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Aviation History
1923
1923 - 0558.PDF
•nm SEPTEMBHR 20, 1923 LIGHT 'PLANE AND GLIDER NOTES MANY of the machines entered for the Lympne competitionsare now finished, and their flying tests have begun, with the consequence that interest in the light 'plane movement is seeinga revival, which should be of material assistance in the months to come. Last week we had the good fortune to witness twotrial flights at Brooklands of the Vickers light 'plane—the " Viget," as she is called. On our arrival at the Vickers'works the machine had just been completed, and the " Viget" was standing on the track opposite the works, having herDouglas engine tested. Although it appeared that further engine adjustments might be necessary Capt. Cockerelldecided to make a trial flight, and the machine was conse- quently towed along the track and on to the aerodrome.Capt. Cockerell got into his seat, the engine was started very easily, thanks to the reduction gearing of 2£ to 1, which gearsup the engine on starting and gives a good sharp pull. Just as Cockerell began to trickle along the ground it was noticedthat what little wind there was was a following wind. In spite of this fact, however, the machine got off after a relativelyshort run, and commenced to climb. * * * '•"'• •:-."' ".-.. -':.• IT was noticed that the " Viget " seemed very sensitive on the ailerons, as was to be expected from the fact that these are of very large area and the machine of short span. However, reasonably expect in a type built for cheap production infairly large quantities. * * * LAST week we published a photograph of Raynham'sHandasyde light 'plane, and this week we give a detailed illustrated description of this machine. During last weekRaynham had the 'bus out for a flight, and she seemed quite O.K. The Handasyde monoplane, like the Vickers " Viget,"is fitted with a 750 c.c. Douglas engine, and in both machines this engine has been found to run remarkably smoothly,giving practically no vibration. Tn Raynham's monoplane direct drive is used, whereas in the Vickers' there is a chainreduction gearing of 2| to 1. _ * * * As previously mentioned in FLIGHT, the de Havilland Air-craft Company are building two light 'planes at their Stag Lane works. Both are built to the same drawings, and arefitted with Douglas engines of 750 c.c. They are monoplanes with the wing placed low on the fuselage and braced by strutsto the top of the fuselage. The wing is in two halves, hinged to the lower longerons.the greatest spar depth occurring at thepoint where the struts are attached. The workmanship is excellent, as one would expect from a firm of this standing, andthe machines are of straightforward design, with no experi- HHHHHEIEIEI •B H B B H B B B B H H B -m . • m B BIHESEHE A new Palmer wheel : As a de- mand has arisen for an aero wheel suitable for light 'planes Messrs. Palmer Tyre, Ltd., have pro- duced the Palmer Cord Bijouplane wheel, measuring 375 by 55 mm. and weighing 5 lbs. after reaching the Paddock Cockerell made a left-hand turnand came back towards the Byfleet side. Coming in over the track he made a perfect three-point landing, and later in-formed us that the machine was quite O.K., but that the engine was down on revs. After certain alterations, a change of jet,etc., Cockerell had the machine out again during the afternoon, and made a flight of about 15 minutes' duration, again landingperfectly. „ * , Tire way in which the " Viget " handles is a revelation, and especially are the turns remarkable, the machine actually appearing to turn in her own length. As Cockerell expressed it, she seemed to spin around with practically no forward speed. When one comes to think the matter over, this should, of course, be so, the machine being very manoeuvrable and not very fast, so that in a given time she can change her direction to a vast extent. Incidentally, this should be much in the favour of the light 'plane, as it may even be possible for a pilot to turn back over the aerodrome should his engine fail as he is taking off. * * * A full illustrated description of the Vickers " Viget" appears in this week's issue of FLIGHT, from which the main points of the design should emerge. The workmanship and finish of the machine are remarkably fine, and it is of interest to note in this connection that in spite of this fact the cost has not been by any means prohibitive. It would scarcely be fair to quote actual figures, but although the machine is finished up to aero show standard, the cost is no higher than one would mental features other than the low wing position, which canscarcely be called experimental as it has been used extensively in Germany. The view from the pilot's cockpit should beexcellent. * * * THE de Havilland light 'planes are fitted with a low V undercarriage, but in view of the low wing position and the fitting of wing-tip skids, it should be next to impossible for them to blow over when on the ground, a risk always present in lightly-loaded machines in which the wing tips are a con- siderable distance above the ground. * * * DESIGNERS of low-power aeroplanes have found recentlythat, generally speaking, the smallest size Palmer wheels made are a shade too small, while the next size is for most machinesa little too large. With that prompt realisation of and atten- tion to possible new developments that has been instrumentalin placing the Palmer Tyre, Ltd., in the lead where aero wheels are concerned, the firm has at once set to work to produce anew wheel, which is now obtainable at relatively moderate cost. The new Palmer wheel measures 375 by 55 mm., andhas been given the name " Bijouplane " wheel, a name which, the makers suggest, is no worse than some of the other namesthat have been suggested for describing low-power aeroplanes. The " Bijouplane " wheel has a hub measuring 4f ins. inlength by 1 in. bore, and the weight of each wheel, complete with tyre and shields, is 5 lbs., which should be light enough tosatisfy anybody. 558
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