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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0394.PDF
JUNE 9, 1921 THE DORNIER TWIN-ENGINED MONOPLANE, TYPE G.I ,,---^-.-:: >:---•••••.• Two 185 HJ\ B.M.W. Engines , .:; IN our issue of May 9, 1921, we published two photographs of a wind-tunnel model of the Zeppelin-Dornier twin-engined monoplane, Type G.i. Since then further details are to hand relating to this machine. As in previous Dornier aeroplanes and seaplanes, the construction is of metal throughout. Generally speaking this Dornier resembles previous ones in the shape of its monoplane wing, fuselage, and tail. It differs, however, in that it is provided with two engines placed very low at the outer ends of the usual Dornier wing roots growing out of the lower portion of the fuselage. The latter projects only a short distance in front of the leading edge of the plane, thereby making it possible to bring close together the two engines, which, as a matter of fact, are only sufficiently far apart to prevent their tips touching. Evidently the object of this arrangement is to reduce to a minimum the turning couple set up in case one of the engines stops. The undercarriage is of the simplest possible type, consisting of one large wheel on each side, placed immediately under- neath the engines. The weight of the fuselage with its contents and of a portion of the wing, is transmitted to the wheels by the deep section wing roots, to the ends of which the engines are attached. The wing itself is braced by two tubes of streamline section on each side, supporting the non- tapering monoplane, which is of the usual rectangular plan form. The general construction, as usual in Dornier practice, consists of steel members for all heavily stressed parts, and duralumin for the details taking small loads only, and for the covering. Owing to the general arrangement of the machine, one imagines that it would be comparatively safe in the case of a crash, as the engines are slightly below and well ahead of the cabin. The petrol tanks are placed inside the wing, one on each side, so as to give gravity feed to the engines, but yet being, it is claimed, sufficiently far removed from them to ensure that no petrol could possibly leak down on to the hot engines. So far as we are aware, no provision has been made for enabling passengers to get out through the roof, in case the door should be jammed, but if found necessary, this could easily be arranged for in the rear portion of the cabin, where the trailing edge of the wing could be cut away, probably withoub serious loss in aerodynamic efficiency. On the whole, the machine, which is designed to carry eight passengers in addition to the pilot, impresses one as being of rather pro- mising design, and it will be interesting to see how the machine behaves in actual use. The B.M.W. engines have a reputation for reliability and exceptionally economic fuel consumption, and, rating the engines at 200 h.p. each, the machine carries a passenger for each 50 h.p., which should be a fairly economic proposition, especially coupled with the fact that the machine has a cruising speed of over 90 miles per hour. Following is a brief specification of the Dornier G.i. :•— Length o.a... Span Chord Height Wing area Engines Fuel consumption at full speed per hour. At cruising speed : Petrol, 132 lbs. 40 ft. o in. 68 ft. 10 ins. • 13 ft. i\ ins. 10 ft. 10 ins. 862 sq. ft. 2 B.M.W., 185 h.p. each. Petrol, 172 lbs. ; oil, 9 lbs. oil, 9 lbs. per hour. Weight empty but with water .. 5,170 lbs. Weight fully loaded . . . . 7,600 lbs. Weight per sq. ft. . . . . 8.8 lbs. Weight per h:p. (nominal) .. 20.5 lbs. Maximum speed .. .. .. 112 m.p.h. Cruising speed .. .. .. 93 m.p.h. Ceiling (with full load) .. .. 19,700 ft. French Air Grand Prix FOR the last period this year allotted to trials for the Grand Prix of the Ae. C. de France on June 19 to 21, it looks as if there will be some interesting competitors. Those who are now pretty sure to participate include Sadi Lecointe (Nieuport), Jean Bernard, Bossoutrot, d'Or (Farman), Roget (Breguet), Maicon (Caudron), Casale (Spad), and Douchy (Potez), Commandant Vuillemen is also a possible starter on a second Breguet. Dutch Government Helping Commercial Flying IT has been decided by the Dutch Government to place the one-time naval-flying station of Veere, in the Province of Zealand, which has a seaplane harbour, at the disposal of the Fokker Company. A Swedish Appointment CAPT. LUBECK, Chief of the Swedish Naval Air Service, has been appointed by King Gustaf, Swedish Minister of Defence, in place of General de Hammarsjold, resigned. Bolshevists and " Secret Travel " ACCORDING to a Helsingfors message, the Soviet Govern- ment, it is reported, has decided to place orders with British firms for 600 aeroplanes, to enable Bolshevist military authorities " to travel in secret." Which leaves us wonder- ing. Aerial Mails in the Congo WE have referred several times to the opening up of the Congo district by means of aircraft. The regular air service already running between Kinshasa and Lisala will, we learn, shortly be extended to Stanleyville, and will then cover a distance of 1,750 kilometres. The results obtained for the past year are very satisfactory. The hours of flight amount to over 600, and 75,000 miles have been flown. There were 53 trial flights,, 48 exhibition flights, 13 special trips and 43 mail-carrying flights, 82 passengers were carried, and the average of regularity was 94 per cent. Landing for small repairs occurred on 3 per cent, of the flights, and forced landings on 3 per cent. The apparatus used is a I-evy-Lepen triplane with 300 h.p. motor, which makes an average of 140 kilometres per hour when carrying a cargo of 1,000 kilogrammes. This is the first regular aerial service in Africa, taking passengers and mails in two stages of five hours each for over 1,200 kilometres. It shows that difficulties of climate and atmosphere are not insurmountable, and is a great factor in the development of the colony. Two views of the altered Dornier Cs. II : The alteration to the front of the hull is clearly visible in these views, which give a good idea of the steps. A description of this machine was published in our issue of April 21,1921. We understand that Van Berkels of Rotterdam have obtained the agency for this machine in Holland. 394
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