ; (4) property damage ; <5) public liability ; (6) personal accident ; (7) compensation ; (S) passenger hazard (life and accident). The Travellers Insurance Co. and the Travellers Indemnity Co., Hartford, Conn., insure Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ; Aetna Life Insurance Co., Aetna Casualty and Surety Co., Automobile Insurance Co., Hartford, Conn., 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 ; Home Insurance Co., 56, Cedar Street, New York City, 1,2,3, and 4 ; Queen Insur- ance Co. of America, 84, William Street, New York City, 1, 2, 3, and 4 ; National Liberty Insurance Co. of America, 62, William Street, New York City, 1, 2, and 3; London Guarantee and Accident Co. (c/o F. W. Lawson, Manager, Chicago, 111.), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Japan Multiplying Pilots FROM Tokio news is sent that the Japanese authorities are very busy accumulating pilots. From the different schools it is stated an average of 36 pilots every 5 weeks are being turned out as efficient, it being arranged that the supply of machines keeps pace with the personnel available. 295
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