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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0834.PDF
asm :_ .^.CORRESPONDENCE [7he* 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.] SOARING FLIGHT [2048.] Dr. Hankin in his letter (2046) of your issue of 24th ult. states that, if his observations are correct, it is improbable in the highest degree that the soaring of birds at the stern of a steamer is due to ascending currents. I have not had an opportunity of observing the soaring of gulls near a ship, but it is perhaps not generaly known that -ascending currents do usually exist in the neighbourhood of the stern of a steamer. Unless the ship is steaming abso- lutely into the wind or with the wind, there will be an ascend- ing current at every point along the windward edge, the side of the ship acting as a cliff with the wind at grazing incidence. The up-currents are present up to a height of some 30 to 50 ft. above the highest deck of the ship, and persist for some distance abaft the ship. On the leeward side the air is descending. In gusty weather it is possible for the relative wind to oscillate some few degrees from port to starboard. Three degrees of yaw in the relative wind is often sufficient to give rise to up-currents of 1 or 2 ft. per second on the windward side abaft the stern. It would appear, in view of the fact that the relative wind is in general at least three degrees off the fore and aft line of the ship, that there would nearly always be a region of ascending air near the stern. I should imagine that gulls would make full use of the rising currents in this region. My information is based on actual experiment in connection with the work of the laboratory. L. W. BRYANT Aerodynamics Department, The National Physical Laboratory, - Teddington, Middlesexi — ,' December?,, 1921.* WHAT'S WRONG WITH AVIATION? [2049.] Although 1 have retired from the aviation industry it still attracts me, and I read my FLIGHT regularly every week. There is just one point in Col. Searle's paper, extracts, of which you publish, which should not be allowed to pass. Col. Searle says, in connection with the necessity of air transport service being at a reasonable maintenance cost, that the question of cost did not assume the same importance in war-time as it does in peace. Again, on the subject of the correct position of sheds in aerodromes, he repeats that it was not necessary to count the cost during the War. Col. Searle in his paper showed such a very shrewd and original grasp of the subject that I was surprised he should repeat the loose thinking of other people. During the War we were short of two things, i.e., men and material. Nobody will disputes it, as it was repeated ad nauseam : yet at the same time—also ad nauseam—came the parrot-cry, " You must not count the cost during war." Unfortunately, people appeared to give lip-service to the first axiom, yet wasted both labour and material far too freely and patted themselves on the back for being so wise as to have heard of the old milAry axiom, which was only meant to be adopted on very special occasions and not meant to be taken in large doses before, during and after every meal. What the aeroplane industry—like many other industries— is suffering under today is not realising that we are back again in the good old pre-War competitive days, and that if one wants bread-and butter one must work for it. If it was not that I am busy with another bit of pioneer work, I would certainly return to aviation, for there is a fortune to be made by anyone who puts anything like the pre-War energy and enterprise into the industry. " OCTOPUS " PILOTS AND THEIR FEES [2050.] My attention has been called to the paragraphs relating to this Company, which appear in your issues of December 1 and 8. The grossly inaccurate statements they contain are calculated to seriously injure the reputation and business of this Company, and my directors view the matter with grave concern. In particular, the figures quoted as representing the payments made by us to pilots for taking machines to Brussels and including expenses are false, as the sheet* of extracts taken at random from our pilots' account sheets will show. Further, our machines are always thoroughly tested at our Waddon works and aerodrome before leaving for Brussels and elsewhere, and we can also show that considerable sums are expended in this direction. The reflections cast upon this Company are so serious, that DECEMBER .15, 1921 I am sure you will recognise the desirability of publishing tTiis letter at once, and of withdrawing the paragraphs complained of. For and on behalf of AIRCRAFT DISPOSAL CO., LTU. Dec. 13. M. W. DARBY, General Manager. * Dates and particulars of payments made to pilots fqr single flights to Brussels :—Sept 21, 1921, £11 3s., ^13 4s. gd., ^10 gs. 3d.; Sept. 22, ^10 ; Sept. 28, £10; Oct. 8, ^11 5s. ; Oct. 19, £10 4s. ; Nov. 23, £14 is. ; Nov. 28, ^14 14s. od. ; Dec. 1, £17 2s. y^d. ; Dec. 2, £14 3s. ; Dec. 8, ^12 15s. [The references to which the above letter applies appeared in our Croydon correspondent's notes.—ED.] SI % % % "*""" A Beautiful Almanac FOR 1922 the Abdulla Almanac, just to hand, surpasses anything this celebrated Bond Street cigarette firm have previously turned out. During the War period, the very beautfful calendars issued each year simply made one wonder how it was done. But then the Abdulla firm were inspired by their great contributions to the Red Cross Fund by means of this remarkable calendar. The usual baker's dozen of picture reproductions in colours go to make up the 1922 year's set, and it is difficult to say which is the more attractive, each having such sound merit of its own. Aviation has a place in the series in " First Studies in Aviation," a pictorial fantasy in Chinese fashion, by Warwick Reynolds. Parti- cularly charming are " Waiting till the Ship Comes Home : A Dutch Idyll," by H. John Pearson, and " On the Shores of Lake Siljan," by E. G. Ekdahl. The broad colouring of Lionel Edwards' " A Ride through the Fair" is well suited to the Spanish scene presented. The production as a whole is in keeping with the high quality of the cigarettes for which the Abdulla Co. have justly become famous. The London Aero Models Association ,'-•"-'-" ; "-*'-\ IT was an enthusiastic gathering of members and friends at the First Annual Dinner of this Association held at the headquarters, 20, Great Windmill Street, W., on Thursday of last week. Mr. A. E Jones, the President, was in the chair, and while speech-making was kept down to the mini- mum, it was to the point,, and emphasised the practical aim of the Association. That the visitors were impressed by the enthusiasm and sincerity of the members was shown by the fact that a number of them'decided to join up. Mr. Jones outlined the events which had led to the formation of the Association, and, in doing so, paid tribute to the effective organising work carried on by Mr. C. J. Burchell, to whom, on behalf of the members, he handed a silver cigarette case. Thanks were expressed to Mr. Rees for placing a room at the disposal of the Association for weekly meetings and debates, and to FLIGHT for a cup which it is hoped will be put up for competition during the coming season. After the dinner, an excellent musical programme was gone through, and Mr. Jack Louch proved that he can do as wonderful things with a piano as he can with an aero-model. Those who rendered items were Miss Annie Tester, Miss Ethel Revnell, and Messrs. T. Nicall, H. Pinfold and A. Rippon. NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS ""' ^ All Advertisement Copy and Blocks must be delivered at the Offices of "FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, not later than 12 o'clock on Saturday in each week for the following week'8 issue. , FLIGHT '"'- The Aircraft Engineer and Airships ~ 36. GREAT QUEEN STREET. KINGSWAY, W.C. 2. Telegraphic address: Truditur, Westcent, London. Telephone: Gerrard 1828. SUBSCRIPTION RATES "FLIGHT" will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates :— ABROAD* s. d. 3 Months, Post Free.... 8 3 6 „ 16 6 12 „ „ .... 33 o UNITED KINGDOM 5. d. 3 Months, Post Free.... 7 7 6 „ „ .... 15 2 12 „ „ .... 30 4 These 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 thi Proprietors of " FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, and crossed Londdn County and Westminster Bank, othtrwise no responsibility will be accepted. 834
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