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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0509.PDF
JULY 28, 1921 THE SPERRY "COMMERCIAL" WING DESIGNERS appear to be giving considerable attention to improved and new types of aeroplane wings just now, the principal aim in most cases being a wider speed range. From America come some brief particulars of a new monoplane wing, which has already been tried out with apparently very satisfactory results. This wing has been designed by the Lawrence Sperry Aircraft Corp. of Farmingdale, Long Island, U.S.A., with a view to improving the performance of such machines as Curtiss J.Ns. (" Jennies "), Canucks, Standard Curtiss Js., etc. There are a large number of these machines the manufacturers as 10. No information is available on theinternal construction of the wing other than that it is an internally braced wooden structure covered in the usualmanner with fabric. It is also said to possess inherent stability. Owing to the latter feature and to the raised position of thewing above the fuselage, the manufacturers state that a machine fitted with the Sperry wing will not get into a nosedive, if stalled, nor will it get out of control for any length of time. The following figures, prepared by the makers, give THE SPERRY " COMMERCIAL " WING : Two views of a Curtiss J.N. fitted with the Sperry monoplane wing (cantilever) in place of the usual biplane wings. being used for commercial and sporting purposes all over the United States, and in spite of the fact that their design is over five years old, they appear to serve their purpose remarkaby well, and are likely to do so for some time to come. The ease of obtaining spare parts is a further aid to their popu- larity. The Sperry £0. have, therefore, placed their new monoplane wing on the market specially for use on these machines, so that owners of the latter may obtain better per- formance without, it is claimed, detracting from the practical features of the machine. As may be seen from the accompanying illustration of a Curtiss J.N. fitted with the Sperry equipment, the wing is a thick section cantilever structure mounted parasol fashion above the standard fuselage. The attachments consist of eight Streamlined steel struts, four on each side of the fuselage. Of these a pair on each side extend from the lower longerons of the fuselage to the front and rear wing-spars, the others forming an inverted V, from the top longerons to the front wing-spar. Two round steel tubes, acting as drift struts, also connect the bracing points on the front spar with nose of the fuselage, on the lower longerons. The whole bracing system thus forms a rigid structure. The strength of the Sperry wing has been tested in extensive trial flights, the factor of safety for the wing being given by : T ' . -./.j>." :: . .. •; ® R.A.F. Memorial Fund Assistance THE Committee of the Royal Air Force Memorial Fund has decided to offer financial help, so far as the means of the Fund will permit, to officers, non-commissioned officers, and men serving in the Royal Air Force, who are in need owing to illness, whether of themselves, their wives or children, pro- vided that they have by their conduct and prudence deserved assistance and" that the burden on them is not sufficiently met by the normal provision of medical attendance granted under the rules of the Service. Airships and the Air Communications Committee THE first meeting of the special committee on Air Com- munications set up by the Imperial Conference was held at the Air Ministry on July 19, under the Chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Air. Consideration was given to the arrangements which would be necesrary if the date now fixed for the closing down of the airship service was post- poned for a period of some months to enable a final decision to be given to the various Governments concerned on the three schemes which were outlined in the statement issued to the Press some time ago. Considerable expenditure the respective performance of five popular types of machines when fitted with the Sperry wing :— Useful Machine Engine Range Load h.p. Curtiss J.N. or Canuck SpeedRang m.p.h. 35 • 7535-8o 35-75 38-90 38-OO lbs. 800 800 800 900 900 Ox 90 Oxy 100 Standard J.-r .. Ox 90 Standard .. .. K-6 150 Standard .. _ .. Hispano 150 The improvement in performance obtained with the Sperry wing, which is particularly noticeable in the low landing speed (the original J.N. biplane has a landing speed of 45 m.p.h. and the useful load is 500 lbs.), is due to the thick wing section employed, as well as to the great reduction in parasite resistance which is brought about by the cantilever construction. The parasol arrangement of the wings has the further advantage of providing much better visibility from the pilot's cockpit, and greater accessibility for the passenger and pilot. By virtue of the absence of wire bracing, inter- plane struts, etc., usually associated with biplanes, and requiring constant building-up, a machine fitted with the Sperry wing requires hardly any rigging, and is easily maintained in proper flying trim. would be involved and estimates were presented and con- sidered. It was decided, in view of the terms of reference of the Committee and of the limited cargo-carrying capacity of airships, that the estimates which the Committee should prepare for future services, beyond the above-mentioned interim period, should be for the provision of a limited and possibly irregular transport service for passengers and mails only to the eastern boundaries of the Empire, the existing fleet being utilised to its utmost capacity. Due consideration should be given in the selection of Air Routes to questions of Imperial strategy and defence, and to the assistance which the Royal Air Force could afford to civil transport undertakings. As. a preliminary to the discussion of estimates the Com- mittee considered the utilisation of heavier-than-air craft over certain sections of Imperial air routes and the manner in which the route could be developed for speed utilisation for commercial undertakings ; particular reference was made in this connection to the importance of the Cairo-Karachi route. :Z 509
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