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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0096.PDF
FEBRUARY 14, 1924 AIRMANSHIP AT SEA The Work of Seaplane Pilots AT the fortnightly meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society on February 7, Squadron-Leader R. B. Maycock, O.B.E., R.A.F., who until recently commanded the Royal Air Force Seaplane Development Flight, read a paper on " Airmanship at Sea." One of the factors which had hampered develop ment, he said, was that the seaplane had developed from the landplane with the addition of " sea boots." Most types of seaplanes were easy to fly once they were in the air, but caused considerable difficulties in handling on the water, and there fore combined knowledge of flying and seamanship was essential for the seaplane pilot. Unlike its sister the aero plane, the seaplane's trials and tribulations did not end with the safe alighting after a flight, but care and experience were still required while " taxying " to moorings o> to the slip way. It had been aptly said that mooring a seaplane was analogous to mooring a fully-rigged ship with the sails set ; but the lecturer preferred to liken it to a motor auxiliary vessel with the sails always set, the yards always rigidly braced for a wind astern, and the spanker rigged to replace the water rudder—without the possibility of reversing the engines. Nevertheless the lecturer had seen small and difficult harbours—such as Penzance, Newhaven and Torquay —successfully navigated by large flying boats threading their way between large and small craft, frequently lifting a wing to clear to dinghy or buoy, the width between the piers at the harbour entrance being just sufficient to allow the span of the wings a few feet clearance. In multi-engined seaplanes manoeuvring could be assisted by using the engines for steering. Wind had infinitely more effect on seaplanes than tide, owing to the large wing-structure swinging like a weather cock to the breeze. The use of a water rudder had been abandoned, but the ailerons were of great assistance in man- m m Honours IN a Supplement to the London Gazette published on February 8 is a list of Resignation Honours conferred by the King on the recommendation of Mr. Baldwin, the ex-Prime Minister. Amongst these, the honour of baronet has been conferred on Sir Herbert Hambling, J.P., for important services rendered to the Air Ministry on financial and commercial matters. Sir (Henry) Herbert Hambling, eldest son of the late Lieut.-Col. W. J. Hambling, many times Mayor of Dunstable, is 63. He is deputy-chairman of the amalgamated banking concerns of Barclays Bank, the London and South-Western Bank, and the London and Provincial Bank. He is a director of the North British and Mercantile Insurance Co. and of the Colonial Bank. He served on the Cowley Commission on Post Office buildings ; he assisted the Lord Mayor in raising oeuvring on the water. The remaining aid to steering was the "drogue" or sea-anchor. This consisted of a conical- shaped canvas bag open at both ends, and the larger end kept in shape by stiff wires or wood. On being dropped into the water it caused considerable reduction in speed, and acted as a fulcrum about which the craft could be more easily turned. The seagull kept dry in the roughest sea by facing the wind and paddling slowly into it until he saw a wave which he could not ordinarily surmount, when he spread his wings for the fraction of a second to gain the lift necessary to float over it. In the same way if a seaplane was held against the wind either by an anchor or by using the engines, it would keep perfectly dry, as had been proved in practice in St. Mary's Roads at the Scilly Isles during an experimental cruise in 1922. The practice of mooring out seaplanes, instead of confining them to places where a special slipway and sheds were pro vided, was becoming more and more common, and had great advantages. For major overhauls and repairs they still had to be got on shore, but for running repairs a floating dock could be used. Permanent moorings for flying boats should weigh not less than a ton. The buoy chosen was usually small, and it was the practice to make fast direct on to the mooring wire beneath thp buoy to obviate the danger arising from possible weakness in the buoy's fittings. In conclusion, the lecturer mentioned that flying boats had flown from Malta to Constantinople, Gibraltar and Alexandria, involving flights of 1,500-2,000 miles. Tests had been carried out in home waters of flying boats pro ceeding on endurance trips away from their base up to six weeks, with satisfactory results. 13 the Bankers' Battalion in the War ; he was head of the Finance Group of the Ministry of Munitions ; he has advised the Government on matters concerning the financial aspects of civil aviation ; he is President of the Institute of Bankers ; and he has been " pricked " for the office of High Sheriff of Suffolk this year. Baron Thomson of Cardington THIS is the title chosen by the new Air Minister, as officially announced in the London Gazette of February 12. upon his elevation to the Peerage. British Aeroplanes for Spain As a result of practical tests, the Spanish naval autho rities have decided to adopt British aeroplanes, and as a beginning a naval commission is to proceed to London to purchase a dozen bombing machines. A NEW LIGHT 'PLANE ENGINE: The Coventry Victor "Gnat" is a new model specially designed for use on light 'planes. It is rated at 10-38 h.p., and from bench tests it appears that the power output is very high. The overhead valve gear is of somewhat unusual design, and is lubricated by oil mist from the crankcase. 96
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