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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0493.PDF
AUGUST 31, 1922 "FLIGHT" DESIGNING COMPETITION- Prizes Offered for Designs for Motorless 'Plane IN view of the very great interest which is now being taken all over the world in gliding and soaring, the proprietors of " FLIGHT " have decided to offer a prize for the best design for a motorless 'plane suitable for gliding and soaring. From the number of letters that have reached us during the last few months it is quite evident that, although but little has been done in this country towards itaking up this promising sport, interest is far from lacking, and that the absence of practical results is chiefly to be attributed to the fact that good designs are not available. Many amateurs have shown themselves anxious to construct gliders, but have been prevented from doing so by lack of a suitable design to which to build. It is not within the capacity of every enthusiast to get out a suitable design, although he may have the necessary skill with tools to build such a craft if reliable drawings and designs are available. The conditions of the " FLIGHT " Designing Competition are set out below, and the publication of suitable designs for engineless 'planes should serve to encourage the sport of gliding. I. Conditions (a) The " FLIGHT " Designing Competition is open to all, irrespective of nationality, and includes plans, drawings and calculations for motorless aircraft, suitable for gliding and soaring. (b) Designs submitted will be judged by two well-known designers and constructors of aircraft, in conjunction with the Editor of " FLIGHT," and the decision of the Judges will be final. (e) The winning drawings become the property of " FLIGHT," and the Editor reserves the right to publish any or all of the designs submitted, whether prize winners or not. (d) Two Prizes will be awarded, one of ^25 for the design which, in the opinion of the Judges, shows greatest merit, and a Consolation Prize of ^10 for the design which is considered : (i) to incorporate useful features, but which is not considered best as a complete design ; (ii) promising design along original lines, but which is too much of an experiment to be standardised without actual tests. (e) The Editor reserves the right to divide the Prizes if, in the opinion of the Judges, more designs than one are of equal merit, and also to withhold the award of one or both Prizes if the Judges should consider that no design is worthy of an award. (/) Each sheet of drawings, descriptive matter, calculations, etc., must be marked with a nom de plume, and a sealed envelope, containing the name and address of the competitor, is to be enclosed with the drawings, only the nom de plume chosen being written on the outside of the envelope In this manner designs will be judged entirely on their merits both the Editor and the other Judges being ignorant of the identity of the competitors. (g) All communications in connection with the competition should be addressed to the Editor, and marked " Designing Competition." (h) The Competition closes at midday on Thursday, November 30, 1922, by which time all designs must be in the possession of the Editor of " FLIGHT." NO designs sent in after that date will be considered. (t) The Editor reserves the right to alter details of the regulations, should this be deemed necessary, so long as the fundamental basis of the competition is not changed. II. Particulars Required In the following are set out some of the conditions to note, and particulars which competitors are required to embody in their designs, although the sub-heads should not be regarded as covering the complete list which can be submitted :— (a) Designs will be judged not only on the merits of the aerodynamic and structural design, but also on the complete ness or otherwise of the data submitted, and on the facility with which the machine can be built from the information supplied. Cheapness of construction should be taken into consideration, and facility of erecting and dismantling are points of importance as the machines will frequently have to be transported from a valley to the top of a hill. (6) The machines may be monoplanes, biplanes, or multi planes, with enclosed fuselages or with open tail booms. (c) The undercarriage (if any) may be of the wheel type or of the skid type, or a combination of the two. (d) Aerodynamical estimates, based upon recognised model or full-size data, must accompany the designs. This refers to such component parts as wing sections, fuselages, struts, bracing, undercarriages, tail planes, etc. (e) A curve of gliding angles (estimated) must be drawn, covering a reasonable range of speeds, and the figures of total resistance and weight upon which this curve is based are to accompany the design. (/) Stress calculations must be carried out and submitted for all important members such as wing spars, struts, wires or cables, fuselage or tail outrigger parts, tail planes, rudders, and elevators. No factors of safety are specified, as the adequacy or otherwise of these will be taken into account in judging the designs. The strength of material assumed in calculating the factors of safety should be stated. (g) General arrangement drawings, to scale, must accom pany the design, and should include side elevation, plan and front elevation, with all main dimensions and areas marked on the drawings. (h) Assembly drawings of such main components as wings, ailerons, fuselage or tail outrigger, tail planes (fin, rudder, tail plane and elevators), and undercarriage must also be submitted. Diagram showing method of determining proportions of drawings for reproduction. (i) Such detail drawings as are necessary should be sent in. Where a fitting of the same shape is used in several places, but differs in dimensions, it is advisable to mark on one drawing the required dimensions as a, b, c, d, etc. A table can then be prepared, giving the dimensions of a, b, c, d, etc., according to where the fitting is to be used. Spar sections, strut sections, etc., should be dimensioned sufficiently to enable them to be built to correct size and shape. (_/') A specification of materials must accompany the designs, and in the case of all drawings of components, parts, fittings, etc., the materials to be used should be marked on the drawing. (k) A table of item weights must be prepared, and indica tion given of the specific giavity, or weight per cubic inch or cubic foot upon which the weight estimates are based. The calculated centre of gravity (with pilot on board) should be shown on the general arrangement drawings. III. Preparation of Drawings, etc. (a) All drawings must be done in Indian ink on white paper or tracing cloth, as should also all lettering, figures, etc., on the drawings. Large drawings should be rolled and not folded. (The creases detract from the drawings in reproduction.) (b) General arrangement drawings, sets of details, etc., 493 C2
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