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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0008.PDF
MR. NORDMAN is one of the charter members of the Long Island Flight Association, organised with a view to investi gating the soaring flight problem. The first flights were made at the Belleclaire Country Club, L.I., the pilot being Mr. Arthur Heinrich. Experiments have been made with towing flight, and considerable success has been attained. On calm days when soaring is impossible over the relatively low hills, the tow ropes are attached to a motor-cycle, which, running along at good speed, gives the machine sufficient lift to reach a height of 30 or 40 ft. When the pilot judges that he is high enough he releases the tow rope (which is attached to the nose of the fuselage) and the machine commences to glide. In this manner glides of over 1,000 ft. have been made in calm air. In suitable country the Nordman glider should be capable of remaining aloft for long periods, as its controllability is stated to be excellent. * * * UP to the present unfavourable weather conditions have prevented the Carley (Dutch) light monoplane from flying JANUARY 3, 1924 given a sufficiently strong wind there are several French experts who consider the task not impossible. Based on the best performances at Lympne (those of the " Wren " and A.N.E.C. monoplanes), half the distance should be possible on the amount of fuel permitted. If, therefore, sufficient assistance can be obtained from ascending currents to cover one-half of the distance the flight becomes possible. Person ally, we are not sufficiently acquainted with the local conditions along the Seine to be able to express an opinion, but the task must necessarily be a very difficult one. * * * * IF the Solex prize has not been won by April 1, 1925, it will be awarded to the pilot who has covered the route stipulated on the smallest amount of fuel, provided that this does not exceed 3 kgs. This clause in the regulations rather seems to nullify the main conditions, and it should be comparatively easy for a well-designed light 'plane to accomplish the mileage of 63 miles per gallon necessarv to complete the distance on 3 kgs. HH0HHEIEII3ISI3I3 H a H 13 H H B 0 H H E a E E The Nordman glider : Major William N. Hens- ley, CO. of Mitchel Field, congratulating Mr. Nordman on his successful machine. Note the Henderson motor-cycle used for towing in preliminary tests. BBSEIIBElSaB from le Bourget to Croydon. In our issue of December 27 we referred to the flight of this machine, piloted by the Belgian pilot Raparlier, from Holland to le Bourget on December 18. Since then M. Raparlier has been giving demonstration flights on the machine, and has demonstrated it to the French Section Technique. As soon as weather conditions improve the machine will probably be flown to Croydon, where further exhibitions of the machine's capabilities will be given. * * * IN France there is some speculation as to the possibility of the 50,000 francs prize offered by the Solex carburettor firm being won during 1924. This prize is for a flight from Paris to Rouen, a distance of approximately 90 kms. (56 miles), on 1 kg. of fuel. It is, of course, quite obvious that no machine yet known would be able to cover this distance on the amount of fuel allowed, as to do so would require something like a mileage of 190 miles per gallon. Nevertheless, it is thought that by following the Seine valley, and given suitable wind conditions, the feat might just be possible. The hills along the course of the winding river are not inconsiderable, and m m A Fokker " All-wing " Machine IN France designers have been busy for several years planning aeroplanes in which the fuselage is entirely sup pressed, the wing being built deep enough to accommodate the crew and passengers. The de Monge monoplane described in FLIGHT recently is a flying scale model of this type. In America also machines without fuselage have been built. Now comes news that Fokker, the famous Dutch designer, has completed his plans for a large monoplane in which the cabin is inside the centre-section of the wing. It is stated that the new machine will be fitted with two Rolls-Royce engines built into the wing in such a manner that they can IN Germany during the past summer a novel experiment was tried building a glider capable of alighting on water. The machine, known as the " Konigsberg," was intended for use at Rossitten on the Kurisches Haft" in the Baltic, and gliding along the sand dunes always meant the possibility of having to alight on the water when the pilot " ran out of wind" A stepped boat hull was tried, so as to enable the machine to be towed oft, but it was found that the step was damaged when alighting on land. In the end a fuselage was built without step, and fabric covered. The sides and top are covered with a single layer, while the bottom has a double layer of fabric. It was found that this construction answered very well, the machine riding on the water for an hour without more than a very little water leaking in. Of course, the smooth bottom does not allow of towing the machine off the water, a start having to be made from land. A similar type of machine might provide quite good fun on the South Coast. It will be remembered that Raynham's Handasyde glider of 1922 was flown on to the sea without other special preparation than an extra coat of " Cellou " dope. / m m be reached by the engineer during flight for inspection and small adjustments. The Latham 1 passes her Tests THE twin-engined Latham flying boat which took part in the Schneider Race at Cowes has just passed her acceptance tests at Cherbourg. She developed a speed of 161 m.p.h., and climbed to 13,000 ft. in 20 minutes. It will be remem bered that the machine flew from Cherbourg to Cowes for the race in a strong gale, and favourably impressed visitors by her obvious seaworthiness. The engines fitted are Lorraine- Dietrichs of 400 h.p. each, placed tandem fashion. 8
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