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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0737.PDF
NOVEMBER IO, 1921 Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, where a number of the older types were built. In view of the vogue which folding wings "have in modern times, it is of interest to mention that Short Brothers were the first to utilise this feature on their tractor type twin-float seaplanes. Now nearly every machine, except the smallest, shows this feature. During the War this firm manufactured a very large number of tractor seaplanes, and their designs were "manufactured under licence by a number of other firms Among the purposes for which " Shorts," as they were familiarly called, were employed mention may be made of, apart from the very extensive use for North Sea Patrol, torpedo dropping. Prob- ably Shorts were the first firm successfully to develop this type of machine. That the experiments were discontinued was in no way due to any shortcomings on the part of the machines. Of recent years the firm has, as a direct result of their extensive experience in airship construction at Bedford, designed machines built entirely of metal. Thus, at the last Aero Show at Olympia, they exhibited an all-metal machine known as the " Silver Streak." This machine was truly " all-metal," inasmuch as both fuselage and wings were covered with Duralumin sheet. Owing chiefly to a lack of understanding and want of experi- ence in its treatment and application, there has been a certain amount of prejudice as regards the use of Duralumin. Short Brothers, having had occasion to use this metal extensively in their airship works at Bedford, have become familiar with its use and treatment, and feel confident that, properly handled, the metal is quite satisfactory for aeroplane construction. As regards corrosion, Short Brothers have had a piece of 1.-(-gauge Duralumin suspended in such a position as to be immersed in salt water at each high tide, and exposed to the air at each low tide. This test lasted for nine months, and at the end of that time the only sign of corrosion was fur- nished by tiny pin-point specks of white, which, when scraped off, did not show any indentation of the metal. A piece of mild steel, similarly tested, was almost rustedthrough. The " Silver Streak " has now been in existence for nearly18 months, and the metal of which it was built has been in existence and exposed to the air for nearly two years. Yetthere is no sign of weakening of any structural member owing to corrosion, although no protective covering of any kind hasbeen employed. The novel construction of the '' Silver Streak " caused agreat deal of interest and a certain amount of criticism. That the firm was justified in making the experiment isshown by the tests carried out at the R.A.E., Farnborough. These were of a severe kind, and included vibration testslasting 100 hours. Although severely overloaded, the machine stood up in a remarkable manner, and no fracture of anykind appeared in the structure. As regards flying, the machine proved very satisfactory indeed. One of the features which came in for criticism was theuse of circular section tubular wing spars of steel. While theoretically not a good section, the tubular spars allowedof a very considerable saving in weight of wing fittings, while making the attachment of ribs, etc., light and simple,as well as making for ease in manufacture. The ribs, it should be pointed out, are cut from flat sheets,and slotted and flanged with a simple press tool. The cover- ing is in the form of sheet panels, flanged and riveted to theflanges of the ribs. Thus in case of damage to one panel, this can be replaced without interfering with the rest of the wing. The data relating to the '' Silver Streak '' are as follows :Engine, Siddeley " Puma " 250 h.p. Area, 370 sq. ft. Span, 37 ft., 6 ins. Length o.a., 26 ft. 5 ins. Height, 10 ft. 6 ins.Petrol tank capacity, 50 gallons. Oil, 6 gallons. Weight empty, 1,865 lbs. Accommodation, pilot and 400 lbs. offreight, or pilot and one passenger. Weight fully loaded, 2,700 lbs. Maximum speed, 120 m.p.h. Cruising speed,90 m.p.h. Climb, 10,000 ft. in 11 minutes. Range, 360 miles at full power, 450 miles at cruising speed. Load perh.p., 10.5 lbs. Load per sq. ft., 7.5 lbs. THE SUPERMARINE AVIATION WORKS, LTD. SOUTHAMPTON. FROM the foundation of the firm and up to the present time the Superniarine Works at Southampton have specialised on the design of flying boats. Among the best known is probably the " Channel type." Originally this machine was fitted as standard with 160 h.p. Beardmore engines, and even with this low power they carried three passengers in addition to the pilot. In order to get a slightly better performance the more recent boats have been fitted with 240 h.p. Siddeley- " Puma " engines, and in this form have proved extremely successful. Among the uses to which they have been put, mention may be made of cross-channel service, aerial sur- veying in the Orinoco delta, photography around the Pacific Islands and passenger services in Cuba. It is therefore not surprising to learn that a number of these boats is now being built for Japan. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of all Supermarine boats is their great strength and also their seaworthiness. One of these boats has been deliberately stalled from a height of 30 ft. into the sea without sustaining any damage. This is greatly due to the flexible form of hull adopted. This is of approximately circular section, and the steps are built on to the hull as separate units, thus allowing of repair or renewal of the step without interfering with the main hull. Recently a new type of amphibian flying boat has been produced, designed for starting from and alighting on the deck of a surface vessel. This is the " Seal " Mark II which was described and illustrated in FLIGHT last week. It differs considerably from previous Supermarine boats, chiefly in being a tractor machine. The engine is a Napier " Lion," mounted on a unit structure formed by the upper The Supermarine " Channel "-type Hying boat (160 h.p. Beardmore). • .. • 737 • • • - > - • :•:•• -V-
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