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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0174.PDF
considerable temperature. For the planing* bottom this material could not well be used, as the steps have a considerable curvature, and sheet material cannot be bent to a double curvature. Thus the planing bottom differs from the sides in that, although it looks the same, its planks are applied individually, whereas the planking of the sides is applied in the sheet. The main frames are of mahogany, while the timbers and longitudinal stringers are of rock elm, through- fastened to the planking. The main step is open—i.e., the water is allowed free access to (and exit from) the space between the step planking and the bottom of the main hull. The rear step, however, is closed, and carries the tail skid and water rudders. The Cockpits Pilot and navigator are seated side by side in the main cockpit, the pilot on the starboard side. In front of him is a very complete instrument-board, with air speed indicator, altimeter, oil and petrol gauges, clock, compass, turn indi- the wing structure. Great care has been taken to make the engine as accessible as possible, and to this end the cowling has been made in several sections, held in place by quick release devices of the type shown in one of our sketches. By removing the appropriate panel of the cowling any part of the engine can be reached with a minumum of delay, a matter of considerable importance on an expendition like that planned. A nose radiator with shutters forms the front portion of the engine nacelle, and slung underneath is a small oil radiator of novel design, developed by Mr. Rex Pierson, chief designer of Vickers Aviation Works. This oil cooler consists of circular section copper top and bottom tubes connected by streamline section vertical tubes. A spring-loaded valve in the top tube allows the oil to be pumped through a bye-pass when the pressure exceeds a certain amount. Thus when starting up in the morning, with the oil quite cold and thick, it would be impossible to force it through the streamline tubes ; the valve then opens and allows the oil to pass through the horizontal tubes until the oil has become sufficiently THE VICKERS "VULTURE": Some Constructional Details. 1, The neat quick-release fastener used on the engine cowling. 2, The water rudders, tail skid and tail trolley. In 3 the tail skid is shown with the trolley removed. 4 show.s the spar and rib construction, with the rib extension carrying the aileron hinge. In 5 is seen one of the brackets and crank used inside the wing to eliminate the use of cables passing over pulleys. cator, etc. We understand that with the exception of the Reid turn indicator all the instruments were supplied by Smith and Sons. The seat on the port side is placed in front of a small door giving access to the front compartment, which will be used mainly for photographic purposes. A cine-camera is carried, and when in use is mounted on a stand ard gun-ring, with provision for swinging it rapidly in any direction, ultimate fine adjustment, and locking device. In the bows of this compartment are lockers containing the photographic materials, plates, films, cameras, etc., and as the view from this cockpit is particularly unobstructed the expedition should secure some very fine pictures, " still " and " moving." A fairly large cockpit aft of the wings will be used for housing the spares, of which a considerable quan tity are carried. Among these may be mentioned a four- bladed propeller, which, to economise space, is made in the form of two separate two-bladers with thin bosses, which can be secured on the propeller shaft at right angles to one another. The Engine Mounting The Napier " Lion " engine is mounted on steel tube struts rising from the hull, the engine supports being independent of thin to pass through the vertical streamline tubes. That this type of oil cooler is effective will be realised when it is recorded that a temperature drop of no less than 16 degrees has been obtained by fitting the cooler. While on the subject of the engine installation, it should be mentioned that the two large main tanks are carried in the hull, whence petrol is forced to a gravity tank in the top centre-section by two windmill-driven pumps. A hand pump is fitted in the pilot's cockpit. For the long overseas flights an extra tank will be fitted in the cockpit. Extra oil and water tanks are fitted in the bilge, to be pumped into the service tanks as required. The total petrol capacity of the tanks is : 321 gallons in the two main tanks and 80 gallons in the extra tank, giving a total of 401 gallons. Cruising at a little over 80 miles per hour, the machine probably does something like 4 miles per gallon, so that the range, in still air, should be in the neighbourhood of 1,600 miles. As a matter of fact, as the fuel is used up and the machine gets lighter, it will in all probability do more, and under favourable conditions should be capable of the non-stop flight from St. John's to Ireland. If conditions are not favourable for the direct flight the route via the Azores will be followed. 174
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