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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0306.PDF
IfiiclS MAY 29, 1924 BRITISH AIRCRAFT TYPES [IN order to facilitate reference, the machines illustrated and described in this section of FLIGHT have been classified under two separate heads-—"Military Aircraft," including both land machines and seaplanes designed for warlike operations; "Civilian Aircraft," intended for commercial flying, sporting aviation, and school work Military types will be dealt with first, and then the civilian machines, which are fewer in number. In the section dealing with British' aero engines it has not been possible to make a distinction between military and commercial types, as at the moment any one type of engine may be, and in most cases is, used for both purposes. The only classification possible is one dividing the types into large aero engines, for military and civilian use, and light 'plane engines suitable for the lowest- powered machines. The titles of firms exhibiting at Prague are marked with a *.—ED.] BRITISH MILITARY AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT DISPOSAL CO., LTD. So. many types of machines and engines are being supplied by this firm that it has been impossible for us to include a representative collection of photographs and data. As, how ever, most of the machines and engines kept in stock by the A.D.C. are of well-known, not to say famous, types, this should not greatly matter, as most readers of FLIGHT will be familiar with them, and the mere mention of their single-seater fighter, with " B.R.2 " rotary engine, is another type supplied by the A.D.C. Mention may also be made of the Bristol fighter " F.2B," and of the Parnall " Panther " ship's 'plane. A certain number of " F.3 " flying boats, with Rolls-Royce engines, are still available. Of aero engines supplied by the A.D.C. .it will suffice to mention a few of the more pupular tvpes—the 360 h.p. Rolls-Rovce "Eagle VIII," the 300 h.p. Hispano-Sui2a An Aircraft Disposal Co. D.H.9A, with Lamblin radiators. names or type letters should suffice. Before proceeding to give a list of the various products obtainable from the A.D.C. it may be of interest to indicate briefly the system upon which the firm works. It is, of course, well known that on its formation the A.D.C. bought the entire stock of Government surplus aeroplanes, seaplanes, engines and spares. Work was then commenced, as outlined in the historical section of this article, to sort out all these types, re-arranging them so that they might easily be with drawn from stock, and finally a plant was laid down for overhauling and re-conditioning the machines and engines. As a certain type of machine is required it is drawn from stock, the fabric is stripped from the fuselage and wings, and the most minute examination of every part, fitting, etc., is made. Any part found to have suffered from storage is replaced by a new one, and by the time the machine is finished it is to all intents and purpose a new aeroplane. The same rigorous inspection and overhaul is bestowed upon all engines, which are given a test run before being issued, just as all finished machines are given a series of test flights by the firm's test pilots before being packed for shipment to the purchaser. It will thus be seen that everv care is taken to ensure that all flying stock sold by the A.D.C. is in first-class condition. It may be mentioned that a very large number of repeat orders' have been and are being executed, affording proof that the first purchase was considered satisfactory. As regards the different types of machines and engines supplied, it is not possible to give an exhaustive list, as not only are machines supplied from the A.D.C.'s own stocks, but the firm also acts as selling agents for a number of well-known British aircraft firms. Of the land machines which may be obtained from the A.D.C. mention may be made of the famous Martinsyde "F.4," with Hispano-Suiza engine, which is still one of the fastest machines for its power in the world. Another well-known type is the " D.H.9," with its modifications " 9A " and "9B." The "9" is, of course, fitted .with 240 h.p. Siddeley "Puma" engine, while the variations may be obtained with Liberty and Rolls-Royce engines. For training purposes, "joy riding" or private sporting use, the Avro " 504K," with Le Rhone engine, is supplied. The Sopwith "Snipe" the 240 h.p. Siddelev " Puma," the 210 h.p. Wolseley "Viper," the 160 h.p. Beardmore, the 400 "Libertv," the 200 h.p. "B.R.2" rotary, and the 110 h.p. Le Rhone rotary. In conclusion it should be mentioned that the A.D.C. does not intend always to confine its activities to selling machines of other people's design. The firm is at present being somewhat re-organised, and a designing staff is being got together, the intention being to commence producing original machines. Some little time ago the A.D.C. pur chased the name, goodwill and manufacturing rights of Martinsyde aeroplanes, and it seems possible that a start may be made with modernised versions of machines of this type. THE AIR NAVIGATION AND ENGINEERING CO., LTD. I'p to the present this firm, known once upon a time as Bleriot Aeronautics, has not produced any aeroplanes of military type. They have, however, designed and built some very successful light monoplanes, one of which put up a splendid performance at Lympnc in the 1923 Competitions. They have also built two or three commercial monoplanes for Sir. G. H. Hapdasyde. SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG-WHITWORTH AIRCRAFT, LTD.* BY the amalgamation of the aircraft section of Armstrong- Siddeley Motors, Ltd., and the Armstrong-Whitwortli Company, the aircraft section of the latter has for some time been situated at Coventry, and here Armstrong-Whitworth aeroplanes are produced. One of the modern machines of this firm, the Armstrong-Siddeley " Siskin," will be exhibited at Prague, where Consequently Czechoslovak readers of FLIGHT will be able to examine it for themselves. This machine is a single-seater fighter, fitted with Armstrong- Siddeley "Jaguar" radial air-cooled engine. Built very largely of metal, the " Siskin "impresses the onlooker as being a very fine example of structural design, while the arrangement of pilot's seat, guns and gun gear, controls, etc., is such as to make it a very fine machine for fighting. The pilot, being practically on a level with the top plane, has an excellent view, 306
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