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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0638.PDF
CORRESPONDENCE [The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters intended for insertion in these columns.] GERMAN AIR ENTERPRISE[2043] It would seem that the restrictions of the Allies regarding the building of aeroplanes in Germany are having anencouraging, rather than a discouraging, effect on aeronautical development there. In 1903, when Wilbur Wright had per-fected his glider at Kitty Hawk, he installed a petrol engine, and so evolved the first practical aeroplane. From thenonwards the practice of building full-size man-carrying gliders was to all intents and purposes abandoned, all attentionbeing directed to the production of power-driven aeroplanes modelled more or less from the Wright prototype. Althoughconsiderable advances have been made as regards speed, horse-power, and carrying capacity, there has been no greatchange in the form of aeroplanes since 1903, a condition which is probably due to the fact that the science was robbed byWilbur Wright's death from typhoid in 1912. Had he lived, it is almost certain, the pioneer would have carried out manymore gliding experiments, and would have proved such methods of research to be in the best interests of the science. As it is, our late enemies, prevented from building power-driven machines, are both making sport and fostering science with the construction of man-carrying gliders. The resultsso far achieved are considered phenomenal even by aeronau- tical scientists. The fact that very fine, or fiat, gliding angleshave been attained is of no small significance, for the flatness of the gliding angle is the principal criterion of efficiencyin aeroplanes. Of two gliders of equal weights and speeds, that which glides on a slope of 1 in 16 requires only half thepower of that which glides at 1 in 8. By continued experi- ments with a view to reducing resistances still further,our late enemies will have most efficient aeroplanes in the course of time when they are permitted to install low-poweredengines in their improved gliders There are near London and in the provinces numerousstretches of sloping pasture land, eminently suitable for the conduct of gliding competitions, and I would be very glad tohear from any of your readers who would like to take an active and co-operative interest in fostering gliding as asport for the advancement of science. W: R. DOUGLAS SHAW, Secretary to the Institution of Aeronautical Engineers FLEXIBLE WINGS[2044] IT seems strange to me that our designers and constructors of aeroplanes should wait for many years forthe Germans to show them the means of safe and effective aviation by their experiments with gliding machines—matters that we knew perfectly well thirty or forty years ago, but when there were no petrol engines. In my paper read before the Aeronautical Society seeReports'18 1882, 22 p. 97, 23 p. 6 and 20) it was, I thought, clearly shown, after years of study of natural flight, that theessentials of safety, etc., rested in the light, flexible, strong wings with Nature's curves of beauty, anterior parts rigid, posteriors. yielding, adapting themselves automatically to air conditions, with reciprocating movements—wings made with willowplanes, with Nature's graceful curves (so essential), reinforced with cane, unbreakable, each plane a screw, giving no chance ofnose dive or sideslip—easy to go up, slow to come down ! ! Mr. Glaisher and Sir James Douglas see AeronauticalReport 23, p. 6, 16 and 20) said of my machine, which took ten years to build (1868), that it was built upon the rightprinciples, and so did later on Pilcher, Mr. Handley Page and many others. Then why was it not done when the internalcombustion engine came ? The reason seemed to be that willow with its natural curves is a little more difficult to workcompared with pine, and takes up more time to cut and plane the curves and to insert the canes, but it would pay in theend, for you have an absolutely safe machine, one easy to go up, slow to come down. The study of natural flight in all its bearings of birds,bats, insects, and even seed of trees and shrubs, teach at once and directly what our mathematicians work out for uson paper, which few can understand. Professor Brian told us the truth at the Society of Arts in a mathematical pointof view, but, as I said then, without figures and deep and constant years of study of algebra and mathematics, welearnt directly and pleasantly from Nature the essentials of flight. EDWARD P. FROST, Past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society SEPTEMBER 22, 192! SIDE-WINDS "YOUR ICAR NUMBER " is the title of a small folder illus-trating and describing the Barimar cast aluminium number plates. These plates, as is well known, are cast plates ofpure aluminium, and have the figures raised -^th of an inch from the background, which latter is painted a dead black.As the letters are milled flat after casting, they have a particu- larly clean-cut appearance, and, of course, their proportionsare such as to conform to all legal requirements. A copy of the folder describing the number plates may be obtainedgratis on application to Barimar, Ltd., 10, Poland Street, Oxford Street, London, W. 1. . , : WE have before us an exceedingly interesting catalogue of" Pinnacle" Steels. These steels, as is, of course, well known, are manufactured by Messrs. R. H. Hodgson and Co.(Sheffield), Ltd., at their Sentinel works at Sheffield. The catalogue (we should have hesitated to call it such but forthe fact that the publishers refer to the work under this title) forms an extremely useful reference guide to the engineer,so much more so than the usual run of catalogues, because it contains a fund of information not generally containedin publications of this nature. As the book is intended for the busy man, the compilers have had in mind that its utilitymust be in the ready availability of the information which is required to answer the questions which arise in the buyingoffice and in the workshops. In addition to the particulars relating to heat treatment, and which occupy eight pages,the user has placed before him details of a selection of steels standardised in series and embodying special propertiesaccording to the particular purposes for which they have been made. The steel and tool reference—occupying five pages—is an original summary of and index to the tempers, tempering colours and steels, applicable to the very large number ofdifferent tools included. No tool manufacturer, or user for that matter, should be without one of these interestingbooks, copies of which can be had on application. As we have already said, the book is more than a catalogue; it is aready reference guide to tool steels. , m m m m New Air LineTHE Portuguese Air Navigation Co. announce a regular daylight aeroplane service between Paris and Lisbon to berun this winter. Next year the line is to be extended to London, Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin. If you require anything pertaining to aviation, study I "FLIGHT'S" Buyers' Guide and Trade Directory, j which appears in our advertisement pages each week (see pages iii and xiv). NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS All Advertisement Copy and Blocks must be delivered at the Offices of "PLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kings way, W.C. 2, not later than 12 o'clock on Saturday in each week for the following week's issue. . FLIGHT The Aircraft Engineer and Airships 36. GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. 2. Telegraphic address: Truditur, Westcen't, London.Telephone: Gerrard 1828. % . SUBSCRIPTION RATES " FLIGHT " will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates .— UNITED KINGDOM 5. d. 3 Months, Post Free.... 7 76 „ , 15 2 12 „ „ .... 30 4These rates are subject to any alteration found necessary under abnormal conditions and to increases in postage rates. * European subscriptions must be remitted in British currency Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to theProprietors of "FLIGHT." 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, and crossed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted. Should any difficulty be experienced in procuring " FLIGHT "from local newsvendors, intending readers can obtain each issue direct from the Publishing Office, by forwarding remittance asabove. ABROAD* : S.3 Months, Post Free... 8 6 16 12 ,. .. .... 33 d. 3 6 638
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